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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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. .
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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.