Wandering in Oregon – May 2024 – Part Two

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Please click here for – Part One

 

John Day Fossil Beds National Monument

 

We arrived at the Painted Hills Unit of the National Monument midafternoon. After the quiet of the Sheep Rock Unit, we discovered this was John Day Fossil Beds most visited section. It was not crowded by any means, but others were about. We topped off with water at the tiny visitor’s kiosk and picnic area and then searched out a possible dispersed campsite on BLM public land. We happily discovered that few camp out here and the Painted Hills is more of a day trip destination. It is the Unit closest to Prineville and Bend. After settling in at the end of a narrow rough road, we hiked back into the Unit to begin our tour of the trails.

 

First was the Red Scar Knoll Trail, an excellent introduction to the Painted Hills.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s a short walk down to the Leaf Hill Trail and the walk out to the site of a major find of fossil leaves. The approaching evening light brought pastel hues.

 

 

 

 

 

The brighter yellows are wildflowers in bloom.

 

We always – as much as possible – take an evening walk until dark. The longer daylight of Spring gives time for longer walks – although we are at home walking in the dark. If there is a highpoint within sight, well that is always the Lady’s choice. Up we went. Note the rosy hue of invasive cheatgrass in most of the following photos.

 

 

 

 

 

The views from our high perch were wondrous and this side of the Unit was very quiet.

 

 

 

 

 

We stayed up high and wandered until near dark.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With an early start the next morning we almost had the place to ourselves. We began with the Painted Cove Trail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the sources of the yellow splashes on the hillsides was Yellow Beeplant (Cleome lutea Hook.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next up was the trail to the top of Carroll Rim. A view back at our truck and the road up to the Painted Hills Overlook.

 

 

 

 

 

The views just kept getting better.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After passing our truck, we walked up to the Overlook and out the Overlook Trail. The morning light on the Painted Hills was amazing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another yellow contributor was the Maximilian Sunflower

(Helianthus maximiliani Schrad.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Painted Hills Unit packs a lot into a small area. By midmorning it was time to make the drive over to the third (and last) section of the National Monument - The Clarno Unit.

 

The Clarno Unit is small and against a bluff crowned with the Clarno Palisades – a hallmark of the volcanic Clarno Formation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whereas the majority of the fossil bed layers is sedimentary rock, the Clarno Unit is very different, and I found it most fascinating. A lahar from an erupting stratovolcano swept across the land and in a matter of hours buried every living thing in its path. Think of Pompeii.

 

There are three trails that run together from the parking area. The trails run along the bluff and start with the Geologic Time Trail.

 

The Trail of Fossils is the highlight of the Clarno Unit. With the flat midday sunlight, the fossils embedded in the boulders were hard to see but were still impressive. The signage along the trail really helped.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Invasive cheat grass is the dominate plant along the trails.

 

 

 

 

 

The Clarno Arch Trail took us up to the base of the Palisades.

 

 

 

 

Here the fossils were, indeed, impressive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A fun surprise was finding a new bee swarm in the shade behind a boulder along the trail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trail’s end brought us right under the Clarno Arch.

 

 

 

 

 

We also scrambled up into another water carved chute in the welded volcanic ash.

 

 

 

 

The Lady was happy - I was too! On the spur of the moment on a Friday morning we decided to drive up into Oregon and visit, for the first time, the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. The Lady’s only requirement was we hike every trail. Our mission was accomplished. Visit John Day Fossil Beds in the Spring.

 

We were in the middle of eastern Oregon. What should we do? Where should we go? We, of course, had ideas to ponder. We stopped at the tiny gas station in Fossil. The woman allowed me to pump my own gas. She was busy “shooting the breeze” with a local gentleman while filling his tank. When she finished and the gentleman said goodbye to all of us, I asked her, “How is life in Fossil?”

“It is wonderful!” she exclaimed. But then she when on to explain that her house is for sale if we’re interested. She’s moving elsewhere, and the owners are selling the gas station, if we’re interested.

“Ah, a business opportunity for our retirement!” I countered. “What do you think Julie?”

“I didn’t retire to work someplace else, thank you very much,” came the deadpan reply.

“Does the station do steady business?” I asked.

“This place would dry up and blow away if there wasn’t gas in town.”

“Well, as you can tell, we’re not interested but we’ll tell all our friends.”

 

So, there you have it, opportunity to own a solid business in Fossil, Oregon. One supported by all the residents. I can report that lots of friendly conversation goes on at the gas pumps. Your days will fly by.

 

In retrospect, I forgot to ask the most important question of all. “Is there a good place in town to get pie?”

 

What’s up next in our wanderings in Oregon? Our adventure continues. Please click here for - Part Three.