Pacific Northwest - Summer Sojourn 2014

[Pmount]

I realized I had not included the picture of Megan and Mike - May 24 the post.

[Mark Sedenquist]

Back up at Mammoth Mtn ski area, across from where our car was parked, there was a black bear in the back of an open pick up chowing down on bags of food.

You know, if you are going to be considerate enough to open a buffet table for a bear -- you gotta expect one to find it. I hope they had the sense enough to let him/her finish eating their stuff.

Enjoying the report.

Mark

[Pmount]

Tuesday, May 27
Start: Mammoth Lakes, CA
Finish: Diamond O campground (USFS), W of Oak Flat entrance to Yosemite NP

After a quiet morning in camp, great for birdwatching. We drove up to the Twin Lakes Vista on Lake Mary Rd in Mammoth Lakes. Beautiful view of the first lake, one of many up that road.

Lower Twin Lake


Drove out of town on the Mammoth Scenic loop, which took us to US 395, north of town. Stopped at the Mono Basin Visitor Center, a multi-agency center with excellent displays and gift shop. Under the eaves of the building there were a number of Cliff Swallows nesting. Behind the visitor center is a spectacular view of Mono Lake.

Mono Basin Visitor Center


Cliff Swallow nests


Mono Lake


We drove W on CA 120, the Tioga Pass Road. Luckily the road opened very early this year, the end of April. About 10 miles west of Lee Vining, on the right side of the road was the Nunatuk Nature Trail. What a wonderful, short trail passing 3 lakes. I highly recommend getting out of the car and taking this trail, about 1/2 mile long. The road may be clear, but not the trail still had snow. The small lakes were very beautiful with very clear water.

Trailhead


Snow on trail


Lake area view


A short distance up the road, and before you enter Yosemite National Park you reach Tioga Lake. The view was spectacular - still covered with ice.

Tioga Lake


The drive across Tioga Pass road was beautiful, as always. It never gets old. We stopped at the East Entrance station for the passport stamp, and at the Wilderness Permit in Tuolumne Meadows, the only building open at this time. When I checked on campsites a couple of months ago there were none available in the park. I reserved at Diamond O, where we have stayed before and thought it was very nice. It is just outside of the Big Oak Flat Entrance station for Yosemite. Luckily it escaped with only minor damage from the large fire last fall. Our experience has been that many of the NPS campsites are a bit worn out and not well designed. The USFS sites seem to be larger and more private. After getting to camp my husband drove a short distance from camp to Hetch Hetchy for their passport stamp.

The only down side to today was we had our first insects on the trip - Mosquitos! Small, but persistent. Long sleeves, pants and a bit of bug spray.

Snow plant at campsite


Wednesday, May 28
Start & Finish: Diamond O campground

We drove down to Yosemite Valley, about an hour's drive from the campground. We drove to the large parking lot and walked to the main village from there. I mailed postcards at the Post Office and requested the 'pretty cancellation', a pictorial cancellation. Upon request they have a large cancellation with graphic design of Half Dome with the changeable date. It is worth the trip to the window.

While at the main visitor center they announced that they would be showing the park film in 5 minutes. This year is a special year for Yosemite NP, and the NPS. 150 years ago on June 30, 1864 (during the Civil War) President Lincoln and Congress set aside part of Yosemite Vally to be protected in a natural state. It initially was managed by the state of California, then the US Army in 1890 provided protection. Although Yellowstone NP is considered the first national park, Yosemite was the first to be given public protection. The National Park Service was established in 1916, the centennial to be celebrated in two more years. This film was written and produced by Ken Burns and lasts 25 minutes. It was excellent and I highly recommend that anyone visiting Yosemite check at the visitor center for the schedule. The scenery is spectacular and the historical background is fascinating.

I walked up the valley to get a couple of photos of Yosemite Falls. They anticipate it will dry up earlier than usual, but it was flowing nicely today. It has been a while since we have been in the valley and seen Yosemite Falls flowing. I forgot how visible it is from all over the valley.

Yosemite Falls - 3 views






We boarded the shuttle to Happy Isles Nature Center and to walk up along the Merced River. Once again the park is FULL, as seen in the photo below. Can only imagine what it will be like in July.

Shuttle Bus at 1 PM



Another quiet afternoon at camp, much less crowded and cooler than on the valley floor. We travel with a small hummingbird feeder that we put up in camp when we arrive. We had several when we camped outside of Flagstaff, but nothing else along the way. Today we had a female Anna's coming to the feeder.

Hummingbird at feeder


Thursday, May 29
Start: Diamond O campsite
Finish: Placerville, CA

We left camp and headed west on CA 120 until we turned north onto CA 49. About 20 years ago we traveled the length to CA 49 from Oakhurst, north to Vinton. This highway is named for the '49ers, the miners who took part in the California Gold Rush of 1849. The history along the way, and scenery made it a wonderful trip. It took us a better part of week to stop and explore along the way. What I remember most of that trip was the progression from placer mining to hard rock mining for gold.

Our son and his family now live in Placerville, which is about mid-point of the highway. Leaving Yosemite and heading to their house we find ourselves along 49. There are too many stops to mention, today we went off the current route and went into Mokelumne Hill. There are several galleries, an old hotel with a saloon, library and post office. The porch of the library has an open-air, 24/7 used book sale. Inside the library, limited hours, there is a wonderful photographic display of the 1906 Earthquake. A local school teacher, the day after the event, took photos. The quality of the photos is wonderful. There is a delightful picnic area next to the library. While wandering around town I found a very active hummingbird feeder.

Mokelumne Hill - off Highway 49, S of Jackson










Hummingbirds at feeder


Further up the road we stopped in Jackson for lunch and to look through some of the antique stores in the old section of town. Across from the public parking lot on CA 49 a roadside mural was in the making.

Jackson mural - in progress


Used bookstores are a favorite of ours to check out. Hein & Company at the north end of old town is a treasure! The quality of books, and music, as well as the displays are well worth a stop. The are open seven days a week.

Jackson bookstore - Hein & Company




We'll be hanging out in Placerville until next Tuesday.

Passport Stamps
Yosemite National Park
-Tioga Pass
-Tuolumne Meadows
150th Anniversary of Grant Act
Big Oak Flat
Yosemite Valley
California
Happy Isles Nature Center
Hetch Hetchy, CA
Bonus
Yosemite NP - Half Dome image

Collectible Tokens
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite Falls
Tuolumne Meadows
Half Dome
Mariposa Grove
Tunnel View

Smashed Pennies
-Several sets available in the valley(previously collected)

Letterboxes
Tuesday - 2
Wednesday - none
Thursday - none

Wildlife Sightings
Chipmunk
Squirrel
Ground squirrel
Mule Deer

American Crow
American Robin
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Bushtit
White-headed Woodpecker
Hermit Warbler
Cliff Swallow
Bonaparte's Gull
Mourning Dove
American Kestrel
Mountain Chickadee
Black-headed Grosbeak
Steller's Jay
Dark-eyed Junco
Anna's Hummingbird
Wild Turkey
Red-winged Blackbird

[Southwest Dave]

Enjoying the report and pictures Pat and particularly nice to see the photo's of Tioga Pass not long after the opening.

Dave.

[Pmount]

I have been listing the Collectible Tokens my husband is collecting from National Parks. This brief post is to show what they look like.

Last time we were at Yosemite, September 2013, they were in the process of designing and ordering them. We were surprised to find rectangular ones today. Below I have photos of the ones we got at Yosemite today. The standards ones are circular that the other parks are offering. At 99 cents it is a great collectible for kids of all ages.

Yosemite Tokens





Zion Tokens





P.S. - thanks for all of the "views" and kind comments. It does take a bit of time and work, especially to upload photos and create links, but I am enjoying sharing our adventures.

[Pmount]

Friday, May 30 - Monday, June 2
Start & Finish: Placerville, CA

A busy, fun-filled 4 days with family. Perfect weather; 80 degree days and 50 at night for perfect sleeping. We are able to park the van in the driveway and sleep there, much more convenient and comfortable for all.

Granddogs


Sunday evening picnic along the American River


On Monday went to South Lake Tahoe with the grandkids. They enjoy Letterboxing with us and there were some new boxes since our last visit. This normally is about a one-hour drive from their house, not today. We were delayed - both ways - by the Pony Express Wagon Train. Each year a group re-enacts traveling the Pony Express route between South Lake Tahoe and Placerville. To get over Echo Summit they have to travel on US 50. A bit of delay, but we weren't in a hurry and the kids enjoyed seeing the horses and wagons.

Week 2 Stats: Sunday, May 29 - Saturday, June 1
Miles: 811
Expenses: $463.61

[DonnaR57]

The photo of the kids in the American River brings back some wonderful memories of being in the Placerville area -- summer in the mid 1990s. One of our daughters had just finished the California 4th grade history curriculum, which includes the Gold Rush. Though she complained at first, "Oh, Mom, really? SCHOOL in the summer?!", she got a big kick out of panning for gold right next to where it happened, seeing some of the places that had been included in her history book. The next school year, our youngest daughter had the same curriculum, but it immediately made a lot of sense to her since she had just been there. My husband and both daughters went wading in the American River near Sutter's Mill. I stayed dry. We had camped in a membership campground, Ghost Mountain Ranch, up along US-50.

Thanks for the beautiful photos and the memories, Pat. Keep 'em coming, traveling with you in spirit!


Donna

[Pmount]

Three Days - Three Nights - Three Rivers

Tuesday, June 3
Start: Placerville, CA
Finish: Steel Bridge campground (BLM), Douglas City, CA

A fun, four day visit with the family, but time to head north. Spent some time in Placerville shopping for groceries and supplies before heading west on US 50, then north on I-5 at Sacramento.

At Redding we turned west in CA 299. A short distance down the road we came to Shasta, a state historic site. We continued to the NPS visitor center for Whiskeytown - Shasta NRA. We continued west over the very scenic 299, stopping just east of Douglas City. The campground was 2-1/2 miles off the highway, along the Trinity River. No drinking water, but great campsites. A wheelbarrow of wood was $5. A bit too warm for a fire, but other campers enjoyed the wood.

Shasta Historic site


Wednesday, June 4
Start: Douglas City, CA
Finish: Panther Flat campground (USFS), east of Gasquet, CA

Drove into Weavervile for a 'roadie' breakfast at Sawmill Grill, east side of town. Yum!

Roadie breakfast


Continued following the Trinity Highway, CA 299 all the way to the coast. Beautiful drive, highly recommend the drive to get from inland CA to the coast. A bit curvy, and slow in some places, but well worth the effort. We stopped for some postmarks and letterboxes along the way.

Once at US 101 we immediately felt a change in temperature - from mid-80s when we left Weaverville at 9:30 AM to 61 degrees at 1:00 PM. There also some costal fog on and off of Hwy 101. Our first stop was at the Redwoods National and State Parks visitor center near Orick. I picked up the Junior Ranger booklet, as well as the passport stamp for this site. We continued along 101 and before we arrived at the state-run visitor center at Elk Prairie we pulled off to view the herd of elk at Elk Meadows.

Elk herd


We drove the scenic section of old 101 from Elk Prairie back to modern 101 and into Crescent a City to stop at the park information office in town and then over to the post office for a postal cancellation of an envelope that also has the Redwoods passport cancellation. North of Crescent City we turned NE on CA 199, a continuation of the Redwoods Highway. A stop at Jedediah Smith State Park and the national park visitor center across the road at Hiochi finished our sightseeing for the day - almost. We continued up 199 to Gasquet to a favorite USFS campground, Panther Flat. Shortly after leaving Hiochi you enter the Smith River National Recreation Area. Another gorgeous river.

Smith River


After dinner we went down to the picnic area at the campground to check on a letterbox my husband had planted in 2005. It had been reported to be missing, fortunately we were able to find it easily. Lots of finders and great comments about the location along the Smith River.

Wednesday, June 5
Start: Gasquet, CA
End: Farewell Bend campground, (USFS) north of Prospect, OR

Another beautiful day of driving the back roads of California and Oregon. We drove back to Hiouchi so I could turn in my completed Junior Ranger Activity Booklet. Ranger Adam was very generous, not only did I receive the Redwoods National Park Junior Ranger badge, but he also gave me a very nice metal 'sheriff-style' state park Junior Ranger pin and the patch for California State Park Junior Ranger. I appreciate that he took time to review my booklet and discuss several items of interest.

We continued into Oregon on Hwy 199. At Cave Junction we stopped at the local visitor center, they have a slightly different passport stamp for Oregon Caves National Monument. We drove up to the caves, a very scenic and curvy road that climbs 2000 feet in the 19 miles. Once at the caves we walked around the buildings, beautiful craftsmanship. The tours were sold out, several large school groups finishing up their school year this week. There was a smashed penny machine in the chateau gift shop. For others planning on take the cave tour it is 90 minutes long, with a number of metal stair steps. Children must be a certain height and the have a set of stairs at the visitor center which may be used to determine if you are physically able to negotiate the stairs.

Oregon Caves NM buildings




We stopped in Grants Pass for gas and groceries then south on I-5 to Gold Hill where we picked up OR 234, then OR 62 to bring us to Farewell Bend campground, directly on the banks of the Rogue River, our 3rd night in a row camping along a spectacular river. Being Desert Rats we really enjoy these clear, fast-running rivers on our travels.

Friday, June 6
Start: Farewell Bend campground
Finish: LaPine State Park, La Pine, OR

Wonderful night spent along the Rogue River. Drove into Crater Lake National Park from the south end. We avoided camping there because of the Mosquitos that overran the campground two years ago during the snow melt. As we rolled down the window at the entrance kiosk we were overrun by Mosquitos - again! We stopped at the visitor center below the rim for passport stamps, collectible tokens, the park film and to pick up the Junior Ranger activity booklet. Once up on the rim we hung out in the cafe while I worked on the Junior Ranger booklet. After a few photo shots of Crater Lake - hard to take just one picture, we continued out of the park to the NE. We headed north on US 97, very busy section of highway, and ended the day at LaPine State Park. We are meeting up with a group of letterboxers for a weekend gathering. This is our 3rd visit with this group, some known and soon-to-be known friends.the weather is wonderful - upper 70s and clear skies!

Crater Lake National Park





Passport Stamps
Whiskeytown National Recreation Area - Visitor Center
Redwood National and State Park
- Orick
Crescent City
Hiouchi
Oregon Caves NM - Crater Lake, OR
Crater Lake National Park - Crater Lake, OR
Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail - CA, OR, WA

Letterboxes
Tuesday - none
Wednesday - 4
Thursday - none

Collectible Tokens
Whiskeytown National Recreation Area - 1
Redwoods National and State Parks - Coast Redwoods
Crater Lake National Park - 2

Smashed Pennies
Oregon Caves NM
*others available along our route! but previously collected.

Wildlife Sightings
Elk
White-tailed Deer
Ground squirrel
Chipmunk

Scrub Jay
Turkey Vulture
Great Egret
Red-tailed Hawk
Barn Swallow
Tri-colored Blackbird
Mourning Dove
American Crow
Yellow-billed Magpie
American Robin
Steller's Jay
Mountain Bluebird
Clark's Nutcracker

[Pmount]

Saturday & Sunday, June 7 & 8
Start & Finish: LaPine, OR

June in Central Oregon 2014, this is the 5th year for this Letterboxing event and our third time coming up to this event. This year it was held at LaPine State Park, just south of Bend. I can't say enough good things about this park; camping, cabins, hiking, fishing and the Deschutes River running through it. No day entry fee. Perfect weather - lower 70s, clear skies and no wind. Great time Letterboxing with old and new friends.

Some new friends - campsite Pine squirrel & Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel





Only downside was the fire that broke out to the west of Bend. The smoke was thick over Sunriver and into LaPine. It was very noticeable when we left camp on Sunday and drove up to Newberry National Volcanic Monument. Lots to see up there; lakes, falls and lava.

Newberry Obsidian Flow


Obsidian chunk and volcanic bomb


Paulina Falls



Monday, June 9
Start: LaPine, OR
Finish: Portland, OR

A bit more Letterboxing on our own before we left LaPine. Stopped in Redmond at 7th Street Brew House, found the great t-shirt pictured below.



Crossing the Cascades on US 26 always provides great views.

Mt. Hood


Rhododendrons in ZigZag, OR







On Memorial Day weekend we saw license plate #49, Mississippi. All we need is Maine! Where are you?


Week 3 Stats- 6/1 to 6/7
Miles: 831
Expenses: $590.95

Passport Stamps
Newberry National Volcanic Monument (USFS)
-Lava Lands Visitor Center
-Paulina Visitor Center
-Lava Flow Cave

Letterboxes
Friday - 2
Saturday - 5
Sunday - 12

Wildlife Sightings
Mule Deer
Black-tailed Deer
Pine Squirrel
Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel
Belding's Ground Squirrel
Chipmunk

American Robin
American Crow
Red-tailed Hawk
Osprey
Western Bluebird
Dark-eyed Junco
Steller's Jay
Brewer's Blackbird
Red-winged Blackbird
Sparrow, ?
Turkey Vulture
Cliff Swallow
Black-billed Magpie

[Pmount]

Tuesday, June 10
Start: Portland, OR
Finish: Newark, NJ

Not exactly a road trip report. Last Fall when we were traveling the east coast we had planned on going into New York City to visit 3 national park sites so by the end of our trip in November my husband would have visited all NPS sites (Department of Interior) in the Lower 48. We would love to visit all 401, however travel expenses to get to some of the Alaskan sites, as well ones in Guam, American Samoa and the Virgin Islands are outside our budget.

So we were surprised and disappointed to find out that one of the sites, Governor's Island in Manhattan is only open from Memorial Day to mid-September. The soonest we would have been there would have been late October. We just assumed a site in Manhattan would be year-round.

We don't have any plans to go back East anytime soon, so we went to Plan B, a quick trip to NYC once Governor's Island opened this summer. Seeming how we would be on the road before Memorial Day we planned it into our schedule after the weekend event.

Neither one of us consider flying as a pleasure - we like to be in control of our destination, but achieving a goal can alter your travel plans.

Bird watching at Denver Airport


Wednesday, June 11
Start & Finish: Newark, NJ

Big day in NYC. Used Newark Airport Express Bus to get to Grand Central Station. Got our Metro Card and rode the 5 subway to the northern end to visit St. Paul's Church National Historic Site.

St. Paul's Church


Back downtown on the 5 to the African Burial Ground National Monument. This was the most interesting of the sites we visited. In the 1990s, while excavating for building in central Manhattan, a cemetery with 15,000 remains was discovered. The graves date back to the 1600s and were all African Americans. The small visitor center does an outstanding job of interpreting this site.

Back on the 5 to the end of the line in Manhattan. We took the ferry over to Governor's Island. Very quick ride to the island which was the first home of the US Army in 1821. It is undergoing extensive renovation as a recreational area. For a $2 ferry ride you can escape the frenzied NYC atmosphere.

Governor's Island & Statue of Liberty


View from Governor's Island


Back in Manhattan we visited Castle Clinton National Monument and Federal Hall National Memorial, the site of George Washington's Inauguration in 1789.

A celebratory beer and dinner near Wall Street then back to Newark.

Thursday, June 12
Start: Newark, NJ
Finish: Troutdale, OR

Very early flight and return to Portland by noon. We drove out to Oxbow Park campground and slept for several hours. Had a light dinner at Edgefield, a McMennamin's location. Back on the road tomorrow!