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GOLFING AND HIKING OUR WAY THROUGH OREGON'S VOLCANIC LAKES
In the third installment of our Oregon Trail series, we take in the breathtaking views at Hole in the Ground, Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge, and Crater Lake.
KENDRA LITTLE
Visual storytelling at Lie + Loft
PHOTOS BY KENDRA LITTLE AND LUKE DAVIS
It was hard to choose a lead image for this log. This particular leg of the trip offered three widely diverse landscapes for the eyes to feast. On one hand, we have an ancient lake bed, dried to a bone fully exposed for any and all to explore. On the other, another ancient lake. This one though, with millions and millions of gallons of snow melt and rain water filled to the tree stumps that surround it. Between those two? a wildlife refuge. Oh boy, did we observe wildlife. In the space of a couple hundred miles, these differing ecosystems exist and thrive, again proving the vastness of this great state.
We start at a place called “Hole in the Ground,” an ancient lake bed well off the beaten path. Heck, there’s off the beaten path, and theres the path(s) that lead to this place. After finishing up our round at Lost Tracks in Bend, we grabbed some coffee and gas and hit the road south towards Hole in the Ground. Our founder Luke had scouted this place out prior to us heading there, and we were both equally stoked about the uniqueness of it and speculated on what it would actually look like in person.
Hole in the Ground is “an explosion crater caused by red hot magma surging upwards under the Earth’s crust until contacting groundwater” or at least that’s how AllTrails explains it. Luke and I had been speculating on just how the heck this hole in the ground got there — I thought it was a meteor. However it happened, it’s truly a unique piece of land and one worth getting out to (if you can, high clearance vehicle needed!). I mentioned above about how there were numerous paths to get out here. If I’m being right about it, there’s probably only a couple. But Luke and I found a way to explore all of the little nameless inlet roads that comprise the area, unintentionally — mainly used for dirt biking and four-wheeling, but on that evening used for our seemingly aimless journey to find this place.
After putting our heads together and somehow navigating to the true path to the campground, we finally arrived. It had taken longer than we thought it would so upon pulling up, we hopped out with our camera gear and began to document. Luke headed down to the center of the hole and I got the drone out.
It was pretty amazing to get the drone up in the air and take in the views from up there, and for Luke, to get down to the middle of the hole, it was a much longer journey that it looked. But when he did finally get down there, he squeezed in a couple holes!
The overnight low at Hole in the Ground got down in the low 20s that night, and let me remind you that I am sleeping in the back of my car while Luke is braving it in his tent outside. We both woke up early after a fairly restless night, I got the fire going for warmth and for a much desired cup of coffee. We sat there and shivered holding our mugs until we eventually had to get in the car and turn it on, heat on full blast. Thank heavens for modern technology!
After watching the sun come up and packing my car to the brim, it was once more time again to hit the road. Instead of heading back towards Highway 97, we opted to head east, which would then take us southwest directly towards Crater Lake. It also meant we would be driving through the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge. A serene landscape of water, marshland, and views of the surrounding cascade mountain range.
As we made our way through the Klamath Wildlife Refuge along Silver Lake highway, the road straightened out for as far as the eyes can see. On both sides we had water + marsh for miles and miles. Birds flying, ducks bathing. We were both in a trance as this landscape opened up before our eyes.
We got about halfway before I saw something ahead to my left. I nudged Luke “Hey… is that a Bald Eagle?!”
Sure enough, as we approached, we realized our eyes were not playing tricks on us. It was indeed a Bald Eagle, looking as fierce and determined to attack the day as ever. I managed to safely pull over on the side of the road to get a closer look. For what felt like an hour, we sat there observing this beautiful creature. There’s something that is hard to explain about an experience like that. Eagles have such a folklore mystique to them, and for good reason. To be out there, with my homie Luke, taking in the surroundings and stumbling upon a Bald Eagle for us to sit and admire; it was special. This trip, in general, is something I won’t ever forget– and this moment, is one that will stay with me for as long as I live.
After about a 2 1/2 hour drive from hole in the ground, we reached the entrance to Crater Lake National Park.
It had been over 2 decades since I last visited Crater Lake, and I don’t recall my first and only visit and a kid very vividly. Even if I was able to I don’t think my memory would’ve served the views and vibes at Crater Lake justice. We arrived to the main lodge at the top to several feet of snow, bitterly cold temperatures, and wind like the wind at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort; it only enhanced the experience. There might be more to do at Crater Lake in the warmer months with the snow melt as found its way into the belly of the lake. But for what we were there to do and see, it was perfectly fine for us.
We were able to walk around the very southern crest of the lake, a few thousand feet in length to gain slightly differing perspectives of this wondrous place. After some (more) coffee in the lodge, some souvenirs, and a few more photo ops, we drove up to the outermost tip of the open area for one last look at this place, and to plot our next move (Yes, although this trip was planned, we also called audibles and made last minute decisions as we went.
We decided on a plan, and that plan was to head to a place that I hold near and dear to my heart, and I couldn’t have been more excited to show Luke. It’s one of the most magical golf settings in Oregon — and if you are from Oregon, you already know; Tokatee. See you on the tee on Sunday!
// #golfishome
