Trip Report

This year the area for our traditional fall color trip favored us with blue sky, green meadows, and lots of leaves in color. Our route - River Road to Junction City, then 99W to Avery Park in Corvallis, where we stopped for coffee and goodies, served on the famous 85 foot+ picnic table, which is a huge one piece of solid wood. After our coffee break, we traveled on HWY 34 through Philomath and into the high meadow area around Alsea. We then turned off onto the 2 1/2 mile narrow one lane road to the Oregon Hatchery Research Center located on Fall Creek, which is a tributary of the Alsea River. The center is jointly administered by Oregon State University and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and is much more than a traditional hatchery. Extensive and complex research about wild and hatchery salmon is conducted on a scale that attracts visits by scientists from all over the world.
Our guide, Joseph O'Neal gave a most interesting and understandable talk, along with a tour of interior labs. We learned how the earth's electro magnetism affects salmon behavior and much more. We did not examine all of this facility, so a repeat visit must be scheduled.
We then left O. H. R. C. for a lunch at the Adobe, which has a great view of the calm Pacific ocean. Here, we also walked to the memorial for the two students who drowned two year ago. Incidentally, this was featured on Oregon Field Guide on October 17th.
We stopped at Darlingtonia Park - (the plant that eats insects.) We then stopped for ice cream at B.J.'s and arrived back in Eugene about 5pm.
Our excellent driver, Rick Johnson, suggested several route changes, was attentive to our needs, and participated in all of our activities. Everyone appreciated his outstanding services.
High marks to leader, Mary Ellen West, for finding this new place. She always leads a great trip.