I woke up to snow outside my window Saturday morning in downtown Eugene. Great day for leading a hike in the Coast Range!

Only half of the 10 scheduled hikers turned up for the chilly morning drive to the coast - and who could blame those who stayed home: the forecast called for a mix of rain and hail in town, and snow in the passes to the east and west. 

Someone on the trip had good weather karma, though, and as we started our walk up Sweet Creek, a few miles south of Mapleton, the sky opened up to let down some sunshine. Pink fawn lilies, trillium, corydalis, and salmonberry were all in bloom; and the mosses, lichens, and fresh young leaves on trees and shrubs glowed green in the damp sunlight. Ah, spring in the rain forest!

We watched American dippers - those delightful little brown birds that land on rocks and logs in fast-moving creeks to dip and dance. These ones seemed to be courting - even carrying moss to a log jam on the edge of the creek that might have held their nest.

After the short 3 mile hike up the creek and back (taking in the multiple waterfalls along the way) and lunching in a sunny spot, the group was game for a drive out to the PAWN old-growth grove near the headwaters of the North Fork Siuslaw River.

PAWN (named after 4 families that settled in the area) is one of my favorite places. My husband and I saw it on a map and found our way there on another cold, rainy spring day a few years ago. And last summer Oregon Wild staff showed Senator Wyden's staff what a real coastal old-growth forest should look like. If the ripe huckleberries, massive trees, and cool shade weren't enough to convince someone of how special ancient forests are, I don't know what would.

Our group got another sun break (after it snowed on the way to the trailhead!) while we walked the 1-mile loop past 8-foot diameter Douglas-fir trees, towering huckleberry shrubs, and fat snags and logs dripping with stored water.

I think everyone enjoyed their visit, but I know I did. It's places like this that keep me willing to work weekends and long hours!