It was another adventure-filled weekend down here in the Rogue Valley, and we started it out by meeting up with our friends Chad and Heather for an excursion down the Rogue River. Armed with life jackets, snacks, and some rented rafts, we put in at Hog Creek for a 14 mile paddle to Grave Creek. Here we are heading into Hellgate Canyon. Even Bubba gets a life jacket.
Chad and Heather blazing trail down the river.
Getting my raft on after a long hiatus.
Me and the Bubba. Poor Carl was stuck on camera duty all day, except when he got to put it down to haul Bubba back in the boat. That dog loves the water.
Needless to say the boy was pooped by the end of the day.
Next day Carl and I went on an exploratory mission to the rim road of Crater Lake, previewing where I'll be running next weekend. I'm glad I did, because now I know the last three miles are entirely uphill. What have I gotten myself into?
Wizard Island in the blue, blue waters.
Mystery flower straight out of Dr. Seuss.
That's Mt. Thielsen in the background - we'll be climbing that someday.
Phantom Ship Island.
Carl risked life and limb to get a picture of these incredibly pink flowers. It was worth the effort.
After we got back I still had to go for a run, so I waited until the sun and temperatures were dropping before heading up to a Forest Service road behind town. As I neared the last curve before the two-mile marker, huffing and puffing, I heard something bolt through the trees up above the cutbank to my right. I turned my head in time to catch a glimpse of a little black bear cub rocketing off, which made me wonder where mama bear was. Turning a little further I found her on the hillside directly above me, ears up and body tense. She was a beautiful cinnamon color, unlike her inky offspring. Since I was planning to head back at two miles anyway, I had no problem saying "hi" to the bears and then backing down the trail the way I came. It's good to know there are still wild things up in them thar hills.
Chad and Heather blazing trail down the river.
Getting my raft on after a long hiatus.
Me and the Bubba. Poor Carl was stuck on camera duty all day, except when he got to put it down to haul Bubba back in the boat. That dog loves the water.
Needless to say the boy was pooped by the end of the day.
Next day Carl and I went on an exploratory mission to the rim road of Crater Lake, previewing where I'll be running next weekend. I'm glad I did, because now I know the last three miles are entirely uphill. What have I gotten myself into?
Wizard Island in the blue, blue waters.
Mystery flower straight out of Dr. Seuss.
That's Mt. Thielsen in the background - we'll be climbing that someday.
Phantom Ship Island.
Carl risked life and limb to get a picture of these incredibly pink flowers. It was worth the effort.
After we got back I still had to go for a run, so I waited until the sun and temperatures were dropping before heading up to a Forest Service road behind town. As I neared the last curve before the two-mile marker, huffing and puffing, I heard something bolt through the trees up above the cutbank to my right. I turned my head in time to catch a glimpse of a little black bear cub rocketing off, which made me wonder where mama bear was. Turning a little further I found her on the hillside directly above me, ears up and body tense. She was a beautiful cinnamon color, unlike her inky offspring. Since I was planning to head back at two miles anyway, I had no problem saying "hi" to the bears and then backing down the trail the way I came. It's good to know there are still wild things up in them thar hills.
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