| Date: September 28, 2003 |
| Location Pigeon Butte Hike |
| Where: William L Finley National Wildlife Refuge |
Conveniently located in the central Willamette Valley, Pigeon Butte has been on my list to explore for some time. The trick is making a decision to hike it when it is open. Because it is within the wildlife refuge, means that it is off bounds from November through April. I started my hike at the refuge headquarters and first off discovered the route past Cabell Marsh to offer lots of opportunities to observe wildlife. Great Blue Herons searched the waters edge and huge carp thrashed the quite surface.
|
 |
| Pigeon Butte from Cabell Marsh Continuing on the trail/road I found my way up Pigeon Butte. I was disappointed in the view from the summit which is blocked to the north by oak trees and blackberry vines, but the view to the south was open an acceptable reward. When I started down from the top, I noticed a path through the tall grass heading west down the ridge. Consulting my map it looked entirely feasible to use this route to connect with the trail to Beaver Pond. This I did with little trouble with a short scramble through two quarries. Earth moving equipment at Beaver Pond gave evidence of improvement work there.
|
 |
| Summit of Pigeon Butte On to Cattail Pond I was delighted to find cattails, and even happier to hear the squawks of escaping bullfrogs. The bullfrogs certainly took me back to by youth and trips with my dad to Snow Peak Pond.
|
 |
| Cattails at Cattail Pond Hiking back to the refuge headquarters, I stopped to photo Common Hawthorn and Himalayan Blackberries, which added color and tast to the day. |
 |
| a Blue Heron in the early morning light |
 |
| a Blue Heron on the hunt |
