Balloons Over Bend 2013

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It's that time of year again - time to get out of bed earlier than you have to, and make your way down to Riverbend Park and watch the hot air balloon launch!
Friday night I made my way down to Farewell Bend Park and set up across from the Night Glow location. I know it might seem weird to go to a different park, but I was really trying to capture the reflections of the beautiful balloons on the river.

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday morning around 6:30AM is when the balloons actually launch. I would recommend getting there a little early to watch the setup! Although I absolutely loved helping with the setup, chase-crew, and actually taking a balloon ride last year, it was really nice to just sit back and admire their beauty over Bend (from a distance).

Tomorrow is your last chance to see this in Bend until next year, so set your alarm a little early, make some coffee, and head on down to Riverbend Park. You won't regret it!

South Sister Summit Hike

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Some people said it was too early in the year to hike South Sister, that there was too much snow to make it safely to the top. Well, I have one thing to say to those people: You're wrong!
Early Sunday morning we left Bend and drove to the Devil's Lake Trailhead. From there, it was 6.25 miles to the summit of South Sister (Oregon's 3rd highest peak). Was there snow? Heck yes. There was a lot of snow, but given the choice of snow or the cinder and scree that lies beneath, I would choose snow every time!
The view of Middle and North Sister with a little snow cover really can't be beat! It's a tough hike towards the top (right around Lewis Glacier), but just put one foot in front of the other and keep going - it's worth it!

Lewis Glacier Melt Pot/pool, near the top of South Sister. It's bigger than it looks!

For any hikers out there who want to hike to South Sister's summit in late June or early July: we didn't really need any special gear. Hiking boots and gaiters would be nice, but they're not necessary (we hiked with running shoes, nothing else). We brought crampons just in case, but they weren't needed. The last mile or so is the toughest and steepest, but at that point we were hiking on/fighting with red cinder and scree.

Painted Hills - John Day Fossil Beds National Monument

Less than 2 hours out of Bend is the Painted Hills unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument (1 of 3 units). I had seen pictures of this seemingly beautiful place, but hadn't visited myself until this weekend. When you arrive, you see different beautiful shades of red, orange, gold, and even some black mixed in. The hills really do look painted - how else would they look like that? ;)
Really though, the unique colors and patterns were formed by volcanic eruptions and climate change over the past 35 million years. There are signs everywhere explaining in more detail, but honestly it's a little hard for me to grasp the whole story.
At painted hills there are multiple viewpoints, trails (about 2.75 miles total), and picnic areas. One of the most important things they stress is to stay off the exposed hills, because it takes a long time for the area to repair itself.

The colors of the hills change a lot with with time of day and moisture (I've heard the colors are very rich after some rain), but it's a stunning sight, no matter when you visit!

Clear Lake and Great Springs

*Water colors are not enhanced*
About 30 minutes West of Sisters, Oregon, is Clear Lake. Like the name suggests, the water in Clear Lake holds some very clear BLUE water! The water is very cold (around 36˚-43˚), which makes it hard for algae to thrive there. Because of that, you can see the 3,000 year old trees submerged in the lake, essentially preserved by the nearly freezing water.

On the North side of the lake is Great Springs. To get there, you can either walk along the hiking path that goes around the lake (4.6 mile loop), or rent a rowboat and paddle your way over. As you get closer to the spring, the water gets bluer and bluer. Finally you get to the little cove, and it appears that the water is flowing out of nowhere. In reality, the fresh spring water is coming from under the rocks! If you come out to Clear Lake, PLEASE go see Great Springs. You won't regret it! The beautiful blue color of the water compliments the green scenery that surrounds it in Late Spring, and the butterflies near the water are icing on the cake!

If you're looking to Spend the day out here, you can hike, boat (no motors), fish, or camp around the lake. Santiam Fish and Game regularly stocks the lake with trout, so if that's your thing - bring your fishing pole, rent a rowboat for the day ($30), and try your luck. Even if you don't catch anything, it's so beautiful you might not even care!

Koosah Falls

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This is part 2 of my McKenzie River Trail posts. Along the same waterfall trail (a shorter trail on the 26 mile McKenzie River Trail) is Koosah Falls. The 70 foot falls might be a little smaller than the nearby Sahalie Falls, but it is no less beautiful, or powerful! It took less than 15 minutes to see both falls, so if you come to see one, I think it's worth it to take a little extra time to see both. You won't regret it!
PS - Yes, the water is that blue!

Sahalie Falls

This weekend we ventured out of Bend, and made our way to the McKenzie River Trail. The trail itself is 26 miles (one way), but many attractions along the trail are very accessible, with parking areas in multiple convenient locations. One of those attractions is Sahalie Falls. On a normal day, Sahalie Falls is beautiful; this weekend it was absolutely stunning. (View on Facebook HERE)
Photo taken from the Sahalie Falls Viewpoint:

On the first leg of the hike, we walked down the opposite side of the river, and I was able to grab a little different perspective. The color of the water was incredible:

Paulina Peak - Newberry Caldera

Although the Paulina Peak trail is still closed, the ranger said we could still hike if we wanted to. Warning of steep areas covered in snow, she said we would be one of the first this year to hike to the top! Sparing you all the details, I'll just say she was right - it was an extremely challenging trail, but the reward we got was worth it! Paulina Lake had a mesmerizing shade of blue, almost looking tropical. Don't let the photo fool you, though. That water is cold! When the snow melts and the trail officially opens, I'm definitely planning on going up again.
For any non-hikers, you can see this view for yourself, too! The viewpoint is accessible by car, and you can drive right to the top. However, you'll have to wait for the road to open, because right now that is covered in snow and closed for the season.

Newberry Crater - Little Crater

Yesterday I headed out to Newberry Crater for a hike, only to be told that the trail I wanted to use was still covered in snow and "closed". The ranger recommended Little Crater - not nearly as long of a hike, and not as much of a climb, but snow free. The Little Crater Loop is just shy of 2 miles long, and perfect for families. While on the loop, you can sneak a peek at East Lake, and get a very pretty view of Paulina Lake (the Twin Crater lakes).

The view was pretty, but we wanted more! To be continued...
(hint - the Photo/view tomorrow comes from the top of the peak on the left)

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Tam-a-láu Trail - Cove Palisades State Park

Tam-a-láu trail is a hike that I had never heard of before. Near Culver, Tam-a-láu trail is located in Cove Palisades State Park. A fairly easy-moderate 1 mile hike (gaining 600 ft) gets you to the top of the canyon, with beautiful views of the rivers/lakes, mountains, and the beauty that surrounds the area. Once you get to the top, there is a 4 mile flat loop that you can choose to do. If you have the time, I recommend it!

Smith Rock - Misery Ridge

I've done 3 hikes so far this year, and so far the shortest hike (up), has been the hardest. Misery Ridge at Smith Rock is a 3/4 mile hike (from the bottom of the trail to the top of Smith Rock), and although short, was fairly tough on this out of shape girl. Saying that, the views are spectacular! Pictures really do not do it justice. From the top, you can decide whether you want to go down the same way you went up, or take a much longer route down and around - we chose the latter (down the Mesa Verde trail, and along the river trail ~ 3 miles).  

View from Black Butte

Now that Spring/Summer weather is starting to show its face in Central Oregon, it's time for me to go explore! Last weekend I hiked up Black Butte. If you're in the area and never been, I recommend it! It's a bit tough at places, but bring plenty of water (and a camera), and take breaks if needed. You won't regret it, the views are amazing! Here is one of the wonderful views from about midway up Black Butte:

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Around Dillon Falls at Sunrise

I've never been much of a morning person, but maybe that will change soon. I went out to Dillon Falls around sunrise, but couldn't get a good morning light shot over the moving waters and rapids. However, this lovely image is from the calm area before the river's current picks up! Now that I know waking up around 4AM (before the sun is up), won't kill me, I might have to try it out more often. Everything is so calm and peaceful around that time.

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