Southern Oregon Exploration

Lost Creek Lake

Headed down to the Rogue River this past weekend to help the family own up the cabin for the summer. We had family coming from the Bay Area, Sacramento, Eugene and Portland all converging just outside Medford, Or.

The goal of the weekend was to clean, purge and renovate. The girls cleaned and purged the house, while the boys cleaned the sheds and handle the yard. Many trips to the dump later and many chords of wood later, the cabin was starting to come back to life. We also spent most of Sunday staining and waterproofing the outside of the cabin by hand. But with 7 guys on the job, it was quicker than expected.

During this time, I took the liberty of running around Lost Creek Lake via a portion of the upper Rogue River Trail. Had I come one week later, I would have been able to race the Lost Creek Lake 30k. Just missed it. Overall the trail was very flat, with large sections of paved single track around the State Campground. I really enjoyed the first half of the run due to the change in terrain, warm weather and relative solitude.

The second half of the 20 mile run didn't go as smoothly due to a number of potential culprits.

1. I didnt eat very well the day before or have a very substantial breakfast
2. I had a few beers the night before
3. I tossed and turned all night
4. My body wasn't used to such a flat, faster course
5. Elevation (It was only 2000ft, so this is a weak excuse)
6. Heat (It was only high 60s, also weak excuse)

In the end, I think 1 and 4 were the primary reason for a subpar performance. Didn't have enough fuel in the tank, and I was running faster than normal due to the flatness of the course and my body, mainly my glutes, werent having it.

Staircase to Atlantis

I'm sure this bridge has a name. I just don't know what it is.

Red Bells, aka complete guess

Shooting Stars

Giant pine cones. From sugar pines..? made that up too.

Lots of scrub oak and grasslands. Very pretty

Post run relaxation at the cabin.

On the way home from Medford, I need to get a few more miles in so I decided to explore some trails on the way home. Unfortunately, not too many were close to the highway so I settled on the new North Bank Habitat, just north of Roseburg. In the end, the "trails" were all old overgrown roads and the "trails" were very popular with the horseback riding crew so they were very rutted a muddy in place. Despite that I saw no one and the scenery and views were amazing. Havent really ever spent much time in the grassland hills/ scrub oak / madrone landscape. The "trails" were very well marked with signs and maps in most major junctions.

Rolling Ridge Tops

Self-Portrait

Saw about 20 deer, half white tail and half black tail.

This is the official trailhead, but I parked off North Bank Rd. It's a very nice spot with a pit toilet, covered seating area, picnic tables, horse corals, and water.

This land was part of the old Jackson Ranch. This barn was pretty massive and halfway up a very steep slope. Glad that I didn't have to build it there.

Well signed trail junctions