Cave Art in the Umpqua Forest
We left the Eugene rental just after 8 a.m. Weather was gray, fog low along the highway. Made the 130-mile drive southeast in about three and a half hours, including a quick gas station stop where Mathew managed to buy two packs of beef jerky and misplaced both before we got back on the road. He found them under Vernon’s seat later, which Vernon did not find amusing.
Arrived near the Umpqua National Forest around noon. The cave system we were heading to is on public land but isn’t exactly part of any established trail. Jennifer found the entrance a few years ago on a field trip, and Professor got us access through a contact at the Forest Service. We hiked in roughly 40 minutes from the vehicles, carrying basic gear, camera equipment, and enough flashlights to light a tunnel network.
The main cave opening looked like a wide erosion split in a rocky outcrop. At first glance, it didn’t seem like much, but once inside, the passage narrowed and curved down into an open chamber about 20 feet across. We took turns going in so we wouldn’t overcrowd it. Air was cold, no animal smell—dry and still.
Josh and Jennifer did most of the preliminary examination. The walls bore unmistakable figures—animals drawn in ochre and charcoal. Several appeared to be bison or similar hoofed creatures, all depicted mid-stride. Above them were five solid circular shapes in a line. Yellow-orange pigment, clearly intentional. No smearing. No overlap. Josh confirmed they weren’t modern additions.
Robin took several pigment scrapings to analyze back at the rental. Jennifer remained quiet, studying the shapes. She doesn’t like speculating, but eventually said they didn’t resemble any traditional regional motif she knew of. That got everyone’s attention.
Professor crouched down next to one of the figures and just stared for a while. When I asked what he saw, he said, “Echoes.” I didn’t press him on it.
Vernon tested air quality deeper in the chamber. All safe. No spore levels that could’ve altered perception. Donna and I interviewed everyone on-site immediately after the cave exit to catalog emotional reactions and impressions. Egiel noted that although the cave is shallow and not acoustically dramatic, the group remained unusually quiet once inside. Subtle detail, but something to document.
No one claimed direct paranormal sensations—no vibrations, lights, whispers, or any of the usual tropes. But the age and clarity of the imagery made it feel heavier than expected. A few of us stayed longer, cross-referencing the circular patterns with astronomical alignments and speculative sky symbols. Professor thinks we’re looking at an observation, not a vision.
We finished up around 4:30 p.m., hiked out, and got back to the vehicles before sunset. Too cold and damp to sleep in the cars tonight. We drove to a roadside motel outside Roseburg and split into rooms. Everyone’s beat.
Josh is already sorting sketch reproductions and wants to mail copies to a contact in Seattle. Jennifer’s going to compare the patterns with some native visual archives. Professor said nothing else after the hike. Just cleaned his glasses and went to bed.
⸻
Miles Driven: 130 mi
