In The Shadow of Longs Peak
Saturday, 04 September 2021
Stop 1 of the Columbine National Wildlife Refuge (CNWR) exploration
This looks to be Corral Lake. It is accessed down a dirt road on the south side of WA 262, west of the dam. This turns out to be a Washington State Property, so I need a Discovery Pass (which I go back to the State Park and purchase a day pass)
This lake is big enough for a boat.
I can hear lots of birds singing but am unable to pick any out. Their songs are familiar but I am not at the point where I can bird by ear.
Stop 2 of the Columbine National Wildlife Refuge (CNWR) exploration
Blythe Lake
Corral Lake was accessed on the south side of the dam road at the west end of the dam. From that entrance. I can see another brown sign that looks like it is along a private road but is not private and leads to Blythe Lake. Blythe is an even bigger lake than Corral Lake.
Stop 3 of the Columbine National Wildlife Refuge (CNWR) exploration
Goose Lakes
This road, though gravel seemed to be very narrow & twisty & steep so I did not venture down. Afterwards, I thought that I should have parked the car and walk down a bit to investigate. I will need to remember to do that next time.
Stop 4 of the Columbine National Wildlife Refuge (CNWR) exploration
Huchinson & Shiner Lakes
Each lake is bigger and bigger. This one is lined with Basalt Columns. I need to find out if these lakes are natural
Stop 5 of the Columbine National Wildlife Refuge (CNWR) exploration
Unnamed site labeled for hiking to Black Lake.
Stop 6 of the Columbine National Wildlife Refuge (CNWR) exploration
Last place was the Columbine National Wildlife Refuge (CNWR) headquarters where I got an excellent brochure one that I should have gotten before starting this exploration!
Next is to Othello, then west on WA 26 then North unto I-90. West to Seattle, South on I-405 to Rainer Ave / Renton / 132nd / 134th. All went well!
Sunday, 05 September 2021
Reading the pamphlet for the Columbine National Wildlife Refuge (CNWR), a couple of things stand out. First, you can only take a bicycle on the gaveled roads, so no off-road biking; Second, as I discover not all the public lands are part of the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge. There is no fee for those areas with the Columbine National Wildlife Refuge (CNWR).
I took the time to match the trails on the map to the descriptions using google.
I think I may swing back that way when I return home to Colorado. I will take drive down the road that is on the east side of the dam to Soda Lake and the Frog Lake trail head. Then head south to the Tri-cites and I-84 east. It looks like there is camping at Farewell Bend so that will be a good place to stop.
Birds of Prey was also a bust, again not finding what I was looking for. But using Google and the Gazetteer I see I need to use tum off at exit 44 (between Nampa and Meridian), then south on ID 69 to Kona, west on Kuna Road to Swan Falls Road which you can take to the river.
The next place of interest would be City of Rocks but that might be best for its own trip.
From Farewell Bend, I then could make it to Flaming Gorge and the Buckboard Campground and spend the night there. Then homeward.
Pacific Northwest
31 August 2021 thru 5 September 2021 and 17 September 2021 thru 18 September 2021
Tuesday, 31 August 2021
Day 1 of our first major retirement trip. This is different in that we are starting together and ending solo.
Gary arrived and we loaded boats on his truck and took the bike rack off my car. I did go back and forth on bringing the bike but of ultimately decided against it, as it was just more stuff and I am trying hard to simplify. We left my house at 10:15. We arrived at Bear Lake, South Eden Campground about 6:15/6:30 PM, so just about 8 hours, as expected.
This is expensive! $80 for two nights for 2 vehicles, the out of state rate. But this is still cheaper than a motel of course. And our plan is to paddle tomorrow.
We set up the tent in site #4, where we will be able to simply carry the boats to the lake. Good deal. Now, it’s time for supper, a cocktail, and relaxing.
Thursday, 02 September 2021
Today we leave Bear Lake. We are up by 7.15 or so. We boil water for coffee then break camp and pack up. This camp is not in the early morning sun and it is just a bit chilly. We plan to visit Bear River Wildlife Refuge, so we head north, where the map shows an access road going west somewhere south of Dingle but there is none. We continue to Dingle where there is a sign for the Refuge and head west, then south.
All along, there are lots of marshland with ponds to lakes of water of various sizes but no trees. I am having second thoughts about this outing. Lots of marsh grass. No trees. No trails.
We stop at a Kiosk. Then continue. There is a sign for a boat ramp and another for a canoe trail. Now, this is way more interesting! We check out both then back track and take a loop road. Another delight -- there are Trumpeter Swans, evidently native to this area. We stop again and walk a different loop trail and spy an osprey. Then back to the car and drive out, west to Paris, north to Montpelier, east on US 30 to I-15, north to Pocatello, exiting west on I-86 to I-84 around Burly ID, then west to the exit for Bruneau Dunes State Park which is south of the highway.
We had a reservation for the night here. Bruneau Dunes State Park has some trees but it’s mostly open. There are dunes to explore but that will be for another time. Tomorrow we part ways, me to Potholes Reservoir in Washington, then to Seattle; Gary to Crescent Lake.
Friday 17 September 2021
At Kari's house, I am up around 7:30 AM or so, packed my remaining belongings. We drive to PCC, have a quick breakfast, then drive over to pick up her truck and back again to her house.
We review paperwork, then final goodbyes and I am on my way. It is 11:30!
I stop by McDonalds for my hashbrown fix then on to I-405 North, east I-90 to Moses Lake where I turn off and head south on WA 17, then west toward Potholes Reservoir.
At the east side of the dam I head south into the Columbia National Wildlife Refuge. First stop is Soda Lake. Big enough for a half-day paddle and some birding.
I continue south on this road to upper Goose Lake. Another daytime outing but a Discovery Pass is needed. When return, I need both my senior All Federal Lands Pass and a WA Discovery Pass.
There are a number of pull-outs along this man road that goes by the CNWR headquarters. The map shows a few other lakes.
I continue south to Othello, East back to 17 and south to US 395 & I-182 & I-82. I-182 dead-ended into 82 which goes south to Oregon and I-84. I think I could have taken the US 395 cutoff and saved a few miles.
As it was, I got so off at Harpo Center to check the route: South on I-82, east on I-84. A quick stop for a snack (Kari’s hummus and bread) at a rest area about 30 miles short of Baker City.
Then on to Baker City for gas. Now a dilemma: get a room here or on to Farewell Bend State Park. I decide on Farewell Bend. It is less than 50 miles at this point so less than an hour. I am tired but I have another hour in me (at least, and it is only 8:40 MDT, 7:30 in Baker City). So east I go, keeping my speed about just under 60 mph.
And, here I am, at the Huntington Exit, but where is the state park? I go east along the frontage road for what seems like forever. Finally, after another 10 miles, there is finally a sign. I turn in and another sign says vacancy. Woo-hoo, I am in luck! I had checked to be sure reservations are not needed, and I wondered if the park would be full. It appears that the tent only loop is closed but I find an open site, #68. I pull in, set up the tent. Head back to the fee booth and pay my $26.00. All is well. Though I do hear the highway!
Friday, 03 September 2021
At Bruneau Dunes, we were up by 7:30 and away at 9. My route was ID 78, west to ID 45, then north to Nampa. I was in search of Birds of Prey Conservation Area but did not see any signs for access. At 11, I stopped in Nampa for my Mcdonald’s breakfast fix but they stop serving breakfast at 10:30.
Onward.
There are places of interest I passed that deserve further research. These are "Cottonwood", an Idaho recreation area with camping, “Cove” Recreation area which appears to have boating and may be one of the many Snake River Reservoirs. There was also a Rabbit Creek BLM trailhead, and another, the Fox Creek trailhead, also a BLM site.
Now, west on I-84 into Oregon, just short of Pendleton, then north & east to Walla Walla. I did like the looks of Walla Walla and it had at least 1 college
Then east on US 12 which turned out to be a puzzle to find. Glad to have google. East on US 12 to WA 261. Northwest on WA 261 to WA 260. Northeast on WA 260 to WA 26 which I take west to almost Othello; north on WA 17 to WA 262 then west to Potholes State Park.
I took this route specifically to re-do a route re-do a route I did several years ago that went west from Lewiston / Clarkson through orchard & farm country. There are huge fields of what is mostly wheat, all cut. I find the patterns & shapes & colors intriguing.
I would like to paint this. But how do I imaqine it would look on a page?
I arrive at potholes at 5 or so, Pacific Time, so 9 hours of driving, much on back roads. I still need to learn how to change a flat-tire and look into getting one of those satellite devices for my car that I could make cell phone calls on. But I do have the in-Reach that I can send emails or texts on.
Time for socks & slacks. Seems like I am getting eaten alive!
Wednesday, 01 September 2021
Today is our paddle day. We did not have a predefined goal, so Gary suggested paddling straight west across the lake. He estimates 3 miles. Looking at the road atlas, I guess 5 miles. We were both wrong.
We carry our boats down to the water and before long were paddling away. The time was 10:30 AM. There is a high peak off to the west that we used as a heading. There was a slight breeze, it was slightly cloudy, and slightly cool so all is well. I did listen to the weather radio which called for afternoon thunderstorms, which is kind of foreboding but we paddle anyway. At a certain point we seem to be getting further from the east shore but no closer to the west. But after a bit more, we are getting closer to the west shore but only slowly. Finally we are there headed into a harbor with lots of sailboats. Gary paddles around and takes a look. I am a bit antsy about the return trip so stay put and rest.
I mention at that although it took 2 hours to get here, I think we need to plan 3 hours paddling back since I feel like I am losing steam, though the rest of 10 minutes seems to help.
Now we start to head back but what is heading? I am a bit confused by the GPS having never using the heading feature before. Gary thinks our heading it should be 100 or so. Looking at the waypoints, I see one that has a heading of 111. We go with that which seems to direct us to a valley which I do not remember but we would not have seen it when we started.
We paddle and paddle. I take a gps sighting in 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes and all seems well. After 90 minutes, our launch waypoint is a hard left. We continue on, realizing that campsite we are seeing is not ours! We correct course and paddle northeast and soon we see our cars and head that way. The return trip takes 2.5 hours.
No thunder storms. All is well.
There are some things to do better. First our heading west was the high peak, but we did not use the compass to find the heading. In addition, we should have turned around every 30 minutes to see what was behind us. And, we should have had a map of this lake, like a Fishin’ Map to give us a more accurate overview. Finally, the declination on my compass was set incorrectly so that explains why it did not match the heading on the GPS.
What did we do well? Well, we corrected ourselves. We were only 1.5 mi off course.
Also, I had waypoints in the GPS from the previous trip, so that may have caused additional confusion. A good reason to have well labeled way points.
Saturday 18 September 2021
I do not have written notes for Saturday so here is a rundown. First, down to the Snake River and take pictures before leaving Farewell Bend. Then on to Birds of Prey, which is disappointing. There is a look-out at Dedication Point and short trail. Lots of target practice between there and the entrance. The road down to the river was steep with lots of switch-backs so I pass. I did make it to Buckboard just as it was getting dark but the campground was closed! I stop to ask about a room, but no vacancy (same place on the west side of Green River where I have stayed before). At that point, I am getting tired but once on the road perk up. So I simply drive home, arriving maybe about 2 AM. Glad to be home.