Hiking and Herping through Columbia County
Family hike from Pisgah Trailhead
The Pisgah Trailhead of the Crown Z Trail might not have the marshes, birding, and wildlife of the trail to the east, or the forest solitude and geological wonders of the trail to the west, but….it’s there. So last year on the first day of spring, my family went on a walk from Pisgah to…
Simple directions for Liberty Hill camas – letters due Jan 30
With few days left to submit, I’ve put together simplified instructions. I also keep gathering more photos and data of this incredible place, with a lot of help from other people who really care. Here is a new version of the video, taking advantage of additional drone shots of the meadow and a ton more…
Liberty Hill’s camas and the impact of mining
A crushed rock mining company has submitted a proposal to demolish Liberty Hill in St. Helens. Liberty Hill is the largest Camas meadow left in northwest Oregon, is more pristine than any other such habitat within forty miles, and is home to an array of plants and wildlife rarely seen in our area including wildflowers,…
2022 Wildlife Photos
Just a little compilation of some of the wildlife photos that Matt, Jon, and Luke took in Columbia County this year. Enjoy! Note – The Liberty Hill depicted in the above photo is once again in danger of being destroyed for the purposes of commercial crushed rock. More information on what makes Liberty Hill special…
Scappoose’s forest park (Vista property)
Last year the City of Scappoose’s Isaac Butman asked me, “Have you checked out the Vista property?” “What’s that?” It turns out that City of Scappoose has 80 acres of forest property in town. I’ve been able to explore and, though facilities are limited, it’s a peaceful spot to enjoy some trees. Parking is the…
One of the wildest creeks in Northwest Oregon
Picturesque ravines drop hundreds of yards from ridge to water. Old growth giants tower above the creek. Waterfalls burst into mammoth basalt cauldrons. You wouldn’t think such a place existed in Columbia County. And it doesn’t. But a mile outside the county border, hidden in the forested hills above Westport, runs a remarkable stretch of…
Nob Hill work party on November 5
You’re invited to the work parties at Nob Hill Nature Park on November 5th. One group will work from 9am to noon and the other from 1pm to 4pm. The focus for the morning party will be weeding, mulching, and planting new native vegetation. The afternoon work party will be removing ivy and building a…
The humble toads hang on
When I ask residents about toads in Columbia County, they respond, “What toads? I didn’t think we had toads here.” And indeed, for 30 years I wasn’t sure whether or not toads were still present. But this summer, Matt and I verified that at least one population is still thriving in a hidden alcove in…
The Miraculous Pacific Yew
The Pacific Yew is my favorite tree. While the Yew’s appearance is understated compared to the towering conifers of our forests, its impact has been felt worldwide. Taxus brevifolia of the Yew family fills a unique niche here as an understory specialist. It is built to survive under the shadows of the douglas-firs, cedars, and…
Oregon has the most delicious mushrooms
The rains are coming back, and with them the fall mushroom season. On September 28 the Scappoose Public Library is hosting Jordan Weiss for a presentation on the fall mushrooms of NW Oregon. I didn’t grow up picking mushrooms, but during last year’s surveys I couldn’t help but see fungi everywhere. At first I was…
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Wild Columbia County 