July 30, 2009, 10:56 pm  Winnemucca Lake trail For several years now we have returned to the Woods Lake trailhead and hiked to Winnemucca Lake. On highway 88 just below Carson Pass, the trailhead is at 8,200 ft elevation. In late July, the wildflowers along the trail are usually incredibly abundant, with the hillsides carpeted with color. We usually pause for a break, and maybe lunch, at Winnemucca Lake and then continue on up to Round Top Lake at 9,200 ft.
We have done this hike early in the season, before the wildflowers are blooming, and it has a different beauty then, with the trail crossing snow and ice still in the lake.
It can be an out and back trip, or a round-trip by descending on the west side of the ridge, with views of Caples Lake, past some mining claims. This route seems steeper, so we like to do it on the descent.
There is a very obvious use trail up to the peak of Round Top (a little over 10,100 ft) and I keep thinking that some day I’ll get up there. It should be a spectacular view.
Links
—Winnemucca Lake 2009 photo gallery
June 6, 2009, 9:16 pm Hike or bike—that was our choice today, and we decided to bike, starting from Sisters. Fortified with coffee from the Sisters Coffee Company, we headed west on Highway 247 (the old Mckenzie Highway). The road is still closed to vehicle traffic—the gate is closed 9 miles from town. That’s right about where the climb becomes steeper. From Sisters, we rode to Dee Wright Observatory at Mckenzie Pass (at least I did, Karen skipped the last couple of miles). My total mileage was 30 miles. The last few miles still had debris (wood and cinders) on the road, and there was snow; some road-side drifts were over my head. It was windy in places, and cool. I’ve enjoyed this ride every time I’ve done it—not too steep and very scenic.
Back in Sisters we enjoyed another coffee at Sisters Coffee Company. I hung around there and read while Karen shopped. She loves the antique stores, and ended up buying a child’s folding chair with much character.
We drove back to our motel in Redmond for a shower and a change of clothes, then went to Bend and Baldy’s for good barbecue. We had interesting conversation at dinner with a retired Southern California car dealership owner; obviously well to do, but very friendly. He recommended french toast breakfast at the Pilot Butte Drive In, so of course, Karen wants to go.
 Hot air balloons at sunset
After dinner we stopped by REI in the Old Mill District (I suspect one of the most distinctive REI stores around). We walked across the Deschutes River to look at hot air balloons (they were supposed to fly in the morning, but high winds grounded them) before getting too cold. The natives managed fine in shorts and short sleeves, but we were shivering. We finally got back to the motel at 9:30 pm.
June 2, 2009, 9:31 pm  Happy Birthday Karen’s birthday is today. Dinner, dessert, and presents were with the kids, and Karen clearly had a good time, as did we all. She especially appreciated the hand-decorated book bag the kids made for her.
 Dan, Janet, Carolyn, Elizabeth Afterwards, we stopped to visit briefly with Janet’s dad (who has come for his first visit with the twins) and had another dessert (after all, who can pass up home-made ice cream). Dan had just taken their first family photo with the twins at the hospital. We love it.
|
Consider this:“I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another.” 2 John 1:5 |
