Wander Beyond our List of Wonders

We left Washington with a plan to hit some of the National Parks we missed in Oregon, California, and Nevada.  But given the territory we were going to cover, we decided to make some short unplanned trips along the way.  There is so much beauty to see beyond the national parks, and we were glad we chose to wander.

We were also able to spend some time with family along the way which is always a lot of fun.  It gives time to catch up, reminisce, and we learn about their favorite places to go.  We appreciate a warm shower, full size bed, and ability to wash our clothes!  (THANK YOU Michael and Barbara)!

We skipped the campgrounds this week given the amount of ground we planned to cover.  We had epic views at some hidden spots.  We did spend several nights at rest areas and truck stops.  Not very glamourous, but very convenient for time and a great cell signal to get work done when we wake up before we start out travels for the day.  

Portland Vibes

We wanted to find things to do in Portland that were more natural and outdoorsy.  We made our way to the Portland Japanese Garden.   It was so lush, peaceful, welcoming, and serine.  The beautiful and multi-hued mossy greens enveloping water features, koi ponds, lanterns, bonsais, and Zen gardens.  So much inspiration for peace in serenity in our own backyard.  

We left there only to stumble upon the International Rose Test Garden established in 1917 – 4.5 acres of over 10,000 plantings and over 600 varietals.  It was so huge; the pictures just couldn’t do it justice from my vantage point.  Every color you can imagine…reds, oranges, yellows, purples, pinks, blues; all with different scents, and happy pollinators everywhere.  

We had a yummy lunch at a raw vegan restaurant I have been dying to go to for some time, Blossoming Lotus.  I learned about them from a cookbook of theirs I owned ack in the early 90s.  The flavors were so amazing and inspired me to buy another copy of the book and try out some of their international favorites.

And what trip to Portland is complete without a hike to Multnomah Falls along views of Mt. Hood.  Both were spectacular and easy to get to.  A little touristy, but not many people bother to hike to the top of the falls.

So much to do in Portland, and well worth a stop.

That’s One Big Crater!

Crater Lake is interesting.  You are driving along and see nothing, and then you enter the park and walk up a small hill and BOOM….there it is!   

Crater Lake was formed over 8000 years ago from a cataclysmic eruption of Mt. Mazama.  And after 750 years, over 5 trillion gallons of perfectly pure water filled the crater.  It is about 2,000 feet deep, the deepest truest blue you have seen, with one small island peeking out of the waters, Mt. Wizard.  

We took the time to drive all around the lake to see it from every vantage point, and then climbed to a peak that gave us awesome views.  Most people stay at the visitor center and take some pics, which was a mad house.  There was an advantage to venturing out on our own and seeing it from a different perspective.

You don’t really have an appreciation for how much snow this area gets until you see the snow markers for the plows.  Easily 12 feet tall around the perimeter of the lake.  Unbelievable.  So glad we came back for a peek.  

Lassen….A Mini Yellowstone

We were not able to see Lassen last time we were in California, and we ware so glad we made the stop.  It reminds me so much of Yellowstone but on a much smaller scale….pine trees, mountains, pristine lakes and geothermic wonders.  

In August of 2021, a fire entered the southeast corner of the park near Juniper Lake.  The Dixie fire burned almost 1 million acres.  Several parts of the park remain closed, as the park service works to clear areas and make them safe for visitors.  While we were driving through the areas, there were massive fire prevention efforts – trees being cut, brush and kindling being cleared, trucks spraying water on dry areas, and signs thanking the firefighters everywhere we went.   It gave me a appreciation for the level of damage as well as perseverance and diligence required for everyone to manage the land.

The highlight of the park for me were the geothermic formations at Bumpass Hell – hot springs, mud pots, sulfur scents and turquoise blue waters.  Totally reminiscent of Yellowstone.  So wild to me to see these geological wonders up close, in a park that is so incredibly desolate.  If you want the experience of Yellowstone without the crowds, Lassen is for you!

Family Time is the Best

We wanted to visit family along the way before we headed back out to see some more parks.  We missed John’s cousins Jim and Deb last time we were in California, so we were glad we were able to stop and have lunch, check out their new place, and walk around Grass Valley.  Such a cute town.  It is funny how much you can learn about someone in just a few hours.  I didn’t know about Jim and Deb’s hiking adventures to many of the same places we were visiting, and I didn’t know about Deb’s cooking skills and tea pot collection.  Such a fun visit, and thank you for meeting us!

We also made an overnight pit stop to see Michael, Barbara, Ava, and Owen.  Mike is John’s closest cousin, and they have kept in touch over the years.  I appreciate you welcoming us into your home for the night, and can’t thank you enough for your recommendation and push to wander a little further to see a sight we weren’t planning to visit.

Mammoth Lakes….My Own Private Yosemite

Mammoth Lakes is just a little southeast of Yosemite, and we made the drive to see what Mike was talking about.  It didn’t disappoint.  So many beautiful alpine lakes, jagged white cliffs, and deep green pines.  It was magical.  

We hiked to Crystal Lake, and during the walk were able to experience incredible views of St. Mary’s Lake and Lake George.  We ended the trail at Crystal Lake, with no people around.  It was incredible and felt a lot like our own little Yosemite without the crowds.  We knew we were close to Yosemite, which is an amazing park that we saw in February, but the timed entry system and crowds kept us away.  

If you haven’t made it to Mammoth Lakes, do.  The waters are so clear, and the hikes are gorgeous.  I would like to come back and do Yosemite in a lot more time, exploring the more remote area as well as spending more time all over Mammoth.

Great Basin….Remote with Secrets

I was leery about the Great Basin visit – only 100,000 visitors a year.  Compare that to Yellowstone that has over 4 million!   It’s a basin.  Ok.  But what else?

We read about the Bristlecone Pine trees, but didn’t really know what to expect.  There was a hike that took you out to a bristlecone grove, so we thought we would give it a try.  Bristlecone pines are among the oldest trees in the world.  No joke.   5,000 years old!  The trees longevity is due to the extreme durability of the wood, but it also has a very low reproductive rate and its population may not be sustained.

The trees are gnarly and whimsical, with deep tones of oranges and browns.  They remind me of driftwood.  And when I stand close to them and hold tight, I feel their energy and connection.  It was spiritual to be with the ancient wonders, and I was honored to be able to hold space with something that had so much knowledge and beauty.  

The last stop on our Great Basin trip was Lehman Caves.  These caves were formed with water coming up from below versus down from above.  The cave is still very active, with very few visitors, so we were afforded quite a bit of time to explore and take it all in.  At one point, the ranger turned out every light, allowing us to experience just how it would feel to be there as the first explorers, with no ability for your eyes to adjust because there isn’t a single light source.  

Natural Wonders of Northern Utah

We took a trip to the Mighty Five in March, and as enticing as it was to make a trip back there, we decided to head north and find some natural wonders around Salt Lake.  We wanted to spend some time at the salt flats and find a great vantage point for the Salt Lake.  

We stopped at Bonneville Salt Flats, the largest salt flat west of the Great Salt Lake.  It is public land, managed by the Bureau of Land Management, and known for land speed records at the Bonneville Speedway.  The crust is 5 feet deep at the center, suitable for driving on.  But when we arrived there must have been a recent rainstorm as the crust all around the edges was filled with salt water.  It was beautiful, and we took some time to walk the flats.  The water created a perfect reflection for great pictures.

From here, our last stop of the week was Antelope Island.  I had read that Antelope Island was once in the running to be a National Park, and that the views of the Great Salt Lake from the island peaks were spectacular.  It was true.  We hiked to a ridge that provided 360-degree views of the lake.  The reflection was so clear you could see every cloud on the water surface.  The park was devoid of people, but full of wandering bison.  Off the beaten path, but well worth the detour.

We are now making our way to Colorado to visit the four National Parks we missed in the spring and spend some time with friends.  And, so we wander on and adventure!