Mapleton

[AlanLichty]

Mapleton Oregon is one of those places along the highway with one intersection and no traffic light. You do have to slow down since the road from Eugene to Florence makes a 90º left turn although you won't have to stop. Census folks call it a census-designated place instead of a town with an almighty 900 residents. This is right at the end of where the Siuslaw River still has tidal flows and the river can be navigated by powered watercraft roughly 15 miles upstream from Florence. The measure of one's manhood around here is how big the blade is on the chainsaw in the back of your pickup truck. Most of the town is actually not right along the highway but is tucked back into the woods just north of the highway and unless you knew it was there or were visiting someone you might never even see it. I have been driving the main highway from Eugene out to Florence for years and never really saw the town until I flew my drone near it in late October and grabbed the shots for this panorama. My drone in this case is almost directly over OR126 looking north. The road coming in from the north is OR36 that goes through Swisshome and Deadwood on the way to Junction City.

Not quite sure what wiped out all the conifers on the hillside above the town and left the hillside to alders and maples but my best guess would be a clearcut. It almost has the shape of a landslide but that would have wiped out the town which has been there since the late 1800's and a wildfire would have left more conifers.

Two panels at 24mm.

C&C always welcome.

 

[JimFox]

I think I might know this area, it sounds familiar. I like this.

 

[AlanLichty]

I think I might know this area, it sounds familiar. I like this.

Thanks Jim - I'm pretty sure you have driven the highway from Eugene to Florence and this shot is from almost directly over that road looking north. Typically when you are driving towards the left turn to continue to Florence you are focused on the intersection ahead and there is no view of the neighborhoods off in the right of this scene.

 

[Jameel Hyder]

An appropriately named town from the look of so many alders and maples. Nice colors in this view.

 

[AlanLichty]

An appropriately named town from the look of so many alders and maples. Nice colors in this view.

Thanks Jameel - the town was in fact named for all of the maples that are along the Siuslaw River. The big patch of alders and maples above the town weren't there in the late 1800's but most of the rivers and creeks have them along the banks.

 

[BlackRockArt]

Mapleton Oregon is one of those places along the highway with one intersection and no traffic light. You do have to slow down since the road from Eugene to Florence makes a 90º left turn although you won't have to stop. Census folks call it a census-designated place instead of a town with an almighty 900 residents. This is right at the end of where the Siuslaw River still has tidal flows and the river can be navigated by powered watercraft roughly 15 miles upstream from Florence. The measure of one's manhood around here is how big the blade is on the chainsaw in the back of your pickup truck. Most of the town is actually not right along the highway but is tucked back into the woods just north of the highway and unless you knew it was there or were visiting someone you might never even see it. I have been driving the main highway from Eugene out to Florence for years and never really saw the town until I flew my drone near it in late October and grabbed the shots for this panorama. My drone in this case is almost directly over OR126 looking north. The road coming in from the north is OR36 that goes through Swisshome and Deadwood on the way to Junction City.

Not quite sure what wiped out all the conifers on the hillside above the town and left the hillside to alders and maples but my best guess would be a clearcut. It almost has the shape of a landslide but that would have wiped out the town which has been there since the late 1800's and a wildfire would have left more conifers.

Two panels at 24mm.

View attachment 85956

C&C always welcome.

Alan, this is a post card worthy scene ! Love your creativity to get the ultra wide shot.

Oliver

 

[AlanLichty]

Alan, this is a post card worthy scene ! Love your creativity to get the ultra wide shot.

Oliver

Thanks Oliver - I have driven the road from Eugene to Florence many dozens of times over the past 29 years but never really saw the residential area on the right before this fall.