Our latest OR adventure took us down-state for a weekend of camping (and elk hunting for the men-folk) in a section of the Cascade Mountains northwest of Crater Lake National Park. We were joined by our friends Jack and Kelly from Portland, and Summer and Nolan (and their black lab, Chetko) from Klamath Falls. Summer and Nolan, having done some preliminary scouting in the area the 
week prior, were kind enough to get to our campsight early to reserve spaces for the rest of us.Our drive took us down I-5 to Roseburg, then due east along the North Umpqua River for some 65 miles or so. The North Umpqua is a beautiful river that flows out of the high Cascades - we happened to time our camping trip with the fall spawning run of Chinook (King) Salmon, fish that return from the ocean to the very same stretch of river that they were spawned in some 3-5 years prior, to spawn and then die.
There are campgrounds aplenty along OR 138, but those at lower elevations were all closed due to a recent wildfire that had come through the area. We camped at around 3500 feet in elevation and I was expecting pretty cold conditions, but we stayed comfortable with temps ranging from the 60s to the low 40s at night. And our camping spot couldn't have been any better - our tents were set up under huge Western Red Cedars, right next to the Clearwater River (really more of a wide creek), just upstream of a pretty waterfall it makes as it heads downstream toward the N. Umpqua.
Us ladies had a pretty relaxing weekend overall - breakfast at camp, then a day spent visiting different waterfalls and other sites with Chetko in tow. We had dinner ready and waiting when the guys returned from their day, which was anything but relaxing. They were up before light both Sat and Sun mornings, to be out in the woods and ready to go by sunrise. They spent each day walking through very rugged terrain, up and down ravines and high ridges, watching and listening for the elk herds. And elk were taken in the nearby area, but though Nate, Nolan and Jack heard a few different groups and saw elk sign (prints, droppings, bedding areas) everywhere, they never got close enough to see any. No matter, these guys were excited just to be out in the woods in search.
So, no photos of the hunters, as they were out before dawn and back after dark. But I took a few photos of the waterfalls and other stuff. Pretty country, for sure!
