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About Herald and news. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1942-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 1, 1963)
Pack Trip Into Mountain Lakes Wild Area Opens Spectacular New World Photos and Story By DICK BR1GGS I lofty mountain crae is wor th the u you re among that variety i acnes and suflened pints that of nature lovers who prefer the high country to the lowlands or the seashore; if you're exhila rated by the nippy frost that blows in on an early morning breeze: if the peace and silence of die wilderness overwhelms you; if the view of a primeval develop from a tliree-day pack trip then a sojourn into the Mountain Lakes Wild Area is an adventure worthy of your camp ing menu. Eons ago taU peaks filled the valley which now forms the era- die' for some 16 mountain lakes, I em brook trout Later, the peaks were under mined bv volcanic activity and tliey fell away leaving the 6,000 foot high valley forming the wil derness recreation area of some 23,000 acres. Remnants of the craters which supported those lofty spires form parts of the circuitous trail that starts near 120 miles over alternately steep nuis. craggy summits, and flat lands forested with red fir, white bark pine and mountain hemlock. Within its confines are five summits with tile buttress of As uen Butte (el: 2fiSi the high est in elevation, located near the southeast corner of the wilderness. tfh ..y y., tr xyy Tm.s- -:fi I ?-Wf 4r- Y Y , Y, 41 i I frJf K4 . j - v - - H- v '. , r Y n J I V-f'Jv'-i? VY ' A v, V WILDERNESS, TROUT STOCKED LAKES ATTRACT CAMPERS A vista depicting the terrain between the slopes of Mt. Harriman and Aspen Butte, with Agency and Klamath lakes in the background, is eharaterlstic of the 23,071 acres comprising the Mountain Lakes Wild Area, about 30 miles west of Klamath Falls. Accessible by three mountain trails, the region is the setting for some 16 mountain lakes, many stocked with eastern brook trout. Noting the spectacular view from a ridge near Aspen Butte is Terry McGhehey, mountain patrolman of the Wlnema Forest. To the left is Mt. Harriman, situated to the northeast of the wilderness. t i . cV" Weston Lake 4 6 0m AWh,h,fM , AAvtZancheis h i Peican , Vf. Guard Stat-on LfftMtrrlman (1373) Aiounfan Wild 7 OS en A JtaKe I y QkrrievaJ Cakejjf AaAe5 I Area ( ) ifk vf2m VV1"-0'"'"''"--'"': 7; . Aspen pen Butte is .Ml. Harrison, sec ond higliest of die summits, where brushy slopes meet in a rounded peak at an elevation ol 7.950 feet. The other three mountains rise in Uie western sections of Hw wild area with Crater Mountain Hie highest in elevation at 7,800, followed by Whiteface Peak. 7.70S feet, and Greylock Moun- uiiii, i.nuu. rew varieties of game range along these mountain slnnes anA valleys that offer little browse ior loraging animals. Most com mon to the area is the 'hi.v munk, which ranges at all eleva tions within the wild area. In the higher elevations ii neighbor is the rarely observed Cony, a short-eared mammal (mind principally in rook sliHn of the mountainous area of Vein and Western North Amerii-a Tim chubby mammal gathers hay ami stockpiles it in the sun for curing during August and early September. It emits a shrill eck when aroused Deer are found more frequent ly at the lower altitudes isuch as uover Lake, about 6,000 feet where Grasses m-ow mnr Kin. antly and coyotes and bear are even less Irequent visitors. Backpackers planning to hike the nearly 20 miles of trail should allow three or four days to in sure a pleasant, leisurely trip. For campers on a weekend not ing the seven-mile trek to Lake Harriette is suited for those in good physical condition. Those less hardv should set I heir destination at C'omo Lake or Eb and Zeb lakes, situated about five miles from Varnev f'rwL- along the trail to Harriette Lake. Hie trail ascends steadily from its starting point to a rise about one-half mile south of C o m n Lake. A camper carrying a bedroll and grub will find the hike to Harriette Lake no easy jaunt, as inferred in an article pub lished in a magazine of nation wide circulation. Boh Asher, ranger and fire con trol officer of the Klamath Dis trict. W'inema National Forest reported that a number of tour ists started out lor the wild area this summer alter reading the article. Of the number who headed into tlie wilderness, few com pleted the journey and one turned back after hiking halfway to Como Lake. "The trail is not as steep as some but the ascent is steady and one should be in fair condition to attempt it." Asher stated. People with histories of cardiac or oUier serious ailments should explore the wild area from horseback, if at all. Campsites located at each of the mountain lakes are main tained by a one-man mountain patrol in the form of Terrv Mr- Ghehey, 19. a sophomore student majoring in lorestry at Central Oregon Collccc. McGhehev makes the loop tour on horse back each weekend, clearing rocks from the trail, cleaning campgrounds, and replacinu weathered trail signs with' new- ones. It was last Saliirdav lhat 1 accompanied McGhehey on hnr.se- oacK during nis two-clay trip through the wild area in order that 1 might observe some of its grandeur and take note of some of the recreational features en joyed by more than 2,000 out doorsmen annually. The mount assigned to me was Paint, a dappled black and white iiorse of doubtful heritage, who was fitted with a saddle through Uie courtesy of Ranger Asher and majle ready for the two-day journey which was to start from the Pelican Guard Station. As I approached, she regarded me bounced about helplessly during i most oi ine sojourn. McGhehey's mount was Nor ma, a grav mare, and the nack horse, Kinky Dink, carried t h e provisions, m addition to a rub- dolefully and correctly appraised ber raft which is used to collect my lack of horsemanship; how- refuse thrown in the lakes by ever. Paint, of ancient vintage thoughtless and careless camp by horse standards, bore my weight good - naturcdly as I (Continued on Page J) KLAMATH FALLS, OREGON, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER I, 196J ,A', 3 a :'vv,(MX l jiAikJ-- i-n. niriiMnn nirTiifrniimiiniiimaiMMMiiiitiniiiii AZURE JEWEL AGLEAM IN A WILDERNESS Harriett Lake glistens from the base of unbroken slopes of timber, as glimpsed from a high outcrop in the southern part of the wilderness vastness. Agency and Klamath lakes ap pear dimly above the point where the two mountains intersect. V ;'V-'''Hf,.. . ; f '. i4 LAKE OF THE WOODS A PALE RIBBON Mt. Mr. Looghlin lei: 9,4971, appearing ghost-like through a bluish haze, towers over Lake of the Woods in a view from the western region of the wild area. The mountain and the lake, popular landmarks In Klamath County, era lo cated outside of the dedicated township. . fipm mW' ' mm: '! 4 ROCKY BOWL CRADLE FOR ICY LAKE Largest of the mountain lakes in the Wild Area, Harriette Lake I el: 6,740 1 , is approximately seven milos by trail via Varney Creek. Nearly 70 acres in area, the lake has a maximum depth of 63 feet and is a favorite site of dry fly fishermen. Speculation it that the lake may be suitable for th 4 production of lake trout. I TREES THRIVE NEAR BEDS OF SLAG Islands of hardy evergreens flourish along slaggy slopes near Whiteface (el: 7,7061, in the western portion of the Mountain Lakes Wild Area. The weathered rims of mountain craters form the beds for parti of the wilderness trail. L TRAVELERS QUENCH THIRST IN A CRYSTAL LAKE McGhehey and hit horse, '; Norma, satisfy their thirst at Clover Lake before continuing along the Wild Area trail to Whiteface Mountain on the final part of the two-day ride.
