Oh, for you, Rachel. I put my initials in rocks! There!
Like I said, suddenly I'm in the forest! Beautiful!
This whole area was formed volcanically. I found a place called Subway Cave.
A lava flow that formed a tube in the ground. nice and cool down there and pitch black.
Some other nice scenery.
My friend Susan from New Jersey is in Mt. Shasta this week.
She's out here on a retreat and luckily can meet her when she is done.
I'm early into town, so I'll camp for the night and explore in the morning
I camp at a place called Medicine Lake. Nice spot about 45 KM off the road.
Met some nice campers in the morning. Who offered some coffee. Thank you!
I can't believe I didn't bring some way to make coffee!! Well, I won't make that mistake again...
So, I explored around the Shasta Trinity area. They have a few waterfalls.
The lower falls:
A small hike to middle falls:
Nice!
They're about 20 meters high. I'm really enjoying jumping around the rocks.
Rainbow!
This is funny.
I head into town and in the middle of the downtown area there is a fount with "The city of pure water" on it. I park nearby and fill my canteen there.
(In chaps and dusty as hell. Must have been quite a site) I remind everyone for the next few days the Mt. Shasta is the city of pure water.
Mt. Shasta is really cool, but, well.....think Elysian Fields as a whole city.
Good water though.
I meet up with Susan and we head for a place called Heart Lake, which she says that she's been to before, but, it was probably in a dream. It's up on a ridge above Castle Lake.
Here's a view of Mt. Shasta heading up.
..at Castle Lake:
Just up that ridge there......not far. (remember what I said about things being bigger than they look......) Got lost on the way up "Just follow the trail, stay to the right".
Except there was about three or four trails, and they kept disappearing!
Well worth it though!
....It's called Heart Lake because.......
Got a day of rest, then it's on to the coast! I looking over the map and was planning a direct route to the coast, but, then to the north is Crater Lake National Park!
Got a few recommendations to go there. One thing that is cool is that I can (and have) change my route if I see something interesting. So, north it is!
On your way up to Crater Lake, don't forget to stop at Dorris, CA. Home of the tallest flagpole in America!
......And that's ALL that's in Dorris....... um, two pumps and a diner...sort of.
Heading into Oregon is really nice.
I'm almost taking "Road shots" as a matter of principle now.
"It's all I have, man!"
I reach Crater Lake, and, look for camp. All the campsites were filled, but two guys let me crash at their site. Bret and Jesse, students at UC Davis, that go out camping and climbing a lot. Thanks!
In the morning I explore the park.
Crater Lake is massive!! I thought it would be cool to get a sunrise shot, I headed out just before the sun appeared, but, I was on the east side and by the time I got to the west side the sun was well up in the air! That's how big!
This is on the south side half way around!
This is a view of what they call the Phantom Ship.
Yes, those are clouds that are up in the top left of that pic!
For perspective, the island in the middle, called Wizard Island reaches about 230m above the surface of the lake!!
Here are the "Pinnacles". Volcanic formations at the south-east side of the park:
Oh Yeah!
A really nice ride to the coast!
Found a waterfall to stop and defrost after leaving the park.
Along Oregon, 101 doesn't really get right up to the water as most of the coast is sand dunes.
But...
THE PACIFIC OCEAN!
Made it to Eugene and taking a rest with Chris and his family!!
Got my hair and nails done. *Snicker..Wait*
Now deciding to take more of the coast, OR, keep inland and see Mt. St. Helens/Rainier......hmmmm
Decisions......