Looking For Chiloquin

My son Shay is in a town over the mountains, Grants Pass, and he wanted a picture or two to show his friends there his hometown. So today I had time and went rambling through our hills to get the perfect shot.

Shay ... As you can see from the picture above I got sidetracked yet again. I went down a positively nasty rutted out road and ended up at another section of Modoc Rim. Here is Klamath Lake Looking Klamath Falls way.

To try to make up for it, here is a shot from the 4th of July parade.

Ok ... I did make it to the power lines on the other side of the river, an area I'm sure you are used to. Its the best I could do. I was to tuckered out from hiking the cliffs on Modoc Rim with Charlie dog. Perhaps I'll get the perfect shot next time ok? lol

Day 10: Living History Day Collier State Park

Today, the last day before I go back to school, Melissa took me to Living History Day at Collier Park. Outside of Crater Lake National Park, this is probably the most 'famous' place in this area. This is a big event with people dressing in period costumes to celebrate to logging past. Below is a photo of Spring Creek which runs through the park before slamming into the Williamson River.

Below is a 1912 steam engine that was used to haul logs. "It's even older than you Dad!" Thanks Hannah ....

Hannah getting cozy with a beaver. This is Oregon after all!

One more shot of Spring Creek. It was a fun day. Now to begin thinking about school ...

Day 9: Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge

This wasn't the best of days out taking pictures and all; factor in I'm getting physically tired after nine straight days of hiking around .... But this afternoon I packed up Charlie dog and out we went to the Klamath Marsh Refuge.

The pictures above and below is of the Refuge. Even with the clouds and wind the birds were out all over the place! I even found a cool camping spot I must check out further another day!

On the way home we passed through Wilson Flat, A great name for a place I must say. ;-) Just one day left until school starts back up ... A trip to Collier for Fathers Day is in order, thanks to Melissa and Hannah.

Day 8: Back to the Gorge

The Williamson River Gorge is a favorite place of mine and this was my first trip in there for the year. It was a great morning for a hike; bright and sunny with calm winds for those reflection shots! The picture below is of a favorite stopping point around the first bend.

There are several strange rock formations such as the one below in the canyon.

This picture I threw in for fun. Since I usually get out with crazy Charlie dog, I don't often get to take pictures of things that fly. Here is a rare exception, although from a distance.

Day 7: Fort Creek

Today we took a short jaunt to Fort Creek. Another one of those 'only locals know about' getaway. The lighting was a bit harsh for taking pictures but I gave it a shot anyway.

Below is looking down the creek as it makes its way to the Wood River, then Agency lake. Above is Reservation Spring which is the source of the creek. Crystal clear water bubbles up, and around it as the creek pretty much just flows out of the mountain.

I don't know the name of theses flowers but the pop up here and there especially in drier places. I wouldn't know why a person can't help themselves not to smile when they see them!

Day 6: Modoc Rim

The adventure this time was to take a rutted out dirt road through woods and meadows to Modoc Rim which overlooks Klamath Lake on the East high above Highway 97. I could see someone went ahead of me and they got stuck in the mud twice. The second time they were stuck so bad I decided to park the Zuzu and walk the rest of the way about a mile or so. When I finally got there, lo and behold I saw a mud caked Marty the mailman and a friend! Naturally we all wondered why each of us were up there in that extremely remote area! It goes to show that you just never know who you might meet and where!

The picture above is the view from the Rim looking southwest towards Modoc Point. The one below was shot looking directly west at Mt. McLoughlin and the Oregon Cascades.

Which way to go? These decisions come up all the time out here, although this time the decision was made for me soon, as the road to the right led directly into an springtime swamp. Tomorrow I think I'll take an easier trip ... However, that "Whats down that road?" question constantly comes up ...

Day 5: Agency Hill

Today we decided to go a different direction, Agency Hill by way of Spring Creek.

Above is Spring Creek which comes bubbling straight out of the mountain. Its crystal clear waters stay at a constant 38 degrees! We came by here to scout out camping spots for later this summer. It is a tragedy what has been done to the campground here with the thinning of trees left all over the place and what looks like zero maintenance. However, over time it looks like the people who visit are cleaning the place up little by little and this is a great place to camp and get away from it all!

Here is the view from the top of Agency Hill. There used to be a fire lookout up here but it has since been torn town and the road to this place can be a little rough going. But as you can see, well worth it! In the distance is Mt. Shasta and Klamath Lake, with aptly named Crooked Creek below. There are plenty of ceders up here which give the forest a wonderful aroma to walk around in to enjoy the views.

Day 4: Telephone Flat

Yesterdays Spring rain came and went last night, but the wind was up a notch today. I packed up Charlie the hound and we went to a favorite spot, Telephone flat. Why it is called Telephone flat is a mystery to me as there is not a pole in sight! In fact my cell phone couldn't get reception up there!

The three pictures above is of the flat which is covered in wildflowers this time of year, and luckily no mosquitoes! The lower photo is of the tree Charlie and I took a break under after some serious stomping around in the creek and through the meadow and woods.

The last photo is of what my older kids and I called "frog pond", which as you can see is flooded. For some reason very large bullfrogs live in this area on top of a mountain, so a return visit is in order later on.

The adventure continues ....

Day 3: Chiloquin Backroads

A storm was to be coming in the evening so off we went a little bit earlier and sticking close to home. First off was a stop off was a stop along the Sprague River near the local "swimming hole" which is pictured above.



Ah yes, my kind of roads pictured above. A generic woodsy shot! lol


Eventually we made it by an extremely strange route, trying to get lost, to something on the map named "Lobert Draw," which is in the next two shots, I tried to go further, but a massive mud puddle blocked the way. I wanted so bad to charge the Zuzu through it, but decided against it after pondering for twenty minutes. The heart attack was only a couple of years ago and a long walk out wasn't yet in the cards! Maybe next time ....

Up Around The Bend

Since college is out between terms for ten days, I'm off on a picture taking and hiking binge within twenty miles of town where I live. So, for each of the ten days I'll post my favorite from that day. This first shot is of the Sprague River and Winema National Forest from near the Sprague River Hwy. about five miles away.

Specialization is for insects

An interesting quote ...

A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.

--Heinlein

In Awe of Wonder

Here is a cool quote from Joshua Abraham Heschel.

"Dear Lord, grant me the grace of wonder. Surprise me, amaze me, awe me in every crevice of your universe. Delight me to see how Christ plays in ten thousand places, lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his, to the Father through features in men's faces. each day enrapture me with your marvelous things without number. I do not ask to see the reason for it all; I ask only to share the wonder of it all." Sometimes I think we spend to much time isolated in our living rooms, not to hot, not to cold and we lose the awesomeness, or wonder of the world around us.We lose the wonder in the little things, the seasons, a deer in the meadow, a child licking an ice cream cone ... Even in the mudane things He is there. (Something I tend to forget.) There is a tendency to live practical lives and miss the awe, reverence and wonder all around us. God intends for us to discover His presence in the world, and the people He loves around us.

Have a blessed day everyone! Tim

Road Trip: Paulina Lake

It was hot and smokey here in Chiloquin, so my son Shay and I loaded up the car and headed out on another road trip! In Central Oregon, a little southeast of Bend, is a little known treasure called Newberry Crater. At some point in prehistory, the top of the mountain collapsed in on itself, leaving a large depression. Within this depression two lakes have formed, East Lake and Paulina Lake. And here is where we ended up ...

Paulina Creek Falls is located just west of Paulina Lake outside Newberry Crater. This double falls drops 60 feet onto the jumble of rocks below. The jumble of rocks is the result of the falls slowly eroding their way upstream. ( I imagine that eventually it'll work its way upstream to Paulina Lake, then its bye bye lake. lol) The upper viewpoint overlooks the falls from the south side of the creek. The lower viewpoint is accessed via a quarter mile trail down to the creek below the falls.

Here is Paulina Peak being reflected in Paulina Lake.

We checked out East Lake to see if we wanted to camp there, but alas, no dogs allowed on the beach and it just wouldn't be right tying up Charlie Dog.

Shay showing off his mushroom hat!

It was an excellent adventure to get away from the smoke and there is still a lot more to explore here for sure!

Road Trip: Through The Sage To Harris Springs, California!

It was time for one of those mini camping road trips as snow is to fly soon! This time it was just me and Charlie dog going out and about to see whats out there. We were going to Martins dairy campground but hunting season has opened up in the Klamath National forest so we decided to veer east. And am I glad we did! Harris Spring is a great out of the way primitive campground located in the Shasta Trinity National Forest, and we had it to ourselves! This campground is centrally located by Burney Falls, Lava Beds National Monument and the Medicine Lake Highlands. The Medicine Lake Shield Volcano, about 10 miles south of Lava Beds National Monument, is one of North America’s most unusual geological features. At about 20 miles in diameter, it is the largest volcano in California. Its gently sloping profile hides the fact that, in mass, it is larger than nearby Mount Shasta. This sprawling area northeast of California Highway 89 contains extensive lava flows, cinder cones, pumice deposits, and lava tubes. It would take weeks to explore all of this, but alas, we only had a day so off we went …


Off we went through Butte Valley, California painted yellow with sagebrush. I love going out with the camera on these changing weather days as one doesn’t really know what to expect. Yep … we did get some rain!

I didn't get this! What on earth was this pink house in the middle of nowhere??? Back in the day I'm sure it was mighty fine! But Pink??? lol

Made it to our campsite near Harris Spring Fire Guardstation. This historic Forest Service Guard Station is located in a open meadow surrounded by forest in the northeast portion of the McCloud Ranger District of the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. The guard station and garage were built in 1929 or 1930 and retain their Craftsmen style character which was a popular building style in the 1920 and 1930’s. Both buildings retain many of their original features including shiplap siding, tongue and groove interior walls, and wood sash windows. You can rent this place to stay, but at $500 a week I think I’ll pass …

On our way back home we went through the Medicine Lake Highlands. Here is Little Glass Mountain which is an obsideon flow. Its amazing trees can grow in this stuff!

We also went by for a little break at Little Medicine Lake. The fish were jumping and I didn’t bring a fishing pole. Sheesh!

I’ll be heading back this way again next year … This time with family and friends!

Evening's Benediction

The sunset was a sight to behold,

not only in the western sky;

It spilled its beauty all around

so it couldn't miss our eye.

A crater of deepest purple,

with an icing of aqua-marine;

Profound pink rose to fiery-orange

overflowing the entire scene.

A combustion of colour,

ignited by nature,

was her sunset for today

-A scene that would linger in minds and hearts

before it went on its way.

Joan Adams Burchell

Numbers 6:24-26

The Lord bless you and keep you;

The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;

The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

The Peace of Wild Things

The Peace of Wild Things by Wendell Berry

"When despair for the world grows in me and I wake in the night at the least sound in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be, I go and lie down where the wood drake rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds. I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief. I come into the presence of still water. And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light. For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free."


Tim, heading to the woods on another hot day ....