Paddling Central Oregon Cascade Lakes 2019

 Weather in the Cascades this time of the year is quite variable.  We had some very damp days but made the best of it   

Our trailer as a base camp permitted us to hunker down on the dampest time. Lots of books to read and more than enough videos to watch.

 During the "better times we would grab some paddling time on the lakes. 

 With three of us Bobbe volunteered to be the stabilizer in the boat.  I assume due to the damp weather not many people were on the lakes.  It is great to have the peaceful time without power boats racing by. 

 During the dampest times we did some over landing to Summit Lake. The lake was mystical with fog and lite rain on the lake.   

 The road was not much more than a trail.  The little Suzuki did well.  I only had to put it in 4X4 a few times when it was very rocky and steep. 

 Norma Wallace was the third member of our troupe.  She turned out to be a great paddler. 

 Norma's puffin made it to the Pacific Crest Trail during our adventure. 

 Weather cleared for a day and we made a dash to Waldo Lake.  This was our first trip on this lake.  The water color was so blue, then add the clouded coming over the cascades and fog flowing across the lake. 

Sandy beaches were a premium along the south side of the lake. We were able to stop once in a while to stretch our legs.  We are no longer 35 any more so legs and other parts of the body get stiff and sore quickly.   

I had downloaded a few geocaches into my GPS before leaving Snowshoe Inn.  We were able to find a few geocaches before the weather ran us off the lake. Lucky the wind was not  bad but were concerned about being lost in fog. 

It was a great trip regardless of the weather, we do not need warm sunny days to enjoy life. 

Exploring Big Lake area 2019

On a whim Bobbe and I did 4 days camping at Big Lake CG near Santiam Pass.   Mike and Teresa Norris also came along.  It was on short notice and we did not have reservations at the camp ground and I assumed we could find a couple of sites because it was mid week.  Well we did find two sites not too far apart.   The camp ground was full otherwise. 

 We were lucky to find a site long enough and wide enough for our rig.  No campfires because trailer had to over hang fire pit to be off road.

 Nice view a short distance from camp site.  Big Lake is a medium size lake for the cascades.  there was some power boats and jet ski boats on the water but more canoes, kayaks and sup.   Crowds quickly diminished a few hundred yards from the boat ramp.

 We also were lucky, there were still quite a few wildflowers in bloom.

 Mountain Ash berries not quite ripe yet.

Wild huckleberries were fully ripe.  I had a hard time making progress on the trail along the south end of the lake.  It was a blue tounge day for me  :)   I returned later and took some cuttings and hope to root some plants for my own garden at Snowshoe Inn.   I think the wild huckleberries will be a good addition to my landscape garden.

Fire weed

Fish Lake Guard Station

We did a road trip and stopped at Fish Lake Guard Station.   We have driven past for 30 years but never stopped.   It was worth the time.   The guard station is on the old Santiam Wagon road.  At one time there was a hotel and corals to change horses for the early teamsters that traveled the toll road.  My great grandfather Levi Crain was a teamster out of Prineville, Oregon and I would assume that he might have traveled this road at one time or another.  It was also a remount station for the USFS for there work in the area.  A little before my time foresters were trained on how to pack a mule so they could work in the woods away from home.  My how times have changed. 

Photo through window of old cabin. 

sign says " no cauked boots"

Logo on old post 

The one trail marker the USFS missed

 Another road trip was to find and explore the Sawyer Caves.  Years ago there was a sign and trail to the caves.   The caves were lava tubes so common in Central Oregon.  Several years ago I noticed the sign was missing and the parking area blocked.  One of the things that has to be done to protect the resource I guess.  With the help of my old maps and gps I was able to find the trail head and ultimately reach the caves.  The first cave was very cold but did not go far.  It looks like the entrance had fallen in but could feel a lot of cold air coming out anyway.   The second cave was much larger and not quite as cool.

Mike Norris above 1st cave

Second cave with metal grate to keep people out

Mike and Teresa loading there kayak

Bobbe leading the way in our kayak

Young pine seedling in old B & B wild fire area

Sea Kayaking San Juan Islands, Washington

I have been lax about posting to my blog.  Facebook is much easier from my phone, but many friends do not have Facebook.   I will try to catch up on some of our trips on the blog over time.  Last summer one of our big trips was a canoe trip down a section of the Green River in Utah.  This summer of 2019 Bobbe agreed to go on a sea kayaking trip in the San Juan Islands.   This was an outfitted trip lead by Alder Creek Kayak and Canoe from Portland, Oregon.  I have found that many of Bobbe's concerns about the trip are reduced by having an outfitter.  We took our double sea kayak that Joshua and Jenna were using.  I left them our old town canoe in trade.  Here are a few photos of the trip.

 First day was an 8 mile crossing from Orcas Island to our base camp on Jones Island.  Everyone was required to wear a dry suit or wet suit due to the cold water.  My dry suit is "yummy yellow". It is called that do to the fact sharks are attracted to the color yellow.  I chose yellow because I am less concerned about sharks then having the Coast Guard see me if I am in the water.

 One calm evening we did a sunset paddle.  Like so many sunsets it was beautiful.  I took too many photos to share but I do like this one of Bobbe.

 The second day we paddled to Yellow Island.  It is a Nature Conservatory preserve.   It was interesting to see how they were managing it for different habitats on a very small island.

 Our group was eleven guests and three guides.  Most of us had some paddling experience but not to my knowledge had paddled in San Juan Islands before.  Before the trip I had Bobbe nervous (I have a reputation) about the water state in the San Juan Islands.    In reality the water was for the most part calm with only one short section with chaotic waves due to boat traffic and reflecting waves from a headland.  Even then the waves were not more than 2 feet high. 




 I have so many photos of Bobbe from the rear of the kayak.  I want to thank Matt one of our guides for this photo of both of us.  We had the only double on the trip.  A double is less maneuverable than a single but much more stable.  This helped Bobbe relax a little bit.

Jones Island is a Washington State park site and is well know for its wildlife and I do not mean the parties.  The deer were quite friendly and the raccoons were know as ninja raccoons.  We had to chase one out of camp on the first day and it did not want to leave. 

 There was enough time between paddling to relax in camp and share stories.  We enjoyed meeting so fun people.

 The group site had a nice pavilion and picnic tables.  There was lots of room for our group equipment and food.  We only had a short drizzle the second day other wise the weather was great.

Four days was not enough and I hope to return and spend more time in this great location for paddling.  There is always NEXT YEAR.












The only mishap on the trip was when I did not see a rock in the water on the trip back to Orcas Island on the last day.  I high centered on the rock and it took some doing to get off of it.  It was mostly gel coat damage in it is now repaired. I  had planned on putting sacrificial layer of fiberglass to the entire keel of the kayak.  Now the repair has been made and it has one layer of fiberglass the full length of the keel and a second layer along the more vulnerable portions of the bow and stern.