08-06-2023 Traveling to East Lake in the Newberry Caldera National Monument

 

The natural spring on the shoreline at East Lake is full again and hot this season

It has been two years since we camped at East Lake. Our memories of our time there in 2019 are a delight, and I look at the photos often. Last year, with our planned trip to the East Coast, we never managed to get to East Lake for camping. I may have attempted a couple of times to get reservations, but last-minute sites at the campground are few and far between.

Just a couple of weeks ago, after Mo and I returned from our cruise to the British Isles, Mo said to me, "Is there any chance we can go camping somewhere soon?". It was already mid-July, and knowing that sites are nearly impossible to find just about anywhere in Oregon, I told her I would at least make an attempt to see if something was open for us somewhere that we might enjoy.

Site 3 at East Lake Campground

Recreation.gov is the portal for camping at East Lake, and I thought maybe I would try there first, just on the minimal chance that something might show up. It is possible to get first-come/first-serve sites at that campground, or at least it used to be possible. This time when I searched the campground map for openings, there were no listings for any sites that were available on a first-come/first-serve basis. Imagine my shock when I saw two big CAPITAL A marks on only one site. I called to Mo, "There is a site available for just two nights next week. Should I book it?" Without a moment's hesitation, she said to go for it. I have discovered that if one is willing to check in often with locations that might be on the list of desires, sometimes magic happens and a cancellation shows up at just the right time.

With our two-night reservation secured, a couple of days later Mo suggested that we check to see if there might be a third night available. Our plan was to camp for two nights and hope for an empty site due to a last-minute cancellation on the third night.  Lo and behold, there was a site available for the third night, Site 2, just across from our first location at Site 3.  Both sites looked a bit small and were surrounded on three sides by roads, which wasn't necessarily our preference, but we weren't about to be choosy when attempting to book something in the summer in Oregon just two weeks in advance.  Our rig is small enough at 26 feet that we can fit in comfortably just about anywhere.

We left home around nine, expecting to arrive around two at the campground when we could officially check-in.  The route is a familiar one.  South from Grants Pass just a few miles on the Interstate to Highway 234 which crosses a wide open valley toward Shady Cove and Trail, where we intercepted Highway 62, the main route from the west to Crater Lake.  Just past Union Creek and the iconic Becky's Cafe (famous for their marionberry pies) Highway 62 makes a hard right toward the south entrance of Crater Lake and Highway 238 continues north toward Diamond Lake, the North Entrance of Crater Lake, and then drops down a long, straight stretch toward Highway 97.  

Highway 238 on the way to Diamond Lake

We stopped for a potty break for Mattie at the Mazama Overlook near the summit nearing the Crater Lake turnoff.  There were seven cars parked there with people getting ready to hike the trail that goes to the headwaters of the Rogue River.

The hike to Boundary Springs passes through a lot of burned landscapes

Two years ago, Mo and I found a dirt road that intercepted that trail and managed to cut off almost three miles of that hike.  A very steep three miles at that.  We laughed as we overheard the people wondering which way it was to Crater Lake.  Not sure if they realized that the trailhead for the Headwaters would lead them nowhere near Crater Lake.  Curious why people don't have a paper map.  We saw them waving their phones around wondering why they didn't have a signal.

Mo took over driving after pulling out the Diet Pepsi and Fritos, two items that seem to be traditional for us when on the road.  As soon as I taste those salty tasty corn things, I am inundated with memories of the many long road trips we have shared over the last twenty years.  Our route from home took us past Rogue Air Drive, where daughter Deborah lived until recently, and past her new turn at the tiny community of Trail where she now lives.  We passed Lost Creek Reservoir Lake where we camped and kayaked for two gorgeous days last May.  Yes, that blog post is another one waiting to happen.  Continuing toward Union Creek and the beautiful Farewell Bend Campground along the Rouge River where we have spent some delightful times, and where our friends Nickie and Jimmy were camped during a year of fire with roads closed in both directions creating some stressful moments for them.

From the junction at Highway 97, it was just a short jaunt to the Pilot station in Chemult where we usually fuel the MoHo.  With just half a tank of fuel left, we wanted to be sure our tanks were as full as possible for three nights of dry camping with no power and the necessity to keep our batteries topped off with the generator.  Besides, we do like to make coffee in an electric pot, having given up the messy French Press years ago.

Cloudy skies in La Pine

Surprisingly, the skies were overcast throughout the entire trip, and the temperatures were in the high 50s.  In Grants Pass, it seems that the skies have been blue, blue, blue, for the last few months, and the gray skies were a welcome sight. With the cooler temperatures, there was a feeling of fall in the air, although I know that is a false flag since we are predicted to have another week of triple-digit temps in Grants Pass next week.  But our route was east of the Cascades, and it is often at least ten degrees cooler on that side of the mountains.

Later:We are sitting here relaxing after our delicious bbq hamburger supper. I made mac salad and only used half of the ingredients that I brought so I could have fresh salad for Gaelyn she arrives for an afternoon dinner with us on Tuesday.

It's a really beautiful, peaceful, quiet evening. There is only one big rig next to us running their generator for a considerable length of time but otherwise, the sounds are just nice. Camping sounds. Crackling campfires, little dogs barking, big dogs woofing but not too much. Kids' voices as they play. Wind in the lodgepole pines. We're in a spot where we can see the lake. It's really a quiet, nice little spot. It's kind of a weird one because it's surrounded by trees and roads on three sides. When it became available for a reservation, we grabbed it, not expecting it to be as pleasant as it has turned out to be.

Deep gullies at the beach from the previous night of rain and hail

According to one of the people we spoke to when we arrived there was a terrible storm last night with hard rain and hail. Our campsite is in a convex position so water runs off all around us and doesn't accumulate anywhere in our camp, which is a pretty nice thing because it might rain again. There are big, dark, gray clouds above us. My guess is that it will clear up for the morning and maybe cloud up again tomorrow afternoon. Whether it clears or not we will be on the lake tomorrow morning as long as it isn't windy. The first thing before breakfast is the plan.

East Lake is a very special spot. Every time we come here, we'll remind ourselves how much we love it. The only other place that has been as special to us is Medicine Lake just south of the Oregon border in California in the volcanic plateau called the Medicine Lake Highlands.

Kayaking the incredible stillness of Medicine Lake in 2020

It is another campground with a lake in a volcanic caldera. But now that we've moved to Grants Pass, Medicine Lake is harder to get to. It is only about five hours to get to Medicine Lake, and about 5 hours to get here to East Lake, but somehow it seems a bit longer.

We are feeling very happy this evening. Relaxed, no internet, no TV. Nothing to do but sit by the fire, maybe go inside and play a game of cards. Go to bed early and read our Kindles. I am reading an incredible book called "The Covenant of Water" which started slow but is one of those books that stays with me throughout the day.

That's about it for today. Mo just reminded me to mention that there are no mosquitoes. Even though we had heard they were terrible this year. So far this evening we haven't seen a single mosquito. How perfect is that?!!