Oregon Road Trip

The falls at Klamath Falls (some of them)

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.

Our first stop took us past a flattened lava tube as we headed to see small "chimneys."

Despite the hot, arid landscape, this desiccated tree supported moss.

The park reportedly had hundreds of caves, including a lava tube large enough to stand upright in.

A strong flashlight provided the only illumination for Donna's silhouette.

Afterward we visited a cliff whose basaltic exterior showed  where air pockets cooked in the lava.

Indian rock carvings distinguished the base of the cliff.

Bird nests on the cliff wall

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.

There were lots of dragonflies. This one was at a duck pond in Ashland's theater district.

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.

The lake was stunningly blue this day; there was virtually no haze, despite fires in the region.

Rough rock formations at one viewpoint above the lake.

The trail to Watchman Peak, where the fire station can be made out.

The fire lookout station

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.

Mount Fremont Lookout Trail, Mount Rainier

The view that  greeted me as I began my ascent

Today I rose relatively early and headed out for Mount Rainier's Sunrise visitor area, where I parked the Fit and set out for what would become a hike to the Mount Fremont Lookout. Starting about 11:30 a.m. at approximately an elevation of 6,350  feet, I hiked to the lookout in about 2 hours and returned at 2.45 p.m., just a little longer than the projected 3.5 hour round trip (as indicated on a sign near the trailhead).

One purpose of the hike was to evaluate camping possibilities. I found that, unlike on the weekends, there are likely to be available camp sites during the week.

There were times when I was winded from the combination ascent and elevation, but I surprised myself and was able to make the lookout with plenty of time to spare. The day was comfortably warm with occasional cool alpine breezes. I wore a balaclava in lieu of sun block and forgot to spray my hands to protect from biting insects.

Much of the trail involved a gentle ascent, as indicated in the photo below.

Much of the trail was exposed. Although the ground was hard, it was not uncomfortable.

After following a rather straight trail toward Frozen Lake (the park's water source, apparently), I came to the ascent toward the lookout. Off to the left was an expansive view of valley and mountain.

End of the trail -- the Fremont Lookout

Flowers I passed on the descent

This appeared to be a shallow pika's tunnel, a stone's throw from Frozen Lake.

A desiccated wooden critter sun bathing beside the path

An accidental selfie

Statistics for the day:
Distance: 5.6 miles
Conditions: Clear
Load: 17 pounds
Elevation gain: 900 feet

Statistics, year to date:
Distance: 204 miles 
Elevation Gain: 63,528 feet
Next Goal: 70,000 feet, my Fifth Rainier. 6,472 feet to go.

Mount Peak with Joanie

Joanie, at the columnar basalt before reaching the summit of Mount Peak, Enumclaw WA

It was supposed to be threesome, but I failed to get the word to John. It was a relaxed hike that took three hours round trip. Nothing special, except some Maidenhair ferns that had spectacular dark, almost purple stems. Joanie surprised herself by making the top after negotiating an agreement that she would turn back early.

Statistics for the day:
Distance: 1.8 miles
Conditions: Clear
Load: 17 pounds
Elevation gain: 1,000 feet

Statistics, year to date:
Distance: 195.4 miles 
Elevation Gain: 62,628 feet
Next Goal: 70,000 feet, my Fifth Rainier. 7,372 feet to go.

Rotting old-growth log beside the trail

I felt tired today, and my feet are beat up from hiking in my Asolos, with one god-awful callous by my left big toe that I've been whittling away at. I decided to try the red Puma boots Tracy gave me a couple holiday seasons ago. Maybe longer than that. They have languished.

I was tired and stayed in, getting to the trail at 1:10 p.m., but reaching the top of Tiger 3 at my best time yet, 1 hour, 45 minutes. I was packing only 15 pounds, but I still lacked energy. And yet I made it in that amount of time. The day was warm and I was sweating, and thinking about the charlie horse that I fought with this morning, getting it under control with some quick hydration.

Big screw up: Didn't seal the plastic container tightly enough for my tuna salad, and the juice leaked into my backpack. Be more careful next time.

Ferns growing on a mossy downed log, near a dead snag along the trail

The comfortable ruby slippers

Statistics for the day:
Distance: 6 miles
Conditions: Clear
Load: 15 pounds
Elevation gain: 2,000 feet

Statistics, year to date:
Distance: 193.6 miles 
Elevation Gain: 61,628 feet
Next Goal: 70,000 feet, my Fifth Rainier. 8,372 feet to go.

Mountain Loop Highway, Dosewallips State park

View from campsite at Turlo Campground on Mountain Loop Hiway, east of Granite Falls.

 On June 29 Joan Tito and I set out to drive the Mountain Loop Highway and ended up discovering the lovely Turlo Campground. We pitched a 4-person tent by the river there and spent the night, then headed for Dosewallips State Park on the Olympic Peninsula the next day.

Turlo Campsite #15

 The state park was adjacent to the Dosewallips River, pictured below. This was not a conditioning hiking weekend. This was just a lovely getaway. The photos below were mostly taken the morning of July 1, when Joanie slept in and I hiked what is known as the Steam Donkey Loop Trail -- apparently named for an old logging railroad that ran along the hillside.

Dosewallips River passing Dosewallips State park on Olympic Peninsula

The foreground log makes me think of a giant salamander looking for a night's lodging.

Tree perches on old-growth nurse log.

Statistics for the Weekend:
Distance: Disregard
Conditions: Clear
Load: Negligible 
Elevation gain: disregard

Statistics, year to date:
Distance: 193.6 miles 
Elevation Gain: 59,628 feet
Next Goal: 70,000 feet, my Fifth Rainier. 10,372 feet to go.

Bridge crosses a dry creek bed, called Phantom Creek.