Rediscovering
the Joy of Hiking with TL Cooper
Soon after our move to Oregon in 2007, we discovered the diversity of
the Oregon landscape. With deserts in the east and the ocean to its West, the
Willamette Valley where I live is nestled between three mountain ranges, the
Oregon Coast Range, the Cascade Range, and the Calapooya Mountains.
This makes
for great hiking experiences.
This summer we’ve been exploring some of Oregon’s hiking trails,
especially those that lead to waterfalls. I love waterfalls, so this has been
quite enjoyable. Most of the hikes have been easy to moderate, including hikes
to Sweet Creek Falls, Koosah/Susahalie Falls, and the multiple falls on the
Wahkeena Falls Trail including Multnomah Falls and Wahkeena Falls. Walking
through the forests and hearing the water on the rocks is a particularly
exciting experience! I’m anxious to visit several more waterfalls and other
hiking trails in Oregon.
Hiking this summer has reminded me of my childhood playing in the woods
on our farm in Kentucky as well as my love for hiking. I’d forgotten just how
much I enjoy the trees and the water and the sounds of the forest all working
together. This love has often found its way into my work with my characters
riding horses and hiking in the woods or just appreciating the beauty of
nature. 
Come visit Oregon, especially in the summer, and you too can hike one
of the many trails leading to waterfalls…
Leave a comment to be randomly selected to receive a signed copy of my
book of short stories, Soaring Betrayal.
T. L. Cooper is an author and
poet whose work aims to empower and inspire through an exploration of the human
condition. Her poems, short stories, articles, and essays have appeared online,
in books, and in Soaring Betrayal, her Silhouette Poetry Series, and a novel, All She Ever Wanted. She grew up on a
farm in Tollesboro, Kentucky. When not writing, she enjoys yoga, golf, hiking, and
traveling. She currently lives in Albany, Oregon with her husband and three
cats.Her published books include a collection of short stories,
Author Social Media Links:
(all info provided by author)
Oregon and Writing with Oregon Native, John Burridge
I've lived in Oregon, specifically the Willamette Valley, for
most of my life. Maybe one reason I'm a
writer is because of the language in the place names. The words Oregon, Willamette (a river), and
Eugene (where I currently live) are shibboleths
that help residents identify new-comers to the state, valley and
city. The name Corvallis (the town I
grew up in) is based on the French phrase for "heart/core of the
valley." A number of Oregon's place
names come from the Native American tribes displaced by settlers in the
1800's. 
Unlike the half of the state east of the Cascade Mountain
Range, it rains a lot in the Willamette Valley.
From about the autumnal equinox to the summer solstice, it's typically
partly cloudy to scattered showers. Our
seasons are (usually) moderated by our proximity to the Pacific Ocean. Generally, our lawns glow green in December,
as do the lichens and the ferns growing on the older oaks.
The great part about Eugene is that it's about ninety minutes
east of the coast and about ninety minutes west of the Cascade Mountains--so if
you want skiing and snow or kite flying and the surf, just choose a direction
and you'll be there in no time.
But you don't have to
go far to find an inspiring landscape.
Two of Eugene's popular hiking spots are Spencer Butte and Mount Pisgah. Spencer
Butte is a basalt mountain
with fabulous trails through douglas fir (and poison oak!). Mount Pisgah is a large hill with a a bronze
memorial to Jed Kesey, son of Ken Kesey. The memorial is a sighting pedestal with a
topology map of the area on top and local geological information on its side.wonderful arboretum at its base (and more poison oak), and at its summit is
Maybe it's the water, maybe it's the university, maybe it's the rain, but for whatever reason,
Eugene has a reputation for being artistic.
Between the annual Slug Queen coronation and the Oregon Bach Festival, it's the
perfect place for writers--and Eugene seems to have a higher writer per capita
than usual.
One place to go and research McGuffins and characters is
Eugene's vibrant Saturday market, which is filled with locally produced crafts,
organically farmed produce, and lots of old hippies.
If it's history you want, visit Hope Abby
and the Eugene Masonic Cemetery.
The Cemetery is the final resting place of Eugene Skinner, the city's
namesake, and many of his contemporaries.
The local historical society maintains a number of informative placards
on the graveyard's occupants. Hope Abby
was designed in the 1910's by Ellis F. Lawrence, in a Neo-Egyptian
architectural style. Lawrence also
designed the Library and Museum buildings on the University of Oregon
campus. To get a feel for Victorian
living, tour Shelton McMurphey Johnson
House.
Scholars will want to visit the University's special collection room,
which houses collections of many feminist science fiction writers, such as
Ursula LeGuin and Kate Wilhelm. Joanna
Russ's short story rough drafts and writings to feminist science
fiction authors of the 1960's and 1970's make for some fascinating
reading.
Oh, yeah; and Eugene's locally famous for football and track,
too.
My award winning short story, Mask Glass Magic, published in Writers
of the Future v 23, is set in Eugene, Oregon, during a time when glass
lampwork experienced a renaissance, and glass bead and "decorative water
pipes" graced what seemed like every other block's art store.
The winner of the Oregon drawing will receive a copy of the
The Best of Writers of the Future anthology, featuring many Eugene writers.
John Burridge's short story, "Before
the Last Bloom Falls" is the June 2014 recipient of the Penn
Cove Literary Award. His short story,
"The Gear
Master's Wife," may be found on the On The Premises, web
site. Also there is his short story,
"Reset
Romance." His
micro-fiction, "The Book Deal," may be found in the Delving Press
anthology, "Twisted Tales in 66 Words." His short story "The View
from the Top" may be found on the Analog web site. His short
story "Up" won the Whidbey Student Choice Award. His short story "Mask Glass Magic"
may be found in the anthology "Writers of the Future, vol 23." He misses Thaumatrope, a Twitter Fiction
venue to which he contributed.
John lives in Eugene with his family. He is a computer support
technician by day and a fantasy and science fiction writer by night. Since 2001
he has been an active member of the Eugene
Wordos , which he serves as
co-chair.
co-chair.
He is probably over-caffeinated.
Visit John at his blog:
http://johnburridge.blogspot.com
or at Twitter: https://twitter.com/JBurridge
(Text provided by author/Pictures downloaded from various sites listed in article and from Author's website)
(Text provided by author/Pictures downloaded from various sites listed in article and from Author's website)
Strangely, I've only experienced Oregon as a place to pass through on the journey between California and Washington State. Having read these two pieces, I fear that I've missed something quite charming and beautiful. Perhaps I shall be able to — I can't really say return since I've hardly been — perhaps to revoir.
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I had the huge pleasure of visiting your area a number of years ago. Still remember the beauty you speak of. In fact--we loved all we saw in the entire state, Pacific Ocean to eastern boundary. Saw our first llama herd after driving east over the mountains and dropping onto the flatlands.
ReplyDeleteTL, I enjoyed learning about your current state of Oregon. You made me want to visit. I wonder where in KY you lived. I am a native of West KY and currently spend most of the year in Paducah. I was born on a farm in this area. Good luck with your books.
ReplyDeleteLinda Swift LSwiftR@aol.com
My introduction Oregon came in my youth when I read H. L. Davis' wonderful Honey in the Horn, prompting me to put the state on my list of places I might want to live some day. That didn't come to pass, but reading other books by the likes of Ken Kesey, David Guterson, David James Duncan and others added more incentive to visit.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, you are always fair and thinking of the authors, Annette. Thank you for both articles. As to the information in this post, both paint a slightly different image of their locale but both make me feel Oregon is a lush Paradise. I have long heard that it's a haven there and these descriptions confirm that. As a teen, I had been across the California border into Oregon and visited two towns there. However, it might have been the season but I remember everything being hot and dry. It might have been summer but it left me with the thought Oregon was dry and barren, which I've long since learned it definitely isn't. Two different writers painting lush images of their state. Two different writers in their genres with books sounding wonderfully interesting.
ReplyDeleteWow...I'm in luck. I love both short stories and anthologies. Plus I learned more about Oregon, one state I've not visited...although we've visited many in the US. Oregon has always held a mystique, and wild and peaceful place in the US. Thanks for both posts. Happy to meet you both.
ReplyDeleteCelia Yeary cayeary@hotmail.com
Thanks to both of you for your wonderful posts about Oregon. It's one state I've not visited..only gone through..but it hold much mystique and a peaceful, wild feeling. I know it's gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteI love both short stories and anthologies.
Celia Yeary cayeary@hotmail.com
Oregon is one state that neither my husband or myself have ever visited or passed through. It is a state that is on our list of places to visit. We are from MS and live on the Gulf Coast. Just the idea of a place like Oregon is like another planet to us! Thank you for sharing and for giving us a peep into your world.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely high on my list of states we must spend some time camping in if we ever get to retire! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteGreat article writing ! I was fascinated by the details ! Does someone know where I might locate a fillable IRS 8822 form to type on ?
ReplyDeleteHi Roxanne ! my http://goo.gl/48mXKs
ReplyDelete