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The falls at Klamath Falls (some of them)
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This road trip was supposed to include a lot of hiking and camping. I only camped one night and only had one substantial hike, but the trip paid off as I learned about the area of Oregon between Bend and Klamath Falls. I used both a time share and a campground and I learned enough about hiking in the area to plan to return next spring, I think.
The trip took me to Olympia, Portland, Bend, Klamath Falls, Lava Beds National Park, Lake of the Woods, Talent, Crater Lake, and back to Portland. Enroute I visited with my college roommate, Paul Swensson, in Olympia and stayed the first night with Melanie Wood, a friend who lives in Portland. I also stayed with Donna Boehm and her friend, Dave, in Talent, OR.
The only significant climb occurred at Crater Lake, with about 20 pounds on my back and only a 400-foot elevation gain. I found myself stopping to breathe. I need to hike more.
The first full day I was there, Monday, July 29, Donna and David, came to visit. We drove to the Lava beds, located in Northern California. We walked in a lava tube and visited native rock art.
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Our first stop took us past a flattened lava tube as we headed to see small "chimneys."
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Despite the hot, arid landscape, this desiccated tree supported moss.
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The park reportedly had hundreds of caves, including a lava tube large enough to stand upright in.
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A strong flashlight provided the only illumination for Donna's silhouette.
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Afterward we visited a cliff whose basaltic exterior showed where air pockets cooked in the lava.
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Indian rock carvings distinguished the base of the cliff.
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Bird nests on the cliff wall
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Hiking statistics for the trip:
Distance: 4 miles
Conditions: Clear, sunny
Load: 17 pounds
Elevation gain: 400 feet at 7,000 feet elevation
Statistics, year to date:
Distance: 208 miles
Elevation Gain: 63,928 feet
Next Goal: 70,000 feet, my Fifth Rainier. 6,072 feet to go.
On Tuesday I drove past Mount Shasta, above, to hike to McCloud Falls, below.
On Wednesday I drove past Klamath Lake, which is heavily polluted, to the point where I believe the actual Klamath Falls had been more spectacular before a small dam was installed. Still, the river flowed furiously, but not enough to intimidate a pelican that calmly watched the swirling water from the safety of a small rock in the river (below). I also spied a river otter bounding across a pathway, far too fast to photograph.
Thursday, Aug. 1, was my last day at the time share. I set out for Talent to visit Donna and Dave, stopping enroute to check out Lake of the Woods, with its view of Mount McLoughlin, below.
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There were lots of dragonflies. This one was at a duck pond in Ashland's theater district.
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On Friday I set out for crater lake, camping in a national forest the first night. Then I hiked the 3.6 miles and 400-foot elevation gain to Watchman Peak, a fire lookout above the lake, before heading on to Portland to stay the night with my friend, Melanie Wood.
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The lake was stunningly blue this day; there was virtually no haze, despite fires in the region.
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Rough rock formations at one viewpoint above the lake.
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The trail to Watchman Peak, where the fire station can be made out.
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The fire lookout station
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I exited the North Entrance to Crater Lake National Park enroute to Portland. By happenstance, I pulled over right at the entrance to the trailhead leading to Fall Creek Falls. A better time to visit is in the late spring, when the canyon leading from the falls is a rushing torrent.
