Dry tent this morning. Didn't use the fly is why.
On the way back to my camp I was regretting spending so much time writing this blog which distracted from my developing a plan. Should I skip the 140 to Crater Lake section til July so I could take advantage of the Crater lake Trolly - Shuttle that Starts in July? I could investigate a possible trail access point near Chemult where I could connect with busses that head north from the Amtrak terminal there?
I decided to bite the bullet and at least do the section from 140 to the Seven Mile trailhead, so I'd need to stacksh some stuff at that trailhead to have a lighter bike ride. I could also find the Trolly terminal in Fort Klamath. So I headed to Fort Klamath.
I'll shag out this dog story a bit further later because I have only 15 more minutes here, but in short, I Stopped at Klamath Falls Resort approaching Ft Klamath and noticed a sign saying Trolly starts running June 12 - tomorrow. Asking around a few places got me to the Trolly Terminal. Talking to one of the drivers, yes the Trolly that tours the rim starts tomorrow. The Shuttle from Klamath Falls starts July 1. But every night the trollies overnight at Fort Klamath, and I could get a ride from Ft Klamath to Crater lake with the driver who leaves Ft Klamath at 8:30 in the morning.
So, now my plan is, tomorrow morning, bicycle down 140 to Fort Klamath and overnight in the forestland at the Seven Mile Guard Station, then next morning do the short bike ride to the Trolly Terminal to catch the trolly by 8:30am.
I spent this afternoon dropping off "weight" at Crater Lake. Now I've picked up my bike and took a shower at Hyatt lake campground and am using wifi at the Green Springs Inn while I'm having dinner. Will be driving to the 140 trailhead parking to pack for tomorrow.
Will be about 4-5 days before I can report back, I think.
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Klamath Falls - Wednesday.
I'm in the middle of editing this...
Woke late, noticed some singing birds and a quacking duck, but dozed back off in the dim light of the tent with fly obscuring the sky. It was about 7:30 before I left the tent and made breakfast in the car. Clear sky, a few whispy clouds. Hadn't re-checked the forecast yesterday. Last I had checked, today would be overcast with rain likely. Took my time getting ready, mainly because the tent was damp, not from rain but the damp environment (that's one reason I tend to like higher-up camp sites, the other being for the view: "camp sights" those become. I could only think of one more errand I needed to run before I was done with klamath falls, besides using the library: Wash my sleeping bag, which was getting really sockey.
I ended up lingering so long at the campsite letting the tent dry that I would be late for the 10am library-opening time. Made it to the library at 10:30. But it was closed. Every weekday except Wednesdays it opened at 10am. Wednesdays it opened at 1pm!
Now I had plenty of time to deal with the parking ticket, and the sockey sleeping bag. Now where did I put that ticket. I actually looked at it in the car the previous night while watching the egret. Now I couldn't find it anywhere. not in the glove compartment, not among the junk on the passenger seat. Checked the glove compartment again. Found my passport that I was looking for before I left California, though I had looked for it in my glove compartment several times. I had even cleaned out the extraneous gas receipts I stuff in the glove compartment. Looked in the glove compartment a third time, there it was. Mysterious place, that glove compartment!
Now for a stamp. That would be another project, I feared. I remembered putting some in the glove compartment but who knows? The envelope gave me three options what to do to pay the bail. One option was to hand it to the clerk at the municipal court, at 500 Main Street, which was just down the street. So I started walking east toward the big County court building, the address there was in the 400's. For some reason I thought the blocks ascended in the other direction so I walked back. 300's, so turn around again.
Each time I was walking past two shabby looking locals chatting, and they were now smiling at me. "Lost?" I explained. They gave me the obvious directions but thought the court would be closed. I'll check anyway. it was. Passing them again, I asked directions to a laundromat. They again pointed in the direction of the court. At the end of Main St, by the bridge... they gave a bit more detail, and assumed I was walking. I'd figure it out. Main is one-way the other way so I'd approach it from Klamath, probably.
Back at the car I Looked at the other option on the ticket. It was an address on the south side of town, back where the Credit Union is. Oh, I did want to check my balance there. So I made a trip to the south half of Klamath Falls, a strip mall-ish place, found the CU, checked my bal at the ATM, still OK, no transfer needed. Now back to look for the laundromat.
Got to where I imagined it should be without immediate luck. Asked some workers at a utility truck with cones about. "Oh watch out you're messing up our paint job, pointing to the yellow curb, now with my sandal-prints. Oh, sorry! wiping my shoes, making a further mess of smeared yellow paint. They were not sure, maybe on Spring St? I circled around again, stopped at Shark's Sandwich shop and ordered a "half-longboard" and asked. they directed me to just beyond the underpass next block north.
Plainly signed "LAUNDROMAT" in large letters on the wall, but I had driven past it at least once before! It included a laundry service and a ministorage, and seemed to be staffed with several people. I put my bag in the wash, then asked whether they had WIFI. They did! Got my blog a small bit further along, Took some picts of the "nice touches" at that place (I must be developing a taste for laundromats.)
Suddenly remembered about the ticket. Checked my glove compartment, and amazingly found the stamps immediately. Now just need to find a mailbox. I asked someone at the laundromat. They said the post office was nearby. I found it on the map, so when I my bag was done I headed there.
Passing by the Klamath Museum, I decided to stop there - see if I could find those historical pictures of the Falls that the worker at the park had mentioned. I bought two post card photos of the Falls supposedly taken from the same location, but the ridges don't match up while the river sort of does. I may have to investigate in person, try to take the right "after" photo.
Driving on, I found a mail box, deposited the ticket, went on to the library, again spent till lst possible second before 8pm updating my blog (as a result posting an entry in mid-edit. Hopefully no one got too confused by that.
Again headed to the Hagelstein Park boat launch for the night.
Woke late, noticed some singing birds and a quacking duck, but dozed back off in the dim light of the tent with fly obscuring the sky. It was about 7:30 before I left the tent and made breakfast in the car. Clear sky, a few whispy clouds. Hadn't re-checked the forecast yesterday. Last I had checked, today would be overcast with rain likely. Took my time getting ready, mainly because the tent was damp, not from rain but the damp environment (that's one reason I tend to like higher-up camp sites, the other being for the view: "camp sights" those become. I could only think of one more errand I needed to run before I was done with klamath falls, besides using the library: Wash my sleeping bag, which was getting really sockey.
I ended up lingering so long at the campsite letting the tent dry that I would be late for the 10am library-opening time. Made it to the library at 10:30. But it was closed. Every weekday except Wednesdays it opened at 10am. Wednesdays it opened at 1pm!
Now I had plenty of time to deal with the parking ticket, and the sockey sleeping bag. Now where did I put that ticket. I actually looked at it in the car the previous night while watching the egret. Now I couldn't find it anywhere. not in the glove compartment, not among the junk on the passenger seat. Checked the glove compartment again. Found my passport that I was looking for before I left California, though I had looked for it in my glove compartment several times. I had even cleaned out the extraneous gas receipts I stuff in the glove compartment. Looked in the glove compartment a third time, there it was. Mysterious place, that glove compartment!
Now for a stamp. That would be another project, I feared. I remembered putting some in the glove compartment but who knows? The envelope gave me three options what to do to pay the bail. One option was to hand it to the clerk at the municipal court, at 500 Main Street, which was just down the street. So I started walking east toward the big County court building, the address there was in the 400's. For some reason I thought the blocks ascended in the other direction so I walked back. 300's, so turn around again.
Each time I was walking past two shabby looking locals chatting, and they were now smiling at me. "Lost?" I explained. They gave me the obvious directions but thought the court would be closed. I'll check anyway. it was. Passing them again, I asked directions to a laundromat. They again pointed in the direction of the court. At the end of Main St, by the bridge... they gave a bit more detail, and assumed I was walking. I'd figure it out. Main is one-way the other way so I'd approach it from Klamath, probably.
Back at the car I Looked at the other option on the ticket. It was an address on the south side of town, back where the Credit Union is. Oh, I did want to check my balance there. So I made a trip to the south half of Klamath Falls, a strip mall-ish place, found the CU, checked my bal at the ATM, still OK, no transfer needed. Now back to look for the laundromat.
Got to where I imagined it should be without immediate luck. Asked some workers at a utility truck with cones about. "Oh watch out you're messing up our paint job, pointing to the yellow curb, now with my sandal-prints. Oh, sorry! wiping my shoes, making a further mess of smeared yellow paint. They were not sure, maybe on Spring St? I circled around again, stopped at Shark's Sandwich shop and ordered a "half-longboard" and asked. they directed me to just beyond the underpass next block north.
Plainly signed "LAUNDROMAT" in large letters on the wall, but I had driven past it at least once before! It included a laundry service and a ministorage, and seemed to be staffed with several people. I put my bag in the wash, then asked whether they had WIFI. They did! Got my blog a small bit further along, Took some picts of the "nice touches" at that place (I must be developing a taste for laundromats.)
Suddenly remembered about the ticket. Checked my glove compartment, and amazingly found the stamps immediately. Now just need to find a mailbox. I asked someone at the laundromat. They said the post office was nearby. I found it on the map, so when I my bag was done I headed there.
Passing by the Klamath Museum, I decided to stop there - see if I could find those historical pictures of the Falls that the worker at the park had mentioned. I bought two post card photos of the Falls supposedly taken from the same location, but the ridges don't match up while the river sort of does. I may have to investigate in person, try to take the right "after" photo.
Driving on, I found a mail box, deposited the ticket, went on to the library, again spent till lst possible second before 8pm updating my blog (as a result posting an entry in mid-edit. Hopefully no one got too confused by that.
Again headed to the Hagelstein Park boat launch for the night.
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
Klamath Falls - Tuesday
Thunder. Lightning. Half awake, got outside, unhitched the tent from the poles, folded the poles, folded the tent with pad & bag still inside, unlocked the car, stuffed the package into the back, started the car, turned around, headed downhill. No rain yet, lightning flashing all over, great views over Upper Klamath Lake to the southwest. Stopped to photograph the clouds turning orange from a sunrise almost there. Stopped a few more times on the way down, patches of rain over the lake and , along the ridge. Just missed catching lightning several times. Probably could have caught one by just snapping away a barrage of about a dozen. But I feared I might also get bolted during that barrage. The clouds seemed to be using that very strategy to get me.
Back down at the highway, turned left to continue south to Klamath Falls. Immediately after the road I took was the entrance to Hagelsien Park. Oh well, I guess I took the correct turn in the dark last night by mistake. Onwards, I got sprayed by a few splashes of rain along the way, but had to use washer fluid to clean yesterday's bugs off the glass. Not enough to wash the car. Although it looked like my bike back somewhere on the far ridge top to the west got wet.
Passed a Pilot gas station on the left. Stopped to get gas at under $3/gal, asked the attendant where I could fill a 6 gallon water jug, he pointed to the "pump-handled" water spigot at the RV filling station. Got my water as it started sprinkling a bit. Went inside & grabbed a coffee and asked the cashier where there would be a grocery store. She directed me to take the next exit south then right (is what I remembered hearing) then bla bla bla on the right. Thanks. Took that exit which confusingly seems to have three names, Oregon Ave. to the left toward Klamath Falls, Nevada Ave. then Lakeshore Ave to the right. or so Also, the sign to the right said to Lake of the Woods. Ah! To hwy 140. I'll be heading back to there in a day or two. Took the right, looking for the grocery store. Instead, passed by Moore Park. Turned around at the next opportunity, a dock, pausing to photograph the large sailboat moored there, before returning to the Park to have breakfast, etc.
Parked at a large gazebo covering a dozen picnic tables. The roof seemed like just old tar paper needing to be replaced. Rotten Timber beams jutted from the eaves. Still threatened rain, so I brought my breakfast and camera out to the tables anticipating maybe some picts of the park lake frontage taken through flowing water from the roof. No rain, but it was a balmy early morning. Some workers arrived and started "digging holes", it seemed, in the sidewalks. I decided to use the bathroom to the left, by way of a detour to the lake with my camera. By the time I'd looped back to the bathroom, a large RV full of people had parked by that bathroom, so I decided to walk to the one further east, which brought me past the workers. I saw they were clearing the grasses growing in large cracks in the sidewalks, they said they would be patching those cracks. When I got back to the car, two pickups had parked next to me and workmen were setting up ladders at the Gazebo Roof. "Roofing?" No, we'll hire contractors for that, we're just removing the old one, yesterday we took off the shingles, what a mess, today we'll do the rest of it, and saw off those rotten timbers." "I dont' notice any shingle debris lying around, you cleaned up pretty well. This is a nice park, must take lots of maintenance." "Yes, especially on the other side." He pointed to the fancy gate across the road. "Oh, so this must be the main park for Klamath Falls?" "Yes. There are tennis courts over there, birding trails, other facilities."
So I drove across the road, parked at a locked gate to the scenic drive. It was still early morning. I asked some dog walkers taking that road whether the gate opens later, they said no. I grabbed my camera and took a path up the ridge to the north, expecting a view of the lake. The path hit the switchbacking road then it curved at a nice viewpoint of the lake. The the dog walkers caught up with me there.
Back at the car, I checked my map to find this park - no hint of it on the map. I noted "Klamath Falls" labeling a point along the river below the lake. A road was shown along the river, so I thought I'd take that road and visit the namesake of the town. I continued around the "inner loop", passing another locked gate at what I presumed was the other end of the scenic drive, and back at the entrance, passing a worker fiddling with some lawn sprinklers. Took a right on the main road expecting a quick 'nother right onto the river road. found only a jogging path. No one around there at the time, circled back the park entrance and asked the sprinkler guy about that road. "No road, just the path. Not much of a falls anymore either, better to just look at the historical pictures in the museum." " I asked him about why Fort Klamath is such a ghost town. "Used to have a logging mill, then just a brothel for a while, now just some resort cabins." "Nice park for this town, though" I said. "Yes, well, except we won't be able to water enough this year to keep the grass green." "Should plant native plants" I said. "Yes, I know we should."
Drove on eastward into downtown, and found the grocery store. Stocked up with just about everything I would be needing for the next month, including the foil bags of cooked chicken chunks that I couldn't find back in California lately. These offer variety to the foil bags of tuna and Salmon that I can find everywhere.
I asked the clerk where's the library - she didn't know. Asked what about a bike shop? "Oh, there's Hutch's nearby. Go down 6th then left on Klamath. It will be on the right after 8th." "Great! Thanks! And how about a credit union? (I needed to check my balance, maybe transfer some.) "OK I know there's Rogue Credit Union in South Klamath on Washburn. Just continue on 6th then take a right it will be on the left." I thanked her and continued down 6th St and quickly took a right on Main because I thought I might find the library. Sure enough, right near the county center. parked and checked the hours. opened 10am. I had two more hours to kill. Continued on down Main and passed a bus stop with some busses parked. Thought I'd fish the driver for more info on bus connections than I'd researched previously on the web. Asked a Point Transit driver of any connections to Bend. "Amtrak. Take Klamath and curve right to Spring, You'll see the station on the left." Thanks! (I knew about Amtrak Klamath lake to Chemalt, with various bus connections that were not yet clear to me, so welcomed the opportunity to get more detail of connections with Bend's bus system which only goes as far south as La Pine.)
I looped around again to Klamath, and noticed Hutch's bike shop on the right. Stopped and asked about buying wider tires for my old 27 inch road bike. (I could use these on the crushed gravel road to Seven Mile Marsh trailhead as well as later in Washington on my contemplated ride up the Iron Horse old railroad grade, described as a "soft surface trail", from North Bend to Snoqualmie Pass. I would swap my rear wheel tire to the wider tread one if necessary. I knew I'd need to order the tire and pick it up later.) Unfortunately I didn't have my bike along, it was still stashed at Howard Prairie lake. He wanted to see the bike to make sure he ordered for the right rim size and brake lever clearance. I said I'd be back.
On again to Spring Street, found the Point Bus Terminal on the right. A bus was blocking the road while it was parking. I stopped and looked around for an office on the right, then asked him where I could get info on their bus routes, explaining when he asked my purpose about my goal of finding loops to-from the PCT. He pointed to the Crater Lake Trolly Office on the other side of the road. The driver parking the Point bus said he was the owner of the Crater lake Shuttle Sure enough, one of the foux trolly busses I had seen last year at Crater Lake was parked in front. In fact now I may have talked to that same person at that time driving the Trolly, while he was waiting for his passengers to get their photoops. I took a picture of the driver leaning against the shuttle while the tourists were taking pictures of the lake, at that time unfortunately views smudged out by smoke. But I didn't persue that with him now.
In the office, person with headphones was answering a caller's questions. when he was done I asked about whether the Crater lake shuttle might stop at Fort Klamath. He said first of all, the shuttle doesn't start til July 1, but yes, Fort Klamath is where they actually transfer passengers from a van from Klamath Falls to the Trolly to Crater Lake. One shuttle run each direction per day, midday the Trolly makes several tourguide loops around the lake. $15 from Klamath Falls, only $10 from Fort Klamath. PCT hikers can make arrangements to be dropped off/picked up at the trailhead in Crater Lake, and also at the hwy 140 trailhead on the bus between Medford and Klamath Falls, but on that, he said, we'd be charged the full cost of the KF-Medford run, $25.
I asked him where the Amtrak station was. It was around the corner on the next block. There, I got the current Amtrach Ststem Timetable for spring/fall 2015, and asked the attendant about the connection to Bend. Train from Klamath Falls to Chemult (which is northeast of Crater Lake) and a bus from there to Bend. There is also a bus from Bend to Sisters, which may provide feasible bicycle access to the trail along hwy 20 or 240. I asked if one could take the busses without taking the train. Yes by booking directly wit the bus companies. One of these was TAC, another High Desert Transit They they gave me a number 541 382-4193 for one of these, but I still need to sort this out. The Chemult to Bend bus leaves at 9:40am, return bus leaves Bend at 5:50 pm. the attandant seemed to not have schedule info on the Sisters bus. maybe it only runs during skiing season? That's the case for the Bend to Mt Bachelor bus, otherwise also potential access to the trail.
I got back to the library just as it opened. Spent the rest of that day 10am-8pm rewriting my prior blogs and pushing them forward a bit further. Got outside to an ongoing thunderstorm. And a parking ticket. I had parked in a 2-hour zone. Luckily only a 10 "bail". But I better make sure to mail it in. Would need to find a stamp. I'd find that later. Would have more time before the library opened again tomorrow morning.
Headed back to my previous night's camping spot, but kept my eyes peeled for alternatives, concerned about the lightning risk on the ridge top. A rainbow was developing to my right as I approached my turn. I decided to investigate Hagelstein Park, which was just before the road I had taken up the ridge the previous night. It turned out to have a boat launch into a little lagoon off the lake. There were a few tents pitched and an RV parked well away from the lagoon. No sign of a fee station. I drove to the boat launch, turning my car to take a picture of the rainbow across the lagoon from my car window.
Next to the launch was a nice flat patch of turf - obviously laid out there like a carpet to be a tent site. Parked my car next to that, with a nice view of the lagoon, so I just sat there for a while, as dusk settled in and the rain stopped. Some egrets were perched in the trees, cottonwoods I think, to my right. One of them flew down into the shallow water right in front of me. it was too dark to take a good photo through the car window so I just watched how it would take a large step every few seconds while whipping it's neck about for balance and to get the right angled view into the water I guess. It looked like the fly fisherman I had watched from the laundry room fishing at the creek/lagoon by the Waterwheel campground a few days ago. There, the fisherman was making very jittery, it seemed to me, corrections to the trajectory of the line, to land the end just so. Here, the egret's neck and head tapered much like the fly line does, or should that be stated the other way round? A few times, the egret stabbed into the water, each time, coming up and swallowing something.
Waited to make sure the rain had stopped for good before getting out and pitching my tent. Put on the fly this time.
Back down at the highway, turned left to continue south to Klamath Falls. Immediately after the road I took was the entrance to Hagelsien Park. Oh well, I guess I took the correct turn in the dark last night by mistake. Onwards, I got sprayed by a few splashes of rain along the way, but had to use washer fluid to clean yesterday's bugs off the glass. Not enough to wash the car. Although it looked like my bike back somewhere on the far ridge top to the west got wet.
Passed a Pilot gas station on the left. Stopped to get gas at under $3/gal, asked the attendant where I could fill a 6 gallon water jug, he pointed to the "pump-handled" water spigot at the RV filling station. Got my water as it started sprinkling a bit. Went inside & grabbed a coffee and asked the cashier where there would be a grocery store. She directed me to take the next exit south then right (is what I remembered hearing) then bla bla bla on the right. Thanks. Took that exit which confusingly seems to have three names, Oregon Ave. to the left toward Klamath Falls, Nevada Ave. then Lakeshore Ave to the right. or so Also, the sign to the right said to Lake of the Woods. Ah! To hwy 140. I'll be heading back to there in a day or two. Took the right, looking for the grocery store. Instead, passed by Moore Park. Turned around at the next opportunity, a dock, pausing to photograph the large sailboat moored there, before returning to the Park to have breakfast, etc.
Parked at a large gazebo covering a dozen picnic tables. The roof seemed like just old tar paper needing to be replaced. Rotten Timber beams jutted from the eaves. Still threatened rain, so I brought my breakfast and camera out to the tables anticipating maybe some picts of the park lake frontage taken through flowing water from the roof. No rain, but it was a balmy early morning. Some workers arrived and started "digging holes", it seemed, in the sidewalks. I decided to use the bathroom to the left, by way of a detour to the lake with my camera. By the time I'd looped back to the bathroom, a large RV full of people had parked by that bathroom, so I decided to walk to the one further east, which brought me past the workers. I saw they were clearing the grasses growing in large cracks in the sidewalks, they said they would be patching those cracks. When I got back to the car, two pickups had parked next to me and workmen were setting up ladders at the Gazebo Roof. "Roofing?" No, we'll hire contractors for that, we're just removing the old one, yesterday we took off the shingles, what a mess, today we'll do the rest of it, and saw off those rotten timbers." "I dont' notice any shingle debris lying around, you cleaned up pretty well. This is a nice park, must take lots of maintenance." "Yes, especially on the other side." He pointed to the fancy gate across the road. "Oh, so this must be the main park for Klamath Falls?" "Yes. There are tennis courts over there, birding trails, other facilities."
So I drove across the road, parked at a locked gate to the scenic drive. It was still early morning. I asked some dog walkers taking that road whether the gate opens later, they said no. I grabbed my camera and took a path up the ridge to the north, expecting a view of the lake. The path hit the switchbacking road then it curved at a nice viewpoint of the lake. The the dog walkers caught up with me there.
Back at the car, I checked my map to find this park - no hint of it on the map. I noted "Klamath Falls" labeling a point along the river below the lake. A road was shown along the river, so I thought I'd take that road and visit the namesake of the town. I continued around the "inner loop", passing another locked gate at what I presumed was the other end of the scenic drive, and back at the entrance, passing a worker fiddling with some lawn sprinklers. Took a right on the main road expecting a quick 'nother right onto the river road. found only a jogging path. No one around there at the time, circled back the park entrance and asked the sprinkler guy about that road. "No road, just the path. Not much of a falls anymore either, better to just look at the historical pictures in the museum." " I asked him about why Fort Klamath is such a ghost town. "Used to have a logging mill, then just a brothel for a while, now just some resort cabins." "Nice park for this town, though" I said. "Yes, well, except we won't be able to water enough this year to keep the grass green." "Should plant native plants" I said. "Yes, I know we should."
Drove on eastward into downtown, and found the grocery store. Stocked up with just about everything I would be needing for the next month, including the foil bags of cooked chicken chunks that I couldn't find back in California lately. These offer variety to the foil bags of tuna and Salmon that I can find everywhere.
I asked the clerk where's the library - she didn't know. Asked what about a bike shop? "Oh, there's Hutch's nearby. Go down 6th then left on Klamath. It will be on the right after 8th." "Great! Thanks! And how about a credit union? (I needed to check my balance, maybe transfer some.) "OK I know there's Rogue Credit Union in South Klamath on Washburn. Just continue on 6th then take a right it will be on the left." I thanked her and continued down 6th St and quickly took a right on Main because I thought I might find the library. Sure enough, right near the county center. parked and checked the hours. opened 10am. I had two more hours to kill. Continued on down Main and passed a bus stop with some busses parked. Thought I'd fish the driver for more info on bus connections than I'd researched previously on the web. Asked a Point Transit driver of any connections to Bend. "Amtrak. Take Klamath and curve right to Spring, You'll see the station on the left." Thanks! (I knew about Amtrak Klamath lake to Chemalt, with various bus connections that were not yet clear to me, so welcomed the opportunity to get more detail of connections with Bend's bus system which only goes as far south as La Pine.)
I looped around again to Klamath, and noticed Hutch's bike shop on the right. Stopped and asked about buying wider tires for my old 27 inch road bike. (I could use these on the crushed gravel road to Seven Mile Marsh trailhead as well as later in Washington on my contemplated ride up the Iron Horse old railroad grade, described as a "soft surface trail", from North Bend to Snoqualmie Pass. I would swap my rear wheel tire to the wider tread one if necessary. I knew I'd need to order the tire and pick it up later.) Unfortunately I didn't have my bike along, it was still stashed at Howard Prairie lake. He wanted to see the bike to make sure he ordered for the right rim size and brake lever clearance. I said I'd be back.
On again to Spring Street, found the Point Bus Terminal on the right. A bus was blocking the road while it was parking. I stopped and looked around for an office on the right, then asked him where I could get info on their bus routes, explaining when he asked my purpose about my goal of finding loops to-from the PCT. He pointed to the Crater Lake Trolly Office on the other side of the road. The driver parking the Point bus said he was the owner of the Crater lake Shuttle Sure enough, one of the foux trolly busses I had seen last year at Crater Lake was parked in front. In fact now I may have talked to that same person at that time driving the Trolly, while he was waiting for his passengers to get their photoops. I took a picture of the driver leaning against the shuttle while the tourists were taking pictures of the lake, at that time unfortunately views smudged out by smoke. But I didn't persue that with him now.
In the office, person with headphones was answering a caller's questions. when he was done I asked about whether the Crater lake shuttle might stop at Fort Klamath. He said first of all, the shuttle doesn't start til July 1, but yes, Fort Klamath is where they actually transfer passengers from a van from Klamath Falls to the Trolly to Crater Lake. One shuttle run each direction per day, midday the Trolly makes several tourguide loops around the lake. $15 from Klamath Falls, only $10 from Fort Klamath. PCT hikers can make arrangements to be dropped off/picked up at the trailhead in Crater Lake, and also at the hwy 140 trailhead on the bus between Medford and Klamath Falls, but on that, he said, we'd be charged the full cost of the KF-Medford run, $25.
I asked him where the Amtrak station was. It was around the corner on the next block. There, I got the current Amtrach Ststem Timetable for spring/fall 2015, and asked the attendant about the connection to Bend. Train from Klamath Falls to Chemult (which is northeast of Crater Lake) and a bus from there to Bend. There is also a bus from Bend to Sisters, which may provide feasible bicycle access to the trail along hwy 20 or 240. I asked if one could take the busses without taking the train. Yes by booking directly wit the bus companies. One of these was TAC, another High Desert Transit They they gave me a number 541 382-4193 for one of these, but I still need to sort this out. The Chemult to Bend bus leaves at 9:40am, return bus leaves Bend at 5:50 pm. the attandant seemed to not have schedule info on the Sisters bus. maybe it only runs during skiing season? That's the case for the Bend to Mt Bachelor bus, otherwise also potential access to the trail.
I got back to the library just as it opened. Spent the rest of that day 10am-8pm rewriting my prior blogs and pushing them forward a bit further. Got outside to an ongoing thunderstorm. And a parking ticket. I had parked in a 2-hour zone. Luckily only a 10 "bail". But I better make sure to mail it in. Would need to find a stamp. I'd find that later. Would have more time before the library opened again tomorrow morning.
Headed back to my previous night's camping spot, but kept my eyes peeled for alternatives, concerned about the lightning risk on the ridge top. A rainbow was developing to my right as I approached my turn. I decided to investigate Hagelstein Park, which was just before the road I had taken up the ridge the previous night. It turned out to have a boat launch into a little lagoon off the lake. There were a few tents pitched and an RV parked well away from the lagoon. No sign of a fee station. I drove to the boat launch, turning my car to take a picture of the rainbow across the lagoon from my car window.
Next to the launch was a nice flat patch of turf - obviously laid out there like a carpet to be a tent site. Parked my car next to that, with a nice view of the lagoon, so I just sat there for a while, as dusk settled in and the rain stopped. Some egrets were perched in the trees, cottonwoods I think, to my right. One of them flew down into the shallow water right in front of me. it was too dark to take a good photo through the car window so I just watched how it would take a large step every few seconds while whipping it's neck about for balance and to get the right angled view into the water I guess. It looked like the fly fisherman I had watched from the laundry room fishing at the creek/lagoon by the Waterwheel campground a few days ago. There, the fisherman was making very jittery, it seemed to me, corrections to the trajectory of the line, to land the end just so. Here, the egret's neck and head tapered much like the fly line does, or should that be stated the other way round? A few times, the egret stabbed into the water, each time, coming up and swallowing something.
Waited to make sure the rain had stopped for good before getting out and pitching my tent. Put on the fly this time.
Monday, June 8, 2015
approaching Klamath Falls
From the junction with Seven Mile Road of NFD3200/NF3100 after my scavenger hunt to find Seven Mile Guard Station and Seven Mile Marsh Trailhead this Monday late afternoon, I had to check the map how to get to Klamath Falls. I chose the east side route, so took a left back northeast toward Fort Klamath, a bit confused again by the rounded curves of the designated main-drag disguising a series of right and left turns at four-way intersections shown on Delorme's map, but managed to recognize the junction of hwy 62 heading south along the east side of Upper klamath Lake.
A few miles south of the Fort Klamath junction I saw an RV campground, The Waterwheel. Stopped to take a shower, and fill up my 6 gallon water jug. "$5 for the shower, and um, the water tastes bad, but go ahead, there's a sink in the laundry room." OK. Took my shower (the water smelled bad) and I filled up one bottle of water just in case, then asked if I could use the laundry and did they have WiFi. Yes, yes. OK! Started writing my first post about my last loop bike/hike between Fish Lake/hwy 140 and Howard Prairie Lake, combined with my first draft of the Seven Mile/Fort Klamath post. It was dark by the time I sent that post, and luckily I remembered my wash was still in the drier before I left.
Before I drove on I looked at the map to find some possibilities to camp. Winema National Forest land bordered the road to the east, so it was just a matter of finding a road into that area. I missed the first such access south of Lobert Junction, but saw the sign to Hagelstein Park which coincided with a road back up the Modoc Rim into the Forest land. I thought I almost missed the turn in the dark, saw a glimpse of a road just as I was passing, did a semi-U-turn back into it. The gravel road switchbacked up the ridge , signs of hunter's at the turnouts I inspected, finally found a nice grassy spot by a small turnout, camped there.
A few miles south of the Fort Klamath junction I saw an RV campground, The Waterwheel. Stopped to take a shower, and fill up my 6 gallon water jug. "$5 for the shower, and um, the water tastes bad, but go ahead, there's a sink in the laundry room." OK. Took my shower (the water smelled bad) and I filled up one bottle of water just in case, then asked if I could use the laundry and did they have WiFi. Yes, yes. OK! Started writing my first post about my last loop bike/hike between Fish Lake/hwy 140 and Howard Prairie Lake, combined with my first draft of the Seven Mile/Fort Klamath post. It was dark by the time I sent that post, and luckily I remembered my wash was still in the drier before I left.
Before I drove on I looked at the map to find some possibilities to camp. Winema National Forest land bordered the road to the east, so it was just a matter of finding a road into that area. I missed the first such access south of Lobert Junction, but saw the sign to Hagelstein Park which coincided with a road back up the Modoc Rim into the Forest land. I thought I almost missed the turn in the dark, saw a glimpse of a road just as I was passing, did a semi-U-turn back into it. The gravel road switchbacked up the ridge , signs of hunter's at the turnouts I inspected, finally found a nice grassy spot by a small turnout, camped there.
Seven Mile Guard Station, Fort Klamath
During my hike I had already decided I would postpone fetching my bike and instead first drive east then north to "ground-truth" a possible "midpoint" PCT access between hwy 140 and Crater lake via a spur trail from Seven Mile Marsh Campground west of the Seven Mile Guard Station west of Fort Klamath, that would offer a two-loop alternative to the single loop involving what would be a long bicycle ride down hwy 62 from Crater Lake then south along the west side of the marshy upper Klamath Lake basin to hwy 140 then a long climb west up hwy 140 to the PCT trailhead parking (where I just finished hiking north to) between Lake Of The Woods and Fish Lake.
Specifically, my plans, hatched out based on my smoke-escape motivated northbound scouting-drive last summer, assisted by my Delorme Oregon Road Atlas, was to take NFD 3231 (according to Delorme) off of hwy 62 just south of that southern "finger" of the National Park Boundary along route 62. According to Delorme, NFD 3231 becomes NFD 3200 which passes Seven Mile Guard Station (west of Fort Klamath. (At that Guard station is a road 3334 west along seven mile creek to the Seven Mile Marsh Campground with the spur trail to the PCT. Continuing south on NFD 3200 according to Delorme brings you to a three-way junction (with eastbound Seven Mile Road.) The southern branch of that Y is Primary Forest Route 34 AKA Westside Road which terminates at hwy 140. But last year coming from hwy 140 I had missed the left turn at what I expected to be that "Y" junction to Seven Mile Guard Station, and I just drove on past Ft Klamath to Crater lake.
I Figured this time I could leave food and water at the Seven Mile Marsh Campground, if that turned out to be feasible, then return to Howard Prairie Lk by way of Klamath Falls, lingering there long enough to do my laundry, update this blog, get more food & water. Except, I already didn't have enough water (the 6 gallon jug I had along was empty, and two of three additional gallon jugs were empty, the last was half-full, but I was thirsty, so that would go fast. I assumed I'd find water in Fort Klamath (I thought I remembered blowing past a small store there last year on my way to Crater lake.)
This time, driving eastbound down hwy 140 I noticed that while the eastbound paved shoulder was a comfortable 3ft wide, the uphill westbound side it was a mere 1ft! WTF! Another strike against a bicycle climb up 140!
Approaching the "maze" around Fort Klamath, I again missed the turn to the Seven Mile Guard Station, instead blowing through a high-speed curve to the right as Westside Road becomes Seven mile Road. Again blew through Fort Klamath not sure if I remembered noticing a store. Found myself entering the little southern extension of Crater Lake Park before I slowed down. No problem, turn around and look for the right turn I'd take onto NFD 3231 on my potential two-loop bicycle ride from Crater lake to the Seven Mile Guard Station. Couldn't find it! Found a gravel road labeled NF350 opposite a snow park at the approximate location, which might correspond to the eastern part of Delorme's NFD 3213. Maybe NFD 3231 connects to NF350?
But I didn't bother driving down NF350 to find out, unfortunately. Instead decided to approach it from the other end. Drove back to Fort Klamath and did find the west turn onto Nicholson Road that led to the Guard Station. Again noticed a high speed curve directing traffic onto southbound Hackler Road rather than continuing west no Nicholsen Road to the Guard Station. But I was now onto them now! The same people keep taking down the signs to the secretive community of Bodega Bay at the south end of Point Reyes National Seashore! (Not sure why that would be in this case though - to keep people away from the Seven Mile Creek maybe? Rest of the valley plain is cattle pasture.)
The paved Nicholson Road extension curved north becoming NFD 3200 at the Guard Station intersection. I decided to save for later exploring the northern end of NFD 3200 becoming NFD3231 then maybe NF350 before hitting Crater lake hwy 32. First priority was to check out that road NFD 3334 alongside Seven Mile Creek to the Seven Mile Marsh campground/PCT spur trail trailhead. That was the left turn at the "traffic-diversion curve" onto a gravel road, which passed by a driveway to a set of buildings that must be the Guard Station, followed shortly by a "Y" split with the right turn northward labeled as heading to the Seven Mile Marsh trailhead. Yay! Upward ho! It started off pretty level, becoming gradually steeper as it curved west. Only problem, it was rather course, sharp-edged crushed gravel. Not good for road-bike tires. But still doable aerobically in my lowest gear. And slow speed in this setting beats slow speed on high-speed hwy 140 psychologically. Continuing on, there's an equestrian trailhead on the left, and straight ahead a sign promising a hiker's trailhead. The road becomes very steep - I would definitely be walking my bike at that point, so would definitely be taking the equestrian trail if I even made it that far. No place to turn around my car, so continued on about two miles to the trailheaad, having a sign saying PCT 1 1/3 miles. Rather steep terrain well above the creek No sign of a marsh or campground, as the Delorme map would suggest. Back down to the Equestrian Trailhead. Sign says PCT 3 1/2 miles. So the signs at least are consistent.
Back down to the Guard Station intersection. Now for that Crater lake hwy 32 junction. Started heading north on the paved NFD 3200, noticed a sight saying Seven Mile Guard station at a driveway to those buildings, with two cars parked. looked at the time - 4:45, maybe they're still open. Backed up and drove in, arked in front of the first building. Young lady pops out the door says "Hello! I'm Eva, Who are you?" "I'm a hiker, I guess. Was just checking out the Seven Mile PCT trailhead here, seeing if I could bicycle to it. I'm now trying to check out the connection to here with the Crater lake hwy." Couldn't find the connection from the hwy. Does this road connect to hwy 62?" "I think so." "Good. Do you Have water?" "Mmm... I have some..." "Mmmm, I'm trying to fill a 6 gallon jug." Oh no, I get my drinking water delivered in bottles" (points to the cooler-water jugs on the porch. There is non-potable water from the hose, tastes bad, has lots of iron." "Is there a grocery store near by?" "Mmmm no, there a very small store in Fort Klamath." "So the closest really is Klamath Falls?" "Yes." "Well, I was heading there anyway to use the library." "Could I ask you more about your PCT hiking, if you don't mind?
We had a long conversation, She was stationed there for three months, she said. She was still going to college, at Green... (something or other - I recognized the name, but now am blanking) in Washington. Agriculture, but her interest is more gardening than large scale ag. Would like to hike the PCT, but also taking several years. Also into birding, she said. Mentioned some fledgeling robins in that tree over there. Learning bird songs. Wee had a discussion on our lack of understanding of their language. "Yes, scientists are beginning to discover that they don't know much about bird communication" she said.
The conversation could have been longer, except I had my agenda to complete. In retrospect I _should_ have stayed longer, she seemed very lonely there (what with all the roads diverting people away.) I did ask her if she gets many visitors. She gets some. "There were some people yesterday asking about what what kind of birding was around." I could have asked more about what the Guard Station was all about. I've now learnt more here:
http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/regions/Pacific_Northwest/Sevenmile/index.shtml
I note that this page has directions mentioning NF3300 as the road heading south from here to connect with Westside Road. Delorme's calls this NFD 3200. Now I'm not sure what I actually saw on the signs here, especially since at the West side road end, it's signed as NF3100! Haven't yet double-checked Google maps, though I remember seeing differences, and being confused.
Anyway, I headed off north on Delorme's NFD 3200 confirmed in the above directions. It did come to a "Y" at the point Delorme labels as a straight continuation of NFD3200 and an angled right onto NFD 3231. The sign said hwy 62 Crater Lk was to the right. Took it, still paved, to another intersection with a gravel road signed NF 390. (No mention of hwy 62 or Crater Lake.) I continued straight. After a few more angled intersections with dirt roads, the paved straight-ahead split into two very little used dirt, not gravel, roads. At an obvoius dead end, I turned around, back to the last signed intersection, turned left northeast onto NF390, that wound along for "quite a long while" with no hwy 32 appearing within my sense of space & time should have occurred, so I was lost, turned around, back past the guard station. Wanted to stop and ask again, but also felt a bit foolish, so I passed by and continued south on NFD 3300 or whatever it was. This skirted the edge of a series of marshes, and finally "J'd" left to intersect West Side Road. The road I was on was signed NF3100 (visible only after one has entered the road.) The intersection with high speed West Side Road was an inconspicuous forest road to "nowhere". No signed mention of the guard station, or Seven Mile Marsh Campground/Trailhead, or anything! Still not sure why this seemingly systematic, de-emphasis of or diversion from an interesting point of interest! Likewise Fort Klamath itelf. Why this ghost town in a location that could be a strategic shopping point to fleece visitors to Crater Lake? Somebody should investigate further!
Specifically, my plans, hatched out based on my smoke-escape motivated northbound scouting-drive last summer, assisted by my Delorme Oregon Road Atlas, was to take NFD 3231 (according to Delorme) off of hwy 62 just south of that southern "finger" of the National Park Boundary along route 62. According to Delorme, NFD 3231 becomes NFD 3200 which passes Seven Mile Guard Station (west of Fort Klamath. (At that Guard station is a road 3334 west along seven mile creek to the Seven Mile Marsh Campground with the spur trail to the PCT. Continuing south on NFD 3200 according to Delorme brings you to a three-way junction (with eastbound Seven Mile Road.) The southern branch of that Y is Primary Forest Route 34 AKA Westside Road which terminates at hwy 140. But last year coming from hwy 140 I had missed the left turn at what I expected to be that "Y" junction to Seven Mile Guard Station, and I just drove on past Ft Klamath to Crater lake.
I Figured this time I could leave food and water at the Seven Mile Marsh Campground, if that turned out to be feasible, then return to Howard Prairie Lk by way of Klamath Falls, lingering there long enough to do my laundry, update this blog, get more food & water. Except, I already didn't have enough water (the 6 gallon jug I had along was empty, and two of three additional gallon jugs were empty, the last was half-full, but I was thirsty, so that would go fast. I assumed I'd find water in Fort Klamath (I thought I remembered blowing past a small store there last year on my way to Crater lake.)
This time, driving eastbound down hwy 140 I noticed that while the eastbound paved shoulder was a comfortable 3ft wide, the uphill westbound side it was a mere 1ft! WTF! Another strike against a bicycle climb up 140!
Approaching the "maze" around Fort Klamath, I again missed the turn to the Seven Mile Guard Station, instead blowing through a high-speed curve to the right as Westside Road becomes Seven mile Road. Again blew through Fort Klamath not sure if I remembered noticing a store. Found myself entering the little southern extension of Crater Lake Park before I slowed down. No problem, turn around and look for the right turn I'd take onto NFD 3231 on my potential two-loop bicycle ride from Crater lake to the Seven Mile Guard Station. Couldn't find it! Found a gravel road labeled NF350 opposite a snow park at the approximate location, which might correspond to the eastern part of Delorme's NFD 3213. Maybe NFD 3231 connects to NF350?
But I didn't bother driving down NF350 to find out, unfortunately. Instead decided to approach it from the other end. Drove back to Fort Klamath and did find the west turn onto Nicholson Road that led to the Guard Station. Again noticed a high speed curve directing traffic onto southbound Hackler Road rather than continuing west no Nicholsen Road to the Guard Station. But I was now onto them now! The same people keep taking down the signs to the secretive community of Bodega Bay at the south end of Point Reyes National Seashore! (Not sure why that would be in this case though - to keep people away from the Seven Mile Creek maybe? Rest of the valley plain is cattle pasture.)
The paved Nicholson Road extension curved north becoming NFD 3200 at the Guard Station intersection. I decided to save for later exploring the northern end of NFD 3200 becoming NFD3231 then maybe NF350 before hitting Crater lake hwy 32. First priority was to check out that road NFD 3334 alongside Seven Mile Creek to the Seven Mile Marsh campground/PCT spur trail trailhead. That was the left turn at the "traffic-diversion curve" onto a gravel road, which passed by a driveway to a set of buildings that must be the Guard Station, followed shortly by a "Y" split with the right turn northward labeled as heading to the Seven Mile Marsh trailhead. Yay! Upward ho! It started off pretty level, becoming gradually steeper as it curved west. Only problem, it was rather course, sharp-edged crushed gravel. Not good for road-bike tires. But still doable aerobically in my lowest gear. And slow speed in this setting beats slow speed on high-speed hwy 140 psychologically. Continuing on, there's an equestrian trailhead on the left, and straight ahead a sign promising a hiker's trailhead. The road becomes very steep - I would definitely be walking my bike at that point, so would definitely be taking the equestrian trail if I even made it that far. No place to turn around my car, so continued on about two miles to the trailheaad, having a sign saying PCT 1 1/3 miles. Rather steep terrain well above the creek No sign of a marsh or campground, as the Delorme map would suggest. Back down to the Equestrian Trailhead. Sign says PCT 3 1/2 miles. So the signs at least are consistent.
Back down to the Guard Station intersection. Now for that Crater lake hwy 32 junction. Started heading north on the paved NFD 3200, noticed a sight saying Seven Mile Guard station at a driveway to those buildings, with two cars parked. looked at the time - 4:45, maybe they're still open. Backed up and drove in, arked in front of the first building. Young lady pops out the door says "Hello! I'm Eva, Who are you?" "I'm a hiker, I guess. Was just checking out the Seven Mile PCT trailhead here, seeing if I could bicycle to it. I'm now trying to check out the connection to here with the Crater lake hwy." Couldn't find the connection from the hwy. Does this road connect to hwy 62?" "I think so." "Good. Do you Have water?" "Mmm... I have some..." "Mmmm, I'm trying to fill a 6 gallon jug." Oh no, I get my drinking water delivered in bottles" (points to the cooler-water jugs on the porch. There is non-potable water from the hose, tastes bad, has lots of iron." "Is there a grocery store near by?" "Mmmm no, there a very small store in Fort Klamath." "So the closest really is Klamath Falls?" "Yes." "Well, I was heading there anyway to use the library." "Could I ask you more about your PCT hiking, if you don't mind?
We had a long conversation, She was stationed there for three months, she said. She was still going to college, at Green... (something or other - I recognized the name, but now am blanking) in Washington. Agriculture, but her interest is more gardening than large scale ag. Would like to hike the PCT, but also taking several years. Also into birding, she said. Mentioned some fledgeling robins in that tree over there. Learning bird songs. Wee had a discussion on our lack of understanding of their language. "Yes, scientists are beginning to discover that they don't know much about bird communication" she said.
The conversation could have been longer, except I had my agenda to complete. In retrospect I _should_ have stayed longer, she seemed very lonely there (what with all the roads diverting people away.) I did ask her if she gets many visitors. She gets some. "There were some people yesterday asking about what what kind of birding was around." I could have asked more about what the Guard Station was all about. I've now learnt more here:
http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/regions/Pacific_Northwest/Sevenmile/index.shtml
I note that this page has directions mentioning NF3300 as the road heading south from here to connect with Westside Road. Delorme's calls this NFD 3200. Now I'm not sure what I actually saw on the signs here, especially since at the West side road end, it's signed as NF3100! Haven't yet double-checked Google maps, though I remember seeing differences, and being confused.
Anyway, I headed off north on Delorme's NFD 3200 confirmed in the above directions. It did come to a "Y" at the point Delorme labels as a straight continuation of NFD3200 and an angled right onto NFD 3231. The sign said hwy 62 Crater Lk was to the right. Took it, still paved, to another intersection with a gravel road signed NF 390. (No mention of hwy 62 or Crater Lake.) I continued straight. After a few more angled intersections with dirt roads, the paved straight-ahead split into two very little used dirt, not gravel, roads. At an obvoius dead end, I turned around, back to the last signed intersection, turned left northeast onto NF390, that wound along for "quite a long while" with no hwy 32 appearing within my sense of space & time should have occurred, so I was lost, turned around, back past the guard station. Wanted to stop and ask again, but also felt a bit foolish, so I passed by and continued south on NFD 3300 or whatever it was. This skirted the edge of a series of marshes, and finally "J'd" left to intersect West Side Road. The road I was on was signed NF3100 (visible only after one has entered the road.) The intersection with high speed West Side Road was an inconspicuous forest road to "nowhere". No signed mention of the guard station, or Seven Mile Marsh Campground/Trailhead, or anything! Still not sure why this seemingly systematic, de-emphasis of or diversion from an interesting point of interest! Likewise Fort Klamath itelf. Why this ghost town in a location that could be a strategic shopping point to fleece visitors to Crater Lake? Somebody should investigate further!
back at hwy 140, a day sooner than planned
Returned from Ashland via I5 to Medford then 140 east, longer but much easier at night than the more direct route from Ashland on curvy Dead Indian Road that I had taken down. Made it to the trailhead parking by 1:30am. Camped along a powerline access road (didn't realize at night that this is what it was - normally try to minimize my time near powerlines.) Pitched my tent right next to the car, asleep by 2pm. Up again 6:30 to birdsong (I guess my hearing isn't good enough to hear that when indide. Remind me to set up a bird-song sound for my smartphone alarm.songNeed )
Took me a while to sort things out - had a checklist but things still located in the order I packed them rather than logical places while travelling. Finally got rolling by 11am I think - funny in the last minute rush I don't look at the time. I did remember to turn on the GPS logger though, so I can go back and check my start & stop times, my pace, etc.. Hope at some time to find or develop an app that will crunch that tracklog data then use the stat's to "reconstruct" photo-locations for trips I don't have tracklogs for. (Would be a good Git-Hub project, IMO.)
My route was a fast four mile downhill on hwy 140 (hitting my brakes for picts at a large lava-flow-clearing with nice views of Brown Mt McGloughlin to the southeast, blowing past the Fish lake Resort turnoff, taking the left onto poorly marked (I've missed the turn in my car both times) onto "Primary Forest Route 37", AKA Big Elk Road. This is a pleasantly winding six mile roller coaster along the west edge of the Brown Mt lava flow. I stopped for picts at nicely flowing North Fork Butte Creek coming from Fish Lake. This road comes to a T at Dead Indian Memorial Road (which runs between Ashland and Lake Of the Woods.) A left takes you across a large meadow with nice views of Mt McGloughlin to the north, and I stopped for picts and finished off the grapes I had at the top of my pack. Up a small rise then down past Keno Access Road across the meadow north end of Howard Prairie Lake, (regretting having passed by a flowery blues & reds & yellows bicyclist-only photo-op with no car-turnouts nearby,) Up another hill then a left (after 4 miles on Dead Indian Memorial Rd) onto Hyatt Prairie Road, another curvy four mile rollercoaster that skirts the west side of the lake, A final left onto Howard Prairie Dam Road takes me southeast three miles to where it parallels the PCT at the south end of the lake, about a mile short of the dam.
I got to my stashed bear canister at 2pm, Took a long break to cool down on this very hot day, and then to transfer water and food from the canister to my backpack - amazed myself that it all fit (after some strategic munching.) placed my bike gear (pump, patch kit, tool kit, yellow vest, and garbage) into the canister, hid that, and hid my bike. I generally choose a clump of pines with low branches to slide my bike beneath, inspecting visibility from all angles, camouflaging shiny chrome spokes & rims with sticks & pine needles.) Off hiking by three pm.
I felt I was really dragging in the heat and a full pack (it's actually a small "ultralite" no-frills pack - no belt strap, in particular, that I got this year at that unmentionable department store for a fraction of REI prices, so it may fall apart quickly, I assume. The pack I've used these past three years, an Osprey Atmos 60, has fallen apart in various ways, finally ripping at the waist band which ended it's useful life for me (although I'm prepared to sew it up in an emergency if my alternative fails.)
I wasn't taking as many picts as usual, due to the extra exertion that takes to do "deep knee bends" every few steps. (At home in this temperature (high 80's?) I'd be sprawled out like a limp rag.) Didn't botehr going to the spring a half mile off trail about 6 miles of hiking, still had plenty I rationalized, though that does violate my policy of never passing up water or photo-ops. Also missed an opportunity to take a half mile side trip to Vulture Rock, that I then regretted. I did stop at the Brown Mt shelter, which had an old fashioned water pump nonoperable because the handle was missing. read some of the log book entries, last visitor yesterday. Left my own mark as muddyknees. I felt I was ahead of schedule despite the heat but wasn't checking my map, so was surprised to find myself at Dead Indian Road where I had stashed a gallon of water, now 12 miles into my hike. It was 7pm, so I just grabbed the gallon, crossed the road, continued about an 1/8 mile further to a nice soft spot of mostly Doug-Fir and I think sugar pine litter and set up camp (a groundcloth consisting of a cut open large garbage bag, to protect my sleeping bag from pine pitch. I also brought along a new roll of painter's sheeting that I've been using during thunderstorms. Dumped everything else from my pack and sorted things into logical order after having packed things randomly back at the trailhead. After settling down, still dusk, hearing some rodent noises, I placed my food into a garbage bagand used it as a pillow, so I might wake to any rodent munching sounds. Put on my bug net, as my mosquito spray from last year seemed to have lost it's potency. (Despite the dry conditions, there still are a few around.) A fly or maybe a native bee? buzzed me all night, and it took me a while to finally sleep.
Woke up to birdsong as usual, but dozed for another hour til 7:30 before getting up to pee and have my usual breakfast of oatmeal, raisins & walnuts. (I guess I was consuming some portion of California water in those nuts.) Discovered I had mistook a small baggie of Ibuprophen from last year's first aid kit as no-doze while I was packing at the car, (used my loupe to read the markings on the pill, )so substituted some extra fig bars for a sugar-rush coffee substitute. Sat there for a longer while listening to the birds waiting for the sugar rush to kick in. Walked back to the road to stash my empty gallon jug to pick up after I got to the car. Got going north by 9am Hiked the 12 miles to hwy 140 my 2pm.
The first part of that hike, like the preceding day's miles, was mostly Doug Fir forest - hence my dearth of picture taking, I guess. (There was only one panoramic view of the horizon yesterday.) But the last couple of miles on the lava-boulder-strewn northeast slope of Brown Mt offered great views of Mt McGloghlin (I mis-wrote Mt Thielsen before this edit) just north of hwy 140. Just a few snow fields visible from this side. There is a trail to the top of that volcano and I was considering making that a day-hike, maybe my next hike before starting the loop to Crater Lake.. But there are thunderstorms forecast for the next few days, so I'm not sure of the timing.
I thought it was just a short few steps beyond hwy 10 to get to my car at the trailhead parking, so instead of following the trail angled northeast then a spur trail to the parking lot southeast, I started a cross-country trajectory directly east paralleling the road, following the power line clearing underneath which I'd slept a few days before. But soon the powerline went up a steep hill, and I realized that the scale of that triangular trail configuration between the PCT, the Road, and the parking spur trail, was much larger than I had assumed, and detoured that hill. I think that hill was the backside of the large lava flow clearing that I had stopped at on my bicycle to take picts of views south of Brown Mountain. I remember that there was a large basalt-rubble "cliff" looking north at that spot. Baktracked.. So it was 3pm when I finally got to my car.
Took me a while to sort things out - had a checklist but things still located in the order I packed them rather than logical places while travelling. Finally got rolling by 11am I think - funny in the last minute rush I don't look at the time. I did remember to turn on the GPS logger though, so I can go back and check my start & stop times, my pace, etc.. Hope at some time to find or develop an app that will crunch that tracklog data then use the stat's to "reconstruct" photo-locations for trips I don't have tracklogs for. (Would be a good Git-Hub project, IMO.)
My route was a fast four mile downhill on hwy 140 (hitting my brakes for picts at a large lava-flow-clearing with nice views of Brown Mt McGloughlin to the southeast, blowing past the Fish lake Resort turnoff, taking the left onto poorly marked (I've missed the turn in my car both times) onto "Primary Forest Route 37", AKA Big Elk Road. This is a pleasantly winding six mile roller coaster along the west edge of the Brown Mt lava flow. I stopped for picts at nicely flowing North Fork Butte Creek coming from Fish Lake. This road comes to a T at Dead Indian Memorial Road (which runs between Ashland and Lake Of the Woods.) A left takes you across a large meadow with nice views of Mt McGloughlin to the north, and I stopped for picts and finished off the grapes I had at the top of my pack. Up a small rise then down past Keno Access Road across the meadow north end of Howard Prairie Lake, (regretting having passed by a flowery blues & reds & yellows bicyclist-only photo-op with no car-turnouts nearby,) Up another hill then a left (after 4 miles on Dead Indian Memorial Rd) onto Hyatt Prairie Road, another curvy four mile rollercoaster that skirts the west side of the lake, A final left onto Howard Prairie Dam Road takes me southeast three miles to where it parallels the PCT at the south end of the lake, about a mile short of the dam.
I got to my stashed bear canister at 2pm, Took a long break to cool down on this very hot day, and then to transfer water and food from the canister to my backpack - amazed myself that it all fit (after some strategic munching.) placed my bike gear (pump, patch kit, tool kit, yellow vest, and garbage) into the canister, hid that, and hid my bike. I generally choose a clump of pines with low branches to slide my bike beneath, inspecting visibility from all angles, camouflaging shiny chrome spokes & rims with sticks & pine needles.) Off hiking by three pm.
I felt I was really dragging in the heat and a full pack (it's actually a small "ultralite" no-frills pack - no belt strap, in particular, that I got this year at that unmentionable department store for a fraction of REI prices, so it may fall apart quickly, I assume. The pack I've used these past three years, an Osprey Atmos 60, has fallen apart in various ways, finally ripping at the waist band which ended it's useful life for me (although I'm prepared to sew it up in an emergency if my alternative fails.)
I wasn't taking as many picts as usual, due to the extra exertion that takes to do "deep knee bends" every few steps. (At home in this temperature (high 80's?) I'd be sprawled out like a limp rag.) Didn't botehr going to the spring a half mile off trail about 6 miles of hiking, still had plenty I rationalized, though that does violate my policy of never passing up water or photo-ops. Also missed an opportunity to take a half mile side trip to Vulture Rock, that I then regretted. I did stop at the Brown Mt shelter, which had an old fashioned water pump nonoperable because the handle was missing. read some of the log book entries, last visitor yesterday. Left my own mark as muddyknees. I felt I was ahead of schedule despite the heat but wasn't checking my map, so was surprised to find myself at Dead Indian Road where I had stashed a gallon of water, now 12 miles into my hike. It was 7pm, so I just grabbed the gallon, crossed the road, continued about an 1/8 mile further to a nice soft spot of mostly Doug-Fir and I think sugar pine litter and set up camp (a groundcloth consisting of a cut open large garbage bag, to protect my sleeping bag from pine pitch. I also brought along a new roll of painter's sheeting that I've been using during thunderstorms. Dumped everything else from my pack and sorted things into logical order after having packed things randomly back at the trailhead. After settling down, still dusk, hearing some rodent noises, I placed my food into a garbage bagand used it as a pillow, so I might wake to any rodent munching sounds. Put on my bug net, as my mosquito spray from last year seemed to have lost it's potency. (Despite the dry conditions, there still are a few around.) A fly or maybe a native bee? buzzed me all night, and it took me a while to finally sleep.
Woke up to birdsong as usual, but dozed for another hour til 7:30 before getting up to pee and have my usual breakfast of oatmeal, raisins & walnuts. (I guess I was consuming some portion of California water in those nuts.) Discovered I had mistook a small baggie of Ibuprophen from last year's first aid kit as no-doze while I was packing at the car, (used my loupe to read the markings on the pill, )so substituted some extra fig bars for a sugar-rush coffee substitute. Sat there for a longer while listening to the birds waiting for the sugar rush to kick in. Walked back to the road to stash my empty gallon jug to pick up after I got to the car. Got going north by 9am Hiked the 12 miles to hwy 140 my 2pm.
The first part of that hike, like the preceding day's miles, was mostly Doug Fir forest - hence my dearth of picture taking, I guess. (There was only one panoramic view of the horizon yesterday.) But the last couple of miles on the lava-boulder-strewn northeast slope of Brown Mt offered great views of Mt McGloghlin (I mis-wrote Mt Thielsen before this edit) just north of hwy 140. Just a few snow fields visible from this side. There is a trail to the top of that volcano and I was considering making that a day-hike, maybe my next hike before starting the loop to Crater Lake.. But there are thunderstorms forecast for the next few days, so I'm not sure of the timing.
I thought it was just a short few steps beyond hwy 10 to get to my car at the trailhead parking, so instead of following the trail angled northeast then a spur trail to the parking lot southeast, I started a cross-country trajectory directly east paralleling the road, following the power line clearing underneath which I'd slept a few days before. But soon the powerline went up a steep hill, and I realized that the scale of that triangular trail configuration between the PCT, the Road, and the parking spur trail, was much larger than I had assumed, and detoured that hill. I think that hill was the backside of the large lava flow clearing that I had stopped at on my bicycle to take picts of views south of Brown Mountain. I remember that there was a large basalt-rubble "cliff" looking north at that spot. Baktracked.. So it was 3pm when I finally got to my car.
Saturday, June 6, 2015
TwoPCT Day-hikes done, set up for three day hike tomorrow
I'm a day ahead of schedule.
Last Thursday it was of course a last minute scramble to tie up as many of the many remaining loose ends before leaving Betsy's granny that I had called home for the last two winters, Oregon-bound
I think I managed to tidy up the place for the new tenant reasonably well, even gave the new tenant a walkthrough, though it was about two hours later than ideal. Then I still had to make another trip to my storage to drop off vacuum clraner etc. that I didn't want to carry to Oregon. That set me behind another hour.
So I didn't get to Pepperwood Preserve til 11AM. Had planned to do three things while there, one my normal Herbarium Data Entry session, 2nd the Phenology Monitoring on the Serpentine Trail that I was scheduled to do tomorrow. Third, I wanted to upload all my Phenology Photos from this spring. Decided to forget about the Herbarium stuff. Did my monitoring, then brought my laptop in to upload those picts, and thought I could add those to the batch before "exporing" them all from Lightroom then upload them to the server. About 4:30 I noticed the time and realized I wouldn't have time before teh place closed, to even finish processing that day's photos. A well. Sorry Pralahda. Now I could maybe find time to upload them to my muddyknees site, then use Smugmug's feature to create a zip file of the gallery, that Pralahda can download. Or, wait till I get back.
Anyway, in the car again. Drove east on Franz Valley road, taking some shots of the brewing thunderstorm over Mt St Helena. Got rained on just as I got to Tubbs Lane in Calastoga, but the road up to the saddle was dry, as was the rest of the way. Passed the Walker Ridge turnoff still way to early to overnight, and figured I could make it to Castle Crags by just after nightfall. Passed Lake Shasta still just as half-empty as last year (thought I might see the bottom this year!) Stopped for gas just south of Redding. Got to the Castella exit at dusk. Two miles beyong the Castle Crags campground, just past the National Forest sign, I knew there was a turnout where I would overnight. flat plot for a tent.
Woke to birdsong at 6:15. Oatmeal breakfast. Was ready to move on by 7, expecting to buy a coffee at the gas station mart at the I5 interchange, but it was closed. Onwards to the other side of I5 to the tunnel "connector" between the two campgrounds (so east side campers could access showers on the main west side grounds, I guess. Last year a hitchhiker I had picked up nearby told me about that "opportunity" to take a shower - I'm always asking people where I can find a public shower.) But this morning 7am the gate at the tunnel was locked: "Open 9am to 6pm said the sign. Onwards. Got my coffee at the gas station mart at north end of Dunsmuir. Kept driving all the way to Ashland. Got some groceries at the Albertsons just off the exit. Onwards east on Green Springs Hwy 66 to the Green Springs Inn where I wanted to check out the spurr trail access to the PCT, and ask permission to stash my bicycle there later today or tomorrow. Stopped at a turnout at the Green Springs reservoir just before the Inn, where the access trail crossed the dam to reach the trail just west of there. Took a few photos, then drove the final quarter mile to the Inn, realizing at that point that I didn't need to ask at the inn, since it was downhill from the inn to the reserviur. Stopped t the inn anyway, and asked anyway, and bought a breakfast, then took a walk behind the inn with my camera to check out the access trail. Took some photos of a flock of chickens I met on the trail near the inn. I went back inside and asked the cook whetehr they used eggs rom those free-range hens. Yes indeed, he said proudly. It was about 11am, I still hadd time to do the first of my planned day-hikes today.
Drove the two miles uphill to the Hyatt lake PCT crossing, parked my car, got my bike out, got my stuff together. A southbound hiker passed by on the road, said he had to go get some food. Finlly ready I passed him on the road, then my front wheel went flat. That shouldn't happen because it was a tube filled with goop. pumped it up while the hiker passed me, then went on & passed him again. Air seemed to hold this time.
Stashed my bike at the reservoir, changed my amera lans (I had tried to use the fisheye to take video of my ride, but the way I tried rigging it up didn't work, so I just dumped the camera into my backpack. Now I was trying changing back into my regoular lens. I normal lens-changing routine is to hold one lens with my left elbow Somehow, the lens at my elbow slipped after I had removed the cap, and it fell onto the gravel roadway, exposed back-side glass down! Uogh! Looked, and indeed, an obvious scratch, right in the center of the back lense! Uogh! Mounted the lens on the camera, got an error msg, saying cant communicate with the lens. Removed the lens, wiped the contacts on my shirt, tried again. this time it worked. Took a shot. Zoomed in. Hard to tell - nothing obvious. Oh well. This isn;t the first time I've dropped it. It's been occasionally, randomly, getting error msgs of various sorts.
Nine miles of wonderfully blooming scenery later, back at the car, drove back to fetch my bike, then drove on to "groundtruth" tomorrow's logistics. Decided to park car in same place, biciycle north around Hyatt Lk down to Howard Prairyie Lake, This was a slightly longer bike ride but a shorter hike, only 7 miles. Finished that by 3pm this afternoon, wend back to fetch my bike, stayed there to hide my bear-canister full of food and water for tomorrow's hike. This will be a three-day hike to Hwy 140 near Fish Lake. Aboout 25 miles total, Probably about 6 miles first day after the longish bike ride with some more significant uphill sections. Left another gallon of water at the trail crossing at Dead Indian Road, which is about mid-way. I was low on gas, and had a few hrs daylight left, so decided this might be good time to head to town. Now of course it's way past daylight, and haev to stop, about an hours drive on windy roads back to the trailhead on 140 near fish lake.
Last Thursday it was of course a last minute scramble to tie up as many of the many remaining loose ends before leaving Betsy's granny that I had called home for the last two winters, Oregon-bound
I think I managed to tidy up the place for the new tenant reasonably well, even gave the new tenant a walkthrough, though it was about two hours later than ideal. Then I still had to make another trip to my storage to drop off vacuum clraner etc. that I didn't want to carry to Oregon. That set me behind another hour.
So I didn't get to Pepperwood Preserve til 11AM. Had planned to do three things while there, one my normal Herbarium Data Entry session, 2nd the Phenology Monitoring on the Serpentine Trail that I was scheduled to do tomorrow. Third, I wanted to upload all my Phenology Photos from this spring. Decided to forget about the Herbarium stuff. Did my monitoring, then brought my laptop in to upload those picts, and thought I could add those to the batch before "exporing" them all from Lightroom then upload them to the server. About 4:30 I noticed the time and realized I wouldn't have time before teh place closed, to even finish processing that day's photos. A well. Sorry Pralahda. Now I could maybe find time to upload them to my muddyknees site, then use Smugmug's feature to create a zip file of the gallery, that Pralahda can download. Or, wait till I get back.
Anyway, in the car again. Drove east on Franz Valley road, taking some shots of the brewing thunderstorm over Mt St Helena. Got rained on just as I got to Tubbs Lane in Calastoga, but the road up to the saddle was dry, as was the rest of the way. Passed the Walker Ridge turnoff still way to early to overnight, and figured I could make it to Castle Crags by just after nightfall. Passed Lake Shasta still just as half-empty as last year (thought I might see the bottom this year!) Stopped for gas just south of Redding. Got to the Castella exit at dusk. Two miles beyong the Castle Crags campground, just past the National Forest sign, I knew there was a turnout where I would overnight. flat plot for a tent.
Woke to birdsong at 6:15. Oatmeal breakfast. Was ready to move on by 7, expecting to buy a coffee at the gas station mart at the I5 interchange, but it was closed. Onwards to the other side of I5 to the tunnel "connector" between the two campgrounds (so east side campers could access showers on the main west side grounds, I guess. Last year a hitchhiker I had picked up nearby told me about that "opportunity" to take a shower - I'm always asking people where I can find a public shower.) But this morning 7am the gate at the tunnel was locked: "Open 9am to 6pm said the sign. Onwards. Got my coffee at the gas station mart at north end of Dunsmuir. Kept driving all the way to Ashland. Got some groceries at the Albertsons just off the exit. Onwards east on Green Springs Hwy 66 to the Green Springs Inn where I wanted to check out the spurr trail access to the PCT, and ask permission to stash my bicycle there later today or tomorrow. Stopped at a turnout at the Green Springs reservoir just before the Inn, where the access trail crossed the dam to reach the trail just west of there. Took a few photos, then drove the final quarter mile to the Inn, realizing at that point that I didn't need to ask at the inn, since it was downhill from the inn to the reserviur. Stopped t the inn anyway, and asked anyway, and bought a breakfast, then took a walk behind the inn with my camera to check out the access trail. Took some photos of a flock of chickens I met on the trail near the inn. I went back inside and asked the cook whetehr they used eggs rom those free-range hens. Yes indeed, he said proudly. It was about 11am, I still hadd time to do the first of my planned day-hikes today.
Drove the two miles uphill to the Hyatt lake PCT crossing, parked my car, got my bike out, got my stuff together. A southbound hiker passed by on the road, said he had to go get some food. Finlly ready I passed him on the road, then my front wheel went flat. That shouldn't happen because it was a tube filled with goop. pumped it up while the hiker passed me, then went on & passed him again. Air seemed to hold this time.
Stashed my bike at the reservoir, changed my amera lans (I had tried to use the fisheye to take video of my ride, but the way I tried rigging it up didn't work, so I just dumped the camera into my backpack. Now I was trying changing back into my regoular lens. I normal lens-changing routine is to hold one lens with my left elbow Somehow, the lens at my elbow slipped after I had removed the cap, and it fell onto the gravel roadway, exposed back-side glass down! Uogh! Looked, and indeed, an obvious scratch, right in the center of the back lense! Uogh! Mounted the lens on the camera, got an error msg, saying cant communicate with the lens. Removed the lens, wiped the contacts on my shirt, tried again. this time it worked. Took a shot. Zoomed in. Hard to tell - nothing obvious. Oh well. This isn;t the first time I've dropped it. It's been occasionally, randomly, getting error msgs of various sorts.
Nine miles of wonderfully blooming scenery later, back at the car, drove back to fetch my bike, then drove on to "groundtruth" tomorrow's logistics. Decided to park car in same place, biciycle north around Hyatt Lk down to Howard Prairyie Lake, This was a slightly longer bike ride but a shorter hike, only 7 miles. Finished that by 3pm this afternoon, wend back to fetch my bike, stayed there to hide my bear-canister full of food and water for tomorrow's hike. This will be a three-day hike to Hwy 140 near Fish Lake. Aboout 25 miles total, Probably about 6 miles first day after the longish bike ride with some more significant uphill sections. Left another gallon of water at the trail crossing at Dead Indian Road, which is about mid-way. I was low on gas, and had a few hrs daylight left, so decided this might be good time to head to town. Now of course it's way past daylight, and haev to stop, about an hours drive on windy roads back to the trailhead on 140 near fish lake.
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