I drove over to Lake Mary to investigate the possibility of getting a lakeside campsite.
The hosts told me they make the rounds at 745am daily, and the
morning's first come first served campsites become available then.
I asked if they had lines of cars in the morning waiting for a spot, they said it does happen.
I decided to wake up early Thursday to drive over and park and wait for a spot.
Meanwhile, I decided to hike up the trail Coldwater Creek to see what I could find.
I'd seen plenty of vehicle traffic on the road, there had to be something worthwhile up this mountain.
2020/08/26 13:01
Eventually I wandered into Gentian Meadow. I stayed a while and had lunch.
The trail continued another mile or so up the mountain to Sky Meadows, but I decided this one would do.
2020/08/26 13:33
2020/08/26 13:38
Gentian Meadow
13:52 California time
Kent: Nice Dusty! Enjoy! Nice to have those stores in mammoth! No
guarantees at public campgrounds, close to places like mammoth
13:52 California time
Ray: almost to Eugene
Ray: Heading to Diamond Lake campground, still 2 hrs to after Eugene
Ray: Explored salem's walmart & drug store
13:52 California time
Kent: Nice! My mom is worried for you and Annabelle being in riot central Oregon
14:05 California time
Dusty: Looked at lake mary campground, 2-3 first come first served
lakefront spots open up tomorrow (they are maxed out at 14 days)
Dusty: Crowded, but lakefront and pretty awesome
Dusty: Talked with the host, they do rounds at 730am to see who is
leaving, parking in line as early as 6 or 630 is a reasonable play.
Spending the afternoon at Gentian Meadow
Dusty: I have lte here
Dusty: And beer!
14:16 California time
Dusty: Kinda pleasant here
Dusty: Seriously considering staying until Labor Day
14:45 California time
Ray: unfortunately it is much hazier here than where you are, dusty
Ray: I am on something called the volcanic legacy scenic by way but so far it is not very scenic
14:46 California time
Dusty: Scenic is always relative unfortunately
14:52 California time
Kent: Bend Oregon is nice and has a lot of great microbreweries
Kent: The town is a lot like flagstaff, but w water
Kent: I like the coast too
I'm sure the Sierra is magic....
14:53 California time
Dusty: No cows or glaciers or alps, I've got a to settle for bears (not seen on this trip) and occasional snow and meadows..
Dusty: I'll take it...
15:09 California time
Ray: Just arrived at campground
Ray: It's a good spot, but the ranger said visibility will be shit
tomorrow for the hike I want (mt thielsen) and he suggested hikes to
waterfalls instead "unless you just want to challenge yourself." Duh.
15:10 California time
Dusty: I don't need to challenge myself right now
Dusty: Finding a new mountain lake or viewpoint each day from my car is plenty without heroics of carrying a pack.
15:16 California time
Ray: Heh
Ray: I'm settling in for 2 wonderful days, 1,000 miles from all of my problems
Ray: Life is good
Ray: How'd we all get the same week off?
2020/08/26 15:45
Looking up the trail toward Gentian Meadow
2020/08/26 15:46
Looking down the trail toward Emerald Lake
2020/08/26 15:49
Emerald Lake
2020/08/26 15:51
Emerald Lake and Mammoth Mountain
2020/08/26 16:03
Emerald Lake
2020/08/26 16:09
2020/08/26 16:34
Back at my campsite
2020/08/26 17:59
2020/08/26 18:24
2020/08/26 19:19
After dinner a black bear wandered around the edge of my camp, right in back of my tent!
I got a few pictures and a little video before he wandered across Coldwater Creek.
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Tuesday August 25, 2020
El Granada to Coldwater Creek
