Hikers discover Camp Sherman wonders

Every Saturday during July and August hikers can head to Camp Sherman to be dazzled by what they learn on a guided walk through a beautiful corner of the Sisters country.

Flora and fauna all come to life as hikers learn about Central Oregon's native species. You may even learn about our non-native invaders.

"You can enjoy the beauty of the trail on your own, but to dig deeper, go on the walks," said Scott Blau, one of the leaders of a series of interpretive walks.

It's all part of a program offering started by the Friends of the Metolius many years ago as a way to bring people in touch with Camp Sherman's surrounds.

Kent Gill remembers taking Black Butte School children on two-and-a-half-hour hikes to fill their notebooks with interesting things they found along the trails. Among Camp Sherman's many wonders are a Larch tree with a three-foot diameter that is still thriving and a Pacific Silver Fir that is normally a higher elevation tree.

To see these and other Camp Sherman forest wonders meet Gill at the Black Butte School bus barn at 10 a.m. on July 5 and August 2.

The July 12 hike meets at the bus barn, also at 10 a.m., to carpool to Jack Creek. The walk will begin from there. Those who drive will need parking permits.

Norma Funai returns this year to take people on guided "Bird, Butterfly and Plant" walks starting from Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery.

Funai, who has been leading tours for kids for several years, finds a lot of the younger crowd flock to her interpretive walks. Hers is a nature tour and not a history tour. She focuses on bringing areas of nature, plants and animals, together by talking about the birds and where they nest, and flowers that are hosts for butterflies.

The walks are scheduled for July 19, August 9, and August 23. Get up early, as Funai's walks begin at 8:30 a.m. To reach the fish hatchery take the road to the left as you reach the Camp Sherman Store. Take the next left fork and travel the lower road following the river toward the fish hatchery. Turn left when it meets the upper road and the hatchery is a couple miles down on the left.

On July 26, Mark Dohrmann leads an Upper Metolius River walk starting at 10 a.m. from the Camp Sherman Bridge viewing area. Dohrmann will lead hikers upstream past Spring Creek and Lake Creek toward Riverside Campground and back, explaining the history and geology of the area.

Guide Scott Blau, also Treasurer of the Camp Sherman Historical Society, will discuss early development along the river.

Blau has seen the river - as well as fishing - change over the years. Looking back to his childhood, he remembers the sounds of salmon swimming in the river - sound that is no more. However, he says, river otters are coming back.

Blau's Metolius River Walks are August 16 and August 30. Meet near the Camp Sherman fish-viewing platform at 10 a.m.

The interpretive walk schedule is posted on the north wall of the Camp Sherman store. There is no charge. for the guided walks.