Fort Rock Area, Oregon - July 2020

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A Crack, A Tube, And A Hole

We arrived at Crack in the Ground late morning.

We parked in the established parking area along with two other vehicles. We hiked the short distance out to orient ourselves to the area, explored a short while, and returned to our truck to put together a nice lunch. We met three groups walking in and were surprised to find the parking area full. Two large SUV's were parked next to us - two families with friends coming together as one large group on an outing. No masks, no social distancing, and a large group. We felt like we were back home among the careless masses. Catching bits of their conversation, we realized we were within day trip distance from Bend. Oops. They milled about all around our truck blocking safe access. We planted ourselves directly in their line of sight and made bets on when they would get a clue.

It worked, not quite Moses style parting of the Red Sea, but it worked. They all backed off. We put our lunch together and found a spot well away to eat.

We returned to The Crack. The careless herd went south. We went north.

The Crack in the Ground is most definitively a crack in the ground.

There is no established 2 mile trail along the bottom. Many areas are filled with debris that make sections a rough scramble. The chockstones wedged above also gave pause.

I noted a Prairie Falcon was a couple hundred yards to the east, hovering, and making agitated calls. Another adult flew out of the crack and we realized they nest in the crack, so we left the area. We saw them again later with two fledglings getting use to their wings and flight.

The other people had moved on so we entered the main section that heads to the south.

 

The Crack is a fun place.

This wall fascinated me. This looks like wind erosion so this wall is lined up just right with a wind current that funnels up this crack.

This first slot section is several hundred yards long. The next entrance requires a scramble down large blocks.

Winged, as I was with my healing right hand, my climbing was very limited. The Lady did this section on her own. There are trails along the top that parallel the fissure.

The exit was dramatic.

The next section offered no entrance at the north end.

We walked along the top for a good distance until we found an entrance at the south end.

We walked north until the way was blocked.

We took our time and enjoyed exploring as much of The Crack as possible. Only one other vehicle remained at the parking when we returned.

A few miles to the north is the small - 4 sites - and free BLM Green Mountain Campground.The views to the north and east are incredible from the campground. One other couple was here so we took the campsite furthest away. After chores and such, we climbed the hill to the lookout tower.

This is the most modern and stout fire lookout we have ever seen. It is also surrounded by a secure and substantial fence.

We returned to camp for a cup of afternoon coffee and to prepare dinner. A truck with a large cabover camper pulled into the site between us and the other couple. A nice, quiet couple set up their camp. Wow, this place was busy mid week. A few minutes later a Subaru towing a Scamp trailer pulled in, circled the campground and then stopped outside our camp.

"Hey, excuse me," a man called as he approached me.

"Yes?" I answered.

"Would you mind if I back my camper into this site right beside your truck?" he asked.

I was not in any way expecting that question.

"Wants wrong with that empty campsite right there?" I asked as I pointed across the road.

"It doesn't have as nice a view as here."

"I mind." I answered his question.

"Thanks for being honest," he said and turned and walked away.

Dinner was ready. Our chairs were set up outside - we rarely if ever eat inside - and I was carrying our food and drinks out and setting it beside our chairs.

"Hey, do you mind if I interrupt you again?" It was him.

"Yes?"

"How long are you staying?"

"We are leaving in the morning." I answered as his ill kept and unleashed little dog walked up and licked my cup and my bread and butter. I stared at the man.

"Reggie," the man said. "We should go."

A long walk followed our dinner. The small campground was quiet. Reggie and the man holed up in the Scamp. We never saw them again.

The next day we were off to find Derrick Cave, a large lava tube that was designated as a fallout shelter in the 1960's during the Cold War.

There was a problem. We couldn't get there from here. A private landowner had closed the access road. This sign was stapled up at the Green Mountain Campground.

The south end of the red line is the approximate location of Green Mountain Campground.

We began a fun adventure. We use the Backcountry Navigator software (app, I think it's called) on our android pad. As our final map layer we use the USGS 7.5 topo we are so familiar using. The pad's GPS antenna puts our real time position on the 7.5. The Lady loves to navigate.

Remember that map above? Forget that. The Lady noticed all the dashed double lines that indicate primitive roads.

"We don't need to drive that big circle," she said. "Turn here!"

I did.

"Look!" the Lady said as I drove the narrow two track. "The map says 'ice cave' just ahead. Let's look at that!"

"Look!" the Lady said, "Down another road coming up, the map says 'Oregon's Largest Juniper Tree', let's look at that! I'll tell you where to turn."

We saw Horseshoe Butte. We saw Buzzard Rock. The adventure continued.

The parking at Derrick Cave was empty. The long, roundabout drive looks to be working. We had the place to ourselves.

We headed out to find the entrance.

In a separate section of the lava tube, we found the old fallout shelter. The Lady checked it with her flashlight before we climbed inside.

It had been hours since we had seen anyone else. We were feeling at home.

The Lady was back to navigating as I drove on our way out.

"Look!" the Lady said. "Something called 'South Ice Cave' is on the map!"

We relaxed here, had a drink and snack, and decided to look for the Hole in the Ground.

A crack, a tube, and a hole.........and a big juniper along the way. It would make for a very nice day.

We arrived at the Hole in the Ground late afternoon. We found a spot to camp along the rim.

Our dinner spot.

A panorama from camp near sunset.

Our coffee was ready the next morning at dawn.

"Let's walk around the crater with our coffee before breakfast," the Lady announced.

"Do you know how far that is?" I asked.

"How far is it?" she answered with a question.

"Pi times diameter and it is about a mile across. So a bit over three miles," I explained.

"That's nothing," she replied.

The walk was, of course, wonderful.

That's our truck and camper across the rim.

Today was the third of July with the fourth the following day. We had to get much farther away from any population center. We headed back to the east.