jstv – Page 4

August 18, 2024August 17, 2024

Camping . . . but not really

We spend a lot of time outside. None of it actually camping.

At least, not in the classic sense.

Coffee is cooked, camp chairs are set up and on rare occasions, regulations permitting, we might light a fire. However, by the end of the day we’re home and ready to sleep in a nice comfy bed.

When we did ‘camp’ it was in a Westfalia, so truth is, we’ve never been hard core campers. Creature comforts over wilderness experience . . . with one exception.

A couple of years ago we discovered the cabins at Cottonwood Canyon State Park.

There are elements of camping in that you’re isolated without cell service.

But each neat little cabin is fitted with AC/heat and a comfy bed.

Plus, there is hot/cold running water nearby. It’s a perfect solution.

The down side is, you need to reserve a space months in advance, making it difficult to predict the weather or as happened last year . . . wildfire.

Cottonwood is surrounded by sage covered hills

In April we set up a stay for August 13th, which when August came around we discovered was also a peak time for the Perseids Meteor shower.

With zero light pollution, the setting is perfect for star gazing, which is part of every visit, but this stay turned out to be a fortuitous reservation.

Bundled in warm sweaters, we spent early morning hours gazing at the heavens.

They didn’t disappoint. The smear of the milky way and hundreds of constellations filled a sky occasionally streaked by a chunk of space rock falling through the atmosphere.

August 11, 2024August 8, 2024

Third Time’s the Charm

An early morning start had us heading towards Paisley and the Chewaucan River.

It’s the third time we’ve attempted this loop route (previously stymied by snowy roads and a knee injury).

Paisley is on the southeastern end of Summer Lake, but first we headed to Lake Abert just a few miles further.

Both of these alkali bodies offer a stop over for migrating birds. The largest concentrations occur in July and August, so it seemed like a good time to swing by.

The lake’s calm surface creates an interesting illusion

In addition to a huge variety of gulls, we spotted Black-necked stilts, Phalaropes, as well as Avocets, both feeding and nesting.

US 395 runs the along the eastern edge and there are frequent turn outs to give you a great view of the mudflats.

Abert looking south from one of many pull-outs.

While we have been here before, the lake’s water level has never been this high, and by assumption that made for higher numbers of birds.

The background gets enhanced by the smoke haze.

A plume of smoke moved through the valley, but we managed to avoid the worst of it, grabbing some images before heading back to Paisley.

What little water makes it past the alfalfa irrigation and into Lake Abert Lake is from the Chewaucan River.

Paisley, home of the Mosquito Festival, sits on the river’s edge.

We turned onto a forest service road that follows the river up the southern end of Winter Ridge . . . a point from which John Freemont “discovered” the Summer Lake Valley.

Some fire scarred trees along the Chewaucan River

Ironically, the west side of this forested mountain range was consumed in a massive wildfire (Bootleg Fire, 365k acres) in the summer of 2021.

The understory shows signs of recovery, but blackened tree skeletons stand in memorial to the devastation.

Interesting point about wildland fire is how the fingers of a blaze reach into portions of a forest and miss adjacent areas.

The lower reaches of the Chewaucan were on the edge and our route wound in and out of the burned areas. At some high points you get a feel for the expanse of it.

We pulled into a quiet camp site for a lunch break, then continued to head up Winter Ridge. We skirted the edge of Gearhart Mt. Wilderness, and forged on to Bly and the Sprague River Valley.

On the way we discovered an unusual memorial from WWII, the Mitchell Monument Historical site. Apparently, the Japanese attempted to use High-altitude balloons to start fires in an effort to kill US citizens.

The Mitchell family and a group of Sunday school children were the sole casualties from an estimated 9000 balloons launched.

The USFS route out of the hills was a pothole riddled mess, but once we hit Bly, the roads improved and we had a very enjoyable journey along the slow moving Sprague River.

We then joined up with Highway 97 and cruised back up towards Bend.

August 4, 2024August 3, 2024

A Day Trip

At times these past few weeks, it seemed that all of Oregon was burning. So this week we attempted to see if that was true.

It’s not. At least not the entire state.

However, here in the high desert we are regularly covered in a plume of smoke.

We began our trip before dawn . . . an early start to a long loop route.

First stop, Cottonwood Canyon Day Use with enough time for some small mouth bass fishing.

This is one of our favorite spots,. Set in a canyon on the last few miles of the John Day, the river meanders across the northern third of the state.

Upstream, the John Day River, at Cottonwood Canyon SP

The morning was mostly smoke-free with cool morning temperatures.

Sharing lunch with local wildlife

The day use space at Cottonwood was empty and offered plenty of shade. We set up chairs and took in the quiet.

The next leg was east toward Service Creek, another point along the river.

This brought us to the western edge of a group of active wildfires, Lone Rock (137k acres), Monkey Creek (176k acres), and Courtrock (20k acres).

The turn south at Service Creek was literally the last piece of Highway 19 east still open.

There are always interesting bits of geology along Oregon highways

It was as far as we intended to go, but we did cross our fingers that we’d be able to get on State 207 and find a route to Mitchell.

By the time we’d pass Waldron Schoolhouse , the smoke had cleared and the traffic was light. We enjoyed the drive down to the Twickenham Road and the eastern border of Sutton Mountain.

At Mitchell we connected with Highway 26, and then took a short detour to visit the Painted Hills Unit.

We’ve been there numerous times, but this is a stop that is always worth the effort.

From there it’s back onto 26 over Ochoco Pass and dinner at the Tastee Treet.

A burger dinner on the Crooked River seemed a good way to end our day.

July 28, 2024July 27, 2024

Smoke Avoidance

Another week of high temperature avoidance meant an early morning trip to the Crooked River. We’re also dealing with an influx of wildfire smoke. However, we’ve managed to stay out of the worst of the plumes.

Not sure how long that will last.

The extreme heat subsided this week, giving a few more hours before shelter is required. We managed nearly four hours of peaceful stream time a couple of different mornings.

Fresh from a dive, our osprey searches for another target

The Kestrel family seems to have moved on, replaced by the Osprey. Birding action at the old tree continues unabated.

Fishing is good. This warmer weather wakes up the aquatic insects. The river’s edge is a lush green as summer’s heat has yet to dry out the riparian growth.

We continue to manage avoiding the worst of the smoke plumes and have some other excursions planned, but these days that means keeping a close eye on the fire reports.

July 21, 2024July 26, 2024

Early Morning Observations

This week we found one way to avoid the heat is to get going at dawn, and of course, be home by noon.

Destination: Crooked River

Departure: 5:00 a.m.

Reward: Pleasant morning sitting by a stream.

When you sit quietly, nature comes to you. Or more to the point, you notice what was around you all along.

Finally, back on the river

Before the heat of the day pushed us out, there were visits from a kingfisher, osprey, heron, numerous songbirds, and a collection of wrens.

Early morning sun illuminated a web filled with spider snacks.

Stalking spent flower blossoms revealed a plethora of wonders in the frame of a macro lens.

On rivers edge there is still plenty of green

After lunch at the Tastee Treet, we headed home to avoid the oppressive afternoon sun in air conditioned luxury. Soon there will be another early morning jaunt.