Hike #4 - Baskett Slough Wildlife Refuge

Endangered blue butterflies, oak forest, wildflowers, and meadowlarks are just a few of the attractions on the best easy hike in the Salem area, Baskett Slough.

Baskett Slough (2,492 acres of farmed fields, rolling oak covered hills, and shallow wetlands) is a bird refuge in the central Willamette Valley. Each fall 22,000 dusky Canada geese fly from Alaska's Copper River delta to winter in the Willamette Valley. Under cooperate agreements with local farmers, fields are planted to provide nutritious grasses preferred by the geese. By resting in undisturbed areas on the refuges, wintering geese replenish their energy reserves required for migrating and nesting. This sanctuary also reduces crop depredation problems on surrounding agricultural lands. This refuge west of Salem welcomes them with diked ponds and unharvested fields of corn, rye grass, and wheat. Not surprisingly, the area has become a hit with other bird species, too. 

A short loop hike here visits a viewpoint and an oak forest. A longer loop to Morgan Lake is open April thru September. Pets and flower picking are banned. Walk up the wide, mowed trail and fork left. Old apple trees, wild rose bushes, and pale blue flax flowers line the path. Expect the chirp of crickets, the hollow coo of mourning doves, and the squawk of ring-neck pheasants. A short way in you'll reach a fork at a pass. To the left is the summit of Mt. Baldy, with a view across the Willamette Valley's patchwork of farms to the rumpled green Coast Range. Take the right-hand fork to find the mowed loop trail around Baskett Butte and into an oak forest. Beware of the abundant, triple-leaved poison oak plants masquerading as tree seedlings here. Historically, oak savanna was the primary habitat type occurring on uplands of the Willamette Valley. The cavities of large Oregon white oak trees provide vital nest sites for cavity nesting birds such as the acorn woodpecker and white breasted nuthatch. At the 1-mile mark you reach a T-shaped junction. To the right is the quick route back to your car. Turn left for the longer loop, open from May through September. This path descends to a junction at the site of an old barn. Follow trail signs to the right, along Morgan Lake, and back along a service road to end the loop at the old barn junction. Along the way look for redwing blackbirds perched on cattails, polliwogs in the ditches, and beaver-like nutria in the ponds.

This Fender's blue butterfly was once thought to be extinct. One of the world's largest population of this tiny butterfly is found on Baskett Butte at Baskett Slough.

Book #3 - The Power of Prayer and Fasting

The hand-in-hand spiritual discipline of prayer and fasting is not a gimmick or a spiritual fad, although its neglect in recent decades makes it a new discovery for many Christians. Instead, as author Ronnie Floyd explains, prayer and fasting is a Scripture-ordained act of obedience – a means of humbling ourselves before God, drawing closer to Him, and making room for Him to speak and act in our lives.

The Power of Prayer and Fasting offers firsthand stories of the difference prayer and fasting has made in the author's life and others, compelling explanations of how this discipline works in a Christian's life, practical guidance for those who have never fasted before, and a stirring call to revival.

Fasting is a forgotten discipline in the church today, at least it was for me. It's something we mention from time to time, but don't really understand, and rarely practice. This book is a great reminder and encouragement to change those things. The author really hits home on the importance and power of prayer and fasting in our daily lives.

This book created a desire in me to fast by seeing the great invitation, or even, command, God gives us to humble ourselves through prayer and fasting. I had to push through some of the chapters. Easy reads don't generally follow when speaking of self-denial and the squashing of pride. The latter half is invaluable in terms of practical help while on a fast.

This book is very broad based and applicable to those delving into the arena of fasting. Foundationaly sound, this book pulls the most relevant scriptures for the legitimacy of fasting even in our "modern" times. Not only is this book convincing, it also gives practical advice for the hesitant follower. I thought it did a nice job of balancing the notion of fasting for the appropriate reasons yet not with the wrong motives.

Those of us who call ourselves Christians have the power of the Holy Spirit in us. That same power is what raised Jesus from the dead. However, few of us take advantage of this power that is at our disposal. The premise, which comes right out of the Bible, is that prayer and fasting are God's gateway to supernatural power and spiritual breakthroughs. These are spiritual disciplines which are required of us. According to the author, prayer and fasting is a Scripture-ordained act of obedience a deep means of humbling ourselves before God, drawing closer to Him, and making room for Him to speak and act in our lives. The author offers powerful examples from his experiences personally and in his church to show God moving powerfully to answer the requests of His people. This book provides sound doctrine, and gives us solid instructions on how to break through our strongholds. I am convinced that if Christians would follow the instructions provided concisely and convincingly in this book, they would live lives that would be more honoring and pleasing to their Heavenly Father. We need to be real through genuine confession and repentance as we are in the holy presence of God. Prayer and fasting will result in authenticity and transparency with everyone. This book provided such practical applications to show fasting and prayer, which are difficult for our weak flesh to be obedient acts of worship to God.

Hike #3 - Hoyt Arboretum

Hiking the Arboretum – Some where there you can choose the path that is perfect for you, and come again another day to try another one! Melissa and I explored Hoyt Arboretum's collection of trees and plants from around the world. You never know what member of the plant kingdom you will meet at Hoyt Arboretum. Would you like to take a short stroll? A contemplative hour's walk? A heart pumping hike? Need a paved gradual path? All are possible at Hoyt Arboretum, Portland's museum of living trees.

With the mild temperatures in the Pacific Northwest, the arboretum is one of the few places on Earth where such a wide variety of trees and plants can grow. You can observe rare and endangered trees that you would otherwise have to travel the world to see.

Founded in 1928 to conserve endangered species and educate the community, Hoyt Arboretum encompasses 187 ridge-top acres, accessible by trails covering 12 miles. More than 6,000 specimens from around the world grow here, including more than 1,400 species.

The Arboretum is full of breathtaking sights, smells, and textures. You can experience the Arboretum from the shady forested ravines on the north side, where one of the most diverse conifer collections in North America grows. Or visit the sunny southern slopes, were hundreds of deciduous flowering trees engage all of your senses and provide scenic beauty in every season. When a tree catches your interest, look for the black signs that identify the tree's common and scientific names, as well as their native habitat.

Stop by the Visitor Center for an introduction to the Arboretum. Here you will find information about the Arboretum, as well as a gift shop, free reference library, and herbarium. Then, follow the path shown on the trail map, or adapt it to suit your energy and interests.  It was only after our hike was complete and we were in the car on our way back did I realize that I did not get a picture of Melissa and I out hiking...trust me - it was not a pretty site on my part anyway.  The hike down was gorgeous as we meandered through the lovely arboretum down to the Rose Garden, but the hike up was not as pretty as we went up through the city streets.  I cannot wait to go back again and see more of the arboretum in bloom.  I was totally enthralled with the magnolias and would love to see them in their full bloom.  Happy hiking!