Smith Rock

Smith Rock State Park  is a rock climber's mecca, and when we arrived it seemed the majority of park visitors were doing just that.  Many climbing routes have bolts embedded in the rock so that harnesses can be easily attached, kiosks within the park have emergency stretchers and crutches, and a small helipad at the trailheads is carefully manicured to be ready for rescue helicopters.  But it's also a stunningly beautiful place to explore the high desert.  We took a trail that followed the Crooked River.  It was quite a hot day, and although we mostly walked in the shade, we couldn't resist jumping right in on the way back.  The water was shockingly cold- definitely snow melt!  And it felt like heaven.  Jasper loved Smith Rock, although the scenery for him was not as thrilling as finding four lizards and a scorpion!  

Western fence lizard.

Scorpion.

Naked eriogonum.

Turkey buzzard.

Mule deer.

Mule deer.

Western fence lizard.  

Gray rabbitbrush.

Milkweed.

Big sagebrush.