Trail Talk
Trail Talk – by Clayton Gillette
Submitted for May 2020 issue
The current state of global affairs has left me pondering opposing forces. Here we spend our days in our bubbles, isolating our physical selves for the sake of everyone’s well-being, while […]
Spring is Sprung – by Clayton Gillette
Trail Talk – April 2020
Aah, springtime in Southern Oregon with cabin fever driving us into the great outdoors! Henry Gibson told us, “Spring is sprung, The grass is ris, I wonder where the birdies is.” […]
Time to Walkabout – by Clayton Gillette
Trail Talk – March 2020
A recent conversation in Forest Park with a couple of mountain bike riders from the Seattle area gave good notice of the value of Jacksonville’s wooded trail system. Here, on a […]
Resolve to Explore in the New Year – by Clayton Gillette
Trail Talk – February 2020
After a dry fall, we are finally enjoying some winter weather. A noticeable scent fills our wet woodlands, and any walkabout permeates our clothing with an aromatic (some would say pungent) […]
Applegate Trails Association Work Party is February 1
On Saturday, February 1, 2020, don your long johns and come help us maintain the stunning East Applegate Ridge Trail. Work at your own pace, meet new friends, develop camaraderie, get some exercise, help your […]
A Fall and Winter Hiking Wonderland – by Clayton Gillette
Trail Talk – December 2019/January 2020
As I write this month’s Trail Talk, the dry fall continues. Trails around Jacksonville (and farther afield) are in excellent shape. Our trail volunteers have identified a few places that […]
So Many Questions – by Clayton Gillette
Trail Talk – October 2019
To live in a town with such a storied past should have one always looking and asking, “I wonder what that old wall is from?” or “Where did that old path […]
Equinox Equilibrium – by Clayton Gillette
Trail Talk – September 2019
Ah…September. Summer begins to loosen its grip on our surrounding hills and we anticipate cooler nights, crisper mornings, and the trails stretching out before […]
August on the Trails – by Clayton Gillette
Trail Talk – August 2019
Summer’s heat makes afternoon hiking a challenge: our senses blasted by bright, hot, parching air. Sweat dries too quickly on our brow, and thirst seems to […]
The Benches of Forest Park – by Clayton Gillette
Trail Talk – July 2019
Trail Talk this month is an examination of restful mindfulness. We’ve hiked, biked, and run the trails in Jacksonville’s expansive park system. We’ve stopped to smell […]