On this trip I'd journeyed across the Desert from Southern Colorado on what felt like the hottest, and most desolate, route possible. I'd done my high school years in Eugene, just a bit to the North, so the coolness of the Mountains felt like home in more ways than one. Or, to be more specific, close to home.
I came through the Diamond Lake resort area, just north of Crater Lake. Located below the Matterhornesque Mt. Thielsen the spot is a gorgeous out of the way hide away. Like Tahoe there is a bike trail around the lake, 11 miles total, also accessible via cross country skis.
There was quite a bit of smoke in the area from some California wildfires, so no pics. I spent the night down the river a bit, one of my favorites in the State. There's no wilderness on the descent, but it is still incredibly pristine, has reliable water all summer, and captures the best of it's major riverine neighbors, the Rogue to the South and the McKenzie to the north.
I camped at one of the trailheads for the North Umpqua River Trail and did a short riverside hike. Here's some pics:
This lilly looks a lot like the garden variety that I've got blooming at home as I write this, but much smaller. Nice.
