Scanned in December 2001; and cleaned up a bit. 

 

Had never considered writing a trip letter on a jaunt to Reed to pick up Nate; but seems like it turned out to be enough of an outing to rate a short write-up. As noted, the purpose was to get Nate, who has now finished his freshman year at Reed (in Portland, Oregon). However, we decided to take a few extra days and make a short: vacation out of it as well. 

Tuesday - Headed North. We had planned to go directly to Phebe's and then do our bumming, but then Mom had a bladder complication so we didn't get to go to Santa Rosa on Mother's Day and she was going into the hospital at 2 PM Tuesday for a Wednesday operation. So we went to Santa Rosa, said a belated Happy Mother's day and planted her gift (tomato plants, green peppers, and cucumbers), and had a nice lunch at the Inn. Then continued up Hiway 101. Got to Eureka about 6 PM and decided that since we were sorta familiar with that area from several salmon fishing trips, it would be more fun to stay somewhere inland, so drove another 45 minutes into the coastal mountain range and stayed at Willow Creek. Only two motels in town and one had no vacancy, so choice was easy. Had a fun dinner at a resturant where the people (both waitress and customers) were really friendly/folksy. Amazing what getting less than an hour into the woods does for people's attitudes. Oh, yes, the drive up to Eureka was pretty as always and the drive into the mountains was quite nice. 

Wednesday - Plan was to bum our way up through the middle of Northern California on Hiway 96? which begins by paralleling the Trinity River and then follows the Kalamath River for more than a hundred miles. It is all through quite nice mountains and very few

People, tourists, etc. Very enjoyable; including a stop at an Indian Museum in the Hoopa reservation and a stop at a set of cabins we had read about once in terms of friendly proprietors and good pie. The folks sure were friendly, but no pie. Onward to a small town for lunch at a place the friendly folks told us about, and then onward through scenic country with a stop for a 45 minute walk along a piece of the Pacific Crest Trail. It was about 2 PM and we decided that rather than connect up with the Interstate (I5) and get to Phebe's in an hour or so, we'd take some back roads and connect with the Interstate further north. Began with blacktop, changed to dirt, and headed onward. By now we saw a sign to Mount Ashland (13 miles) and figured if we got there we'd have blacktop to Phebes. Road rough but OK and very pretty as we climbed, continued to select roads to Mt Ashland, and saw beautiful views back of Shasta. At mile 10 (of our 13) we got to a spot with a log across about half the road and a cutaway on the steep canyon side. Looked at it, decided we could fill the cutaway with twigs and stones and just fit. Did; and it worked; but not without a little fear and feeling that we should have done a better job of filling the crevice. Then a mile further - a snowdrift on the road! Humm .... looked clear 40 feet further on, so put on chains, tried to get through and got real stuck. Couldn't back out. Tried digging a bit and putting rocks under the spinning tire; still problem. Began to worry about whether we should give up and walk to the top of the mouton where hopefully there would be an accessible phone at the Ski Lodge even if the Lodge was closed. Didn't want to wait too long and have it get colder, etc. However, jacked up the car, dug out quite a bit so we weren't suspended on snow, put limbs and rocks under the jacked up wheel, lowered the car, gave her the gas, and did get out. Went back to our trouble spot and built the hole up much more firmly with big rocks and drove across. Began to follow our tracks backward, but eventually got off on the wrong road (many, many unmarked lumber roads crisscross the area). Attempted to take options that headed in the right direction and eventually got back to the Interstate. By now we were very late for dinner and hadn't been able to call since we hadn’t seen a person, bar, house or anything for the last 3 hours or so. But did call, did drive 15 minutes to Ashland, did have a nice meal and chat with Phebe and Keith, and did sleep very well! 

Thursday - Weather OK but not the clear blue sky of yesterday. Drove to Crater Lake but couldn’t continue out the north exit because it was still blocked with winter snows. Backtracked a bit and continued north. Nice country from Medford to Crater Lake/ Diamond Lake area and then less interesting as we headed towards Bend. Stopped at a mile long underground lava formed tube and walked it (State Park so they rent you a lantern and it is all a nice easy path in this natural tunnel). Continued North past Bend and view to the West of the snow capped Cascades was nice but the weather wasn't favorable for great viewing. Stopped at a very spectacular gorge called Something Ogden. Took a side trip near there to a State Park called Cove Palisades, which is at the confluence of three, rives in extremely deep gorges. Explored around a bit and really spectacular, but also very windy and a bit of rain. The nearby town didn't have any interesting sleeping spots so we headed north and a bit west, up Hiway 26. Basically in a dust story which gradually became a rainstorm as we climbed up the foothills of the Cascades aiming toward Mount Hood (would be a spectacular view of mountains on a clear day; but not today). About 7 PM we arrive at Government Camp which is at about the 5000 foot level of Mount Hood and on the main road. Checked out a possible lodging there, but said we also wanted to go up the road and check out the Timberline Lodge which is a National Historic place. Weather was lousy by now with rain/sleet and fog. Drove the 6 miles up (to about 7000 feet). Figured we might eat dinner at the old/fancy lodge and stay back down below; but they had a fairly reasonable priced midweek, non Ski Season package special so took a room and had the full/fancy dinner. Hourdeouvers, main meal, dessert, the works (all part of the package) so real gluttonous. Not especially well prepared, but fancy and OK. Service very nice. Weather looked like a blizzard, but with little snow. Sleep. 

Friday - Lousy out. Spent an hour or more looking all around the lodge at the various historic items; including a museum. By then it was warm enough out that it was slushy, not icy, and we drove cautiously down the hill. Too overcast/foggy/rainy to see much, so rather than head to Portland through the mountains, headed for the Columbia River. Nice drive down the mountain to the river and quite spectacular drive along the Columbia River Gorge. Still some rain, but also some sun; and very windy. Steep gorge walls with several nice waterfalls (what with it being May and raining). Got to Reed about noon, had a cafeteria lunch that was poor, packed up Nate and headed down the road a bit before 2 PM. Loaded! Drove to Ashland and went out for Pizza with Phebe and Keith. 

Saturday - Drove straight home on 15. Unpacked the car, had dinner with all 4 Wolf sons, watched various kids show up to see Nate and Sabina - who eventually all headed out "on the town." And ....... I packed (both at home and up at the lab) for heading off to GSFC on an 8:15 AM flight the next morning!