. .... jiU VJ . I
3
' M l' .'J If "
ill ii ? 1 I
8
LOFTY PEAKS. LUSH LANDSCAPES GREET MOUNTAIN TRAVELERS . basin !s accessible by a mountain trail which starts in the vicinity of
Grass Lake, largest of the network of lakes in the Seven Lakes Basin, Seven Mile Marsh (closest community is Fort Klamath, about 10 milet
offers travelers of the Skyline Trail a panoramic view of several Cascade east) and winds seven miles along a moderate slope to Grass Lake,
summits, particularly Devil's Peak (el: 7,582) in the background. The I largest in the seven-lake system. '
Seven Lakes Basin Still Wilderness Land
Mile-High Area Offers
Stream, Lake Fishing
Photos and Story
Ry DICK BRIGGS
". . . lei us probe the secret places, let us seek what luck
betide us; let us journey to a lonely land I know.
There's a whisper on the night-wind, there's a star aglcam
to guide us and the Wild is calling, calling ... let us go."
"The Call of the Wild" by Robert Service
v
W Civ-HMti
2T
DOWNED LOG A CONVENIENT BRIDGE the annual runoff accompanied by infre
quent rains turn parts of the basin into a quagmire during late June and early July, but
some areas, such as along the eastern shoreline of Middle Lake, continue in their muddy
state during most of the summer. Numerous springs following a meandering course to
the lake cause the swamp like nature of the terrain. A frazzle haired youngster keeps
his feet dry by crossing a swampy area along a fallen log.
ROGUE RIVER CATCH This catch of rainbow and brook trout attests to the super
lative angling and fly fishing available to anqlers willing to follow the tributary of the
Rogue River which begins its westward journey at Grass Lake. The best angling is in
prospect beginning about one-quarter mile downstream from the lake, at the base of
a waterfall and cascades.
Hjvas no secret place that we
strode to glimpse the beauty of
the high country and to
test the mettle of Eastern brook
trout; there are few such places
But if there is a land which
still attracts the outdoorsman
seeking the hintermnst part of
the wilderness, then surely the
Seven Lakes Basin, source of the
famed Middle Fork of the Rogue
River that flows some 150 miles
west to the sea, is such a haven
Accompanying me into the
mile-high plateau early this sum
mer was my 10-year-old son,
Dale, who carried a 20-pound
pack effortlessly along the gentle
slopes leading into the high
lakes.
The trail inlo the basin begins
about six miles w e s t of the
Sevenmile Guard Station, near
Fort Klamath. It leads through
a grove of tall timber at an eleva
tion of 5.400 feet and ascends
about 700 feet before skirting the
eastern shore of Grass Iake
some seven miles farther on. Al
though uphill most of the way.
the ascent is so gradual that one
barely realizes tie is climbing.
Outdoorsmen seeking to explore
the basin this year should do so
within the next few weeks, while
the days remain balmy and the
evenings are not too nippy. As
special equipment, rain gear and
shoe pacs are suggested, and lor
those expecting to tempt trout
from the streams flowing inlo the
Middle Fork of the Rogue hip
boots are a necessity.
For those whose forte is stream
or dry fly fishing, the outlet from
Grass Lake provides an excel
lent source of trout, providing the
angler is willing to vary his
bait from worms to dry flics but
that comes later in the story.
Anglers intending tn test their
skills at any of the seven lakes,
including Grass, North, middle.
Cliff, South, Alta or Ivern should
bring a rubber boat with them
or be prepared to construct a
raft. Those fishing from far out
in the lake have considerably
more success than others angling
closer to shore.
To arrive at the start of Die
trail drive north from Klamath
Falls to the Fort Klamath Hotel,
Fort Klamath. Then turn left
and proceed about five miles to
the Sevenmile Guard Station.
Continue about one-eighth miles
past the guard station and' turn
right at the junction. This road
leads to the start of the trail,
which takes off where Sevenmile
Creek intersects the end of the
road. ' .
The trail begins to climb al
most immediately but a short dis
tance from the road it descends
into what earlier this summer
had been a sump. U.S. Forest
Service crews have since im
proved that part of the trail en
abling sojourners to proceed
along its course with dry feel.
For the first several miles the
trail meanders along gently roll
ing slopes before dropping into
(Continued on Page 2)
na -gv . . .
ERIE FOG ENCLOSES MIDDli' LAKE An unusual early
morning fog obscures the s!ef slopes and cliffs that rise
from near the shoreline of Middle Lake, ont of the mora
f
productive fishing waters in the Seven Lakes Basin. H
outlet drains into Grass Lake, one mile to the northeast.
Feature $ral& anb!tftr Feature
KLAMATH FALLS, OREGON'. SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER , 1961
W'- ' ' 'Mm
, WW " 'r'Mlfi
MISTY VEIL DRAPES LAKE IN GRAY A thick mist as
cends slowly as morning breaks sullenly in this view of
Middle Lake, one of the largest mountain lakes in the
mm
' ; -;- y-y
EASY TRAIL FOR BURDENED CAMPER A wide clear
ing through an entanglement of brush and timber make!
hikinq easier for a burdened camper on his seven-mil
trok into the Seven Lakes Basin, Later this summer, trail
maintenance crews of the Winema National Forest re
duced the grade on certain parts of the trail, making it
still easier for campers to negotiate the trip starting from
near the Seven Mil Guard Station,
Rogue River National Forest. Well maintained trails and
nearly level terrain are inducements to outdoorsmen pre
ferring to travel on foot.
XV-CX f- - iU
i - ,-rrii
1.1
PRIMEVAL SETTING A youthful camper looks out upon Cliff Lake, on of the mor
principal lakes in the Seven Lakes Basin, from the shoreline north of Devils Peak 11:
7,6001. Other prominent lakes include AHaGrats and Middle.