Umpqua Wilderness October 2011

Mount Thielsen from Diamond Lake

                                      Arriving Whitehorse Falls Campground in early afternoon

 Whitehorse Falls

 As good as it gets!!

 New fungi everywhere

 Probable Amanita sp; deadly poisonous

 Relaxing in Umpqua Wilderness

Early October with Winter coming....we headed South past Crater Lake to see the gorgeous Umpqua Wilderness.  We stayed at White Horse Falls along the North Umpqua River and discovered recent rains had created a massive array of new mushrooms and toadstools.  They were everywhere.  We headed West a short distance and turned into the wilderness area at Toketee Lake following the back roads to elevations of 6000 feet with glorious views North and West.  Hunters were setting up their camps and we met one gentlemen who had converted an old school bus into more or less permanent shelter.  We camped several nights in the wilderness...our last night on the top of a mountain at 6000 feet with a 360 degree panorama view and watched the clouds from an approaching storm engulf us.  A passing hunter advised us of fresh Cougar tracks nearby adding to the sense of wilderness.    Lightning strikes and wind awakened us at about 1 am and we decided the best part of valor was to seek a lower elevation....in large part due to the probability of the wind blowing trees across our narrow exit.  Our descent was a non-event...as we found the Hella Lamps gave us a sight picture approaching daylight as we threaded our way down.  We stopped again and went back to sleep when we reached the "main" road.  Departing we stopped at the Steamboat Springs Resort and enjoyed a fabulous breakfast while admiring the gorgeous setting.  Fly Fishermen's Paradise.  Another trip...as good as it gets!!  We have added a chainsaw to our list of tools needed for these backcountry trips.