Oregon Trails – June & July 2022 – Part Four

 

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Please click here for – Part Three

The Trip Home

We were stopped by road construction as we neared Seneca. The Forest Road was being repaved. The woman flagger reported the returning pilot car was stuck behind the equipment; it could be a while. It was early, it was cool, the windows were down, we were first in line. The woman was talkative. The Lady obliged and the Lady knows how to ask questions. If there’s anything you need to know about working in the contracted highway construction flagging business, the Lady can now fill you in. In the course of the 40-minute conversation we also learned how the new pavement is rolled, in the next weeks they’ll be back to apply the final 1.5-inch topcoat of asphalt, and her grandson has been through pilot car school. If you’re in the area, please tell her we say, “Hi.”

 

We wished to find a spot to overnight south of Divine Summit on 395. We turned off and explored forest roads, turning onto smaller and smaller roads until we found this spot.

 

 

 

 

 

We did not have a view of the surrounding mountains but we had an expansive view of the sky that was wonderful and dynamic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And to top it off, we were pretty darn sure we’d see no one else out here. (That single set of tracks are ours.)

 

 

 

 

 

This was our view at dinner.

 

 

 

 

 

This was grazing country so we heard an occasional cow in the distance. At 0400 in the morning coyotes erupted in song around the camper. They passed right by us. At dawn a distant cow was screaming. It was loud. It had incredible power behind it. At first take, it sounded nothing like a cow, but what else could it be? It came from a very large animal. It did not sound like distress. It sounded like, “HEY, I WANT YOU TO LISTEN TO ME!!!!!!!!!!” It reminded me, very much, of the screams and roars attributed to bigfoot on YouTube videos and cable shows. As the Lady handled her morning fussing in the camper prior to coffee, I tracked it down by following the roars. As I closed in, I could hear it sucking massive breaths of air into lungs at least the size of a Volkswagen bug. As I continued, the slope steepened, and I was faced with a thicket of pines between me and the beast. It also occurred to me, maybe I shouldn’t sneak up and surprise the thing. But boy, I sure wanted to. It was now so loud I could feel the percussive roars against my chest. My ears rang. I believe I came within 50 feet of the creature and never got a look at it. I am convinced it was a cow. It may be fun to see if any reports of bigfoot vocalizations show up north of Burns.

 

We topped off the gas tank in Burns – actually the attendant did. We were in Oregon. I resisted the urge to ask if bigfoot sightings were tied to seeing the northern lights.

 

It was late morning when we stopped along Lake Abert, a remnant of a once, much larger, fresh water Lake Chewaucan. Lake Abert lies at the foot of the Abert Rim, one of the highest fault scarps in the United States. We have driven by Lake Abert several times recently and had not stopped to search for ancient rock art. We decided today was the day and the reason, as I mentioned at the end of Part Three, we got sidetracked. This caught our eye and we investigated.

 

 

 

 

 

Look closely and see all the ancient petroglyphs that have been painted over. Here’s a couple of ‘glyphs the mindless fool missed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We searched for other panels. Most of the petroglyphs were very old and faint.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We found one that was especially detailed and interesting.

 

 

 

 

 

As we searched additional areas, we found several stacked rock shelters and walls. We really grew excited about all we were finding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We were especially thrilled to find a pictograph panel in very good condition.

 

 

 

 

 

DStretch applied

 

 

 

 

 

 

DStretch applied 

 

 

 

We searched another area and found several boulders with petroglyphs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One note – the foxtails were awful. In fact it killed the desire to search another promising area – you bet we’ll return. It took us each over an hour to clean up shoes and socks.

 

With it now well into the afternoon, there was no way we’d make it home so we worked on ideas for a fitting last overnight spot for this trip. We settled on the Warner Mountains south of Alturas. Mill Creek Falls Campground is right on the edge of the South Warner Wilderness.

 

 

 

 

 

The campground was small and tidy; the restroom was clean and well tended. The parking areas are short and most are far from level. Only one other campsite was occupied, by a quiet couple tent camping. The number and variety of birds around the campground was really nice.

 

After dinner we entered the Wilderness and hiked up to the falls on Mill Creek and on to Clear Lake, a bit further. The evening was very nice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Lady surprised an adult Bald Eagle - and the eagle surprised her. It exited its perch as the Lady appeared on the trail beneath it.

 

The inlet to the lake has been heavily worked by beavers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There’s a loop trail but the crossing at the inlet is now completely submerged. We returned to the outlet and walked the loop trail on the north side of the lake.

 

 

 

 

 

Here we found the beaver. It, apparently, does not like intruders. We received at least four violent tail slaps on the water.

 

As last light worked its magic we thought maybe a little soothing classical music would play. Nope, we got beaver tail slaps on the water and a few trout rises, but we were good with that. In fact, we preferred it.

 

 

 

 

 

It had been a great trip; most everything was new territory for us. And, we got a few good stories to tell. We headed home after a stop at Smith’s in Gardnerville to stock up with groceries for a week. We also filled the truck’s gas tank. I can’t remember when we last bought gas for the truck here at home.

 

After the truck and camper were emptied and cleaned and made ready for the next trip – our routine – and we settled in at home, I had an important question to ask the Lady.

“Did Doc say how many refills came with your prescription or should you call him in the morning?”