Exploring the West

Holbrook Reservoir, Oregon

mckenzieriverstudio — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 01:44:23 +0000

Not a bad spot for a canoe trip. There is a campsite under the large ponderosa trees. This area has been used by cattle, so it’s a bit torn up.

5600ft elevation. 1 campsite and a day use area are on the northeast side of the lake. Holbrook Reservoir is located within the Fishhole Lake Recreation Area which includes many small lakes. Hiking, horse riding, and mountain biking trails are found at Lofton Lake and Heart Lake. Activities include boating (electric motors only, and a 5 mph speed limit). Birdwatching, Wildlife viewing,Fishing, Swimming, and Picnicing.

Location: From Lakeview: Travel 25 miles west on Highway 140, and turn left on Forest Road 3715. Take Forest Road 3715 for 6 miles, then turn right on Forest Road 3817. Continue on Forest Road 3817 for a short distance, and you should see the picnic area entrance.

Garnet Montana – Ghost Town

mckenzieriverstudio — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 01:26:35 +0000

A little bit off the beaten path – Garnet is steeped in history. A beautiful drive in with interesting info along the way, it’s well work the trip. So many of the buildings are intact – some with original furniture, wall paper, history – as if the people just walked away. There are still a few people living there and there’s a lot of wonderful interpretive information available. We had a great day exploring Garnet – it was well worth the drive in.

From Wikipedia -

“Garnet is a ghost town in Granite County, Montana, United States. Located on the dirt Wallace Creek Road, it is an abandoned mining town from the 1860s. In First Chance Creek in western Montana, the town is at the edge of the high desert in the Front Range, but sheltered in a forest. The town is at about 6,000 feet (1,800 m) elevation.

Garnet was named for the garnet, a semi-precious stone, and the first item to be mined here, although gold quickly followed. In 1898, as many as 1,000 people lived here; it was abandoned 20 years later when the gold ran out. A fire in 1912 destroyed half the town, which was never rebuilt. Supplies needed in Garnet were generally obtained from nearby Bearmouth. “

When I was there, a group or archeologist were excavating the area behind the main store – which also was a butcher shop. Inside the store, you can walk back into the root cellar where the temperature drops significantly. The owner used to bring in block of ice from a nearby creek during the winter, wrap it in saw dust to keep it until 4th of July. On the 4th, he would make ice cream for the townspeople.

Montana on my mind…

mckenzieriverstudio — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 02:20:05 +0000

If you are planning on traveling through the great state of Montana, there are definitely some amazing places to explore along the way. One of my favorite areas of Montana is on the Northwestern side. From the Bison Range to the St. Ignatious, there is a lot to explore throughout the Mission Valley. Make sure to take time to stop at St. Ignatius. It’s a piece or the Vatican out in the wilds of the west. The Mission Mountains are also pretty spectacular and often overlooked. If you have time to take a detour heading up to Glacier, this would be it.

Gold Lake Campground and Lake, Oregon

mckenzieriverstudio — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 07:06:50 +0000

Catching up from some great summer adventures – Gold Lake.

High up in the Cascades around 4,800 feet is Gold Lake and Gold Lake Campground. With some terrific campsites right on the lake, I was surprised to find it almost empty in July. There are some great docks, what appears to be decent fishing and some fun areas to explore along the shore’s edge. Canoe launched – the left side of the lake has some fun spots to explore. Look for the little ice-cold inlet creek. Tucked away you’ll find a hidden campsite. We were there during the tadpole swarm or migration. I have never witnessed anything like it. As we approached the marshier side of the lake, I noticed a huge line of blackness cutting through the relatively clear water. As we got closer, I realized it was thousands of tadpoles. Something truly magical, I’m hoping to see it again next summer – maybe this time with a camera in hand.

Mid July – bring mosquito repellant! It’s a non motorized boat lake.

From Oakridge, go 28 miles east on OR 58, then 2 miles on Forest Road 500 (Gold Lake Road).

Kiva Koffeehouse

mckenzieriverstudio — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 06:29:34 +0000

If you are trekking through southwest Utah on highway 12, plan to make a pit-stop at the Kiva Koffeehouse. With amazing canyon views, there is no coffee shop on earth quite like it. With a great selection of food and drinks, it’s the perfect place to take in the greatness of the Escalante Grand Staircase. They have a great selection of local info and hiking guides. Additionally, they have a few rooms to rent. Unfortunately, they do not take pets, so we have never stayed – though would have loved to. Check out their sight – it’s a stop not to be passed by!

http://www.kivakoffeehouse.com/

Drift Inn Yachats

mckenzieriverstudio — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 06:17:27 +0000

I love Yachats and a new favorite on my list to add is the Drift Inn. I briefly wrote about the Drift Inn awhile ago, but feel that they need another blog visit.

What a great place to unwind from a day of hiking or beach combing. They have amazing food, fun decor and a great bar. The staff is pretty great too! I strongly recommend the Crab Quesadillas – they are amazing! Great hamburgers, salads and a fun list of coffee with liquor specials. Definitely worth the stop!

Pictures from August adventuring around Mount Hood

mckenzieriverstudio — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 05:31:02 +0000

Black Lake

Kayaking the Mckenzie River

mckenzieriverstudio — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 02:14:59 +0000

Kayaked the Mckenzie River starting from Hayden bridge today. River is running really nicely. Hit a few shallow areas and scraped a little, but not bad. First “major” rapid is right as you put in – got a little wet, and might try a different approach next time. Hit a shallow area where a creek comes in but not bad. Saw a beautiful blue heron and a lot of ducks. Overall, great float.

Canoeing Oregon’s Northern Cascades

mckenzieriverstudio — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 02:29:10 +0000

Just got back from a canoe trip around Mt. Hood. Let me know if you would like any information – some of the lakes we hit were=

Trillium, Frog, Lost Lake, Clear Lake etc…

Gold Lake – Cascades

mckenzieriverstudio — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 02:22:03 +0000

We recently spent an afternoon canoeing Gold Lake – what an awesome lake! There are some wonderful campsites with instant canoe access.