Today we have just returned from Crater Lake (report follows later). Mr. Blogger is now ready to publish the pictures. Therefore, first as an afterthought by the news from 30.8. Map Southern BC: path from 24.8.-9.1.2006
OKANAGAN VALLEY
the Crowsnest Hwy (Crows Nest Road) leads us through dense woods and two passes , including the Bonanza Pass to 1535 m. To Grand Forks, the area is bare. The forests were cut down, probably since the time of the miners. The area was rich in ores (copper, gold, etc.), and it was even built a widespread line (Kettlewell Railway) to transport the ore to the smelter. The grass is withered. In it's wide sweeping the sun-scorched and withered Slope down to 300 m down to Osoyoos.
are only isolated trees, forests can be identified on the opposite side. But the view from the road to the lake, the place with the dam and the Spit is wonderful. in beautiful Haynes Point State Park (SP), which is located zuäusserst on the Spit, on a long, narrow peninsula, à la Peter Island, of course, all 41 seats allocated to 95% of Canadians who are celebrating yet another long weekend. But we must stay in the parking lot, what we like exceptionally quiet, no camp fire, views of the lake directly. We enjoy the 25 ° warm bath water. The manager gives us by 20 clock still has a place in the Camp Ground on, but we reject with thanks for tonight. Tomorrow we will have a place. Twice the way, one can not stay on an overflow. In the distance we see in western forest fires. The sky turns reddish in the evening!
On the peninsula there is a small Nature Trail, which leads into the marsh. Many starlings gather in the poplars. A pair of quail, we see a blue heron and a white pelican. On the small peninsula to grow, many olive trees. The night is very quiet: no neighbors, no music, only the cry of an owl, the chirping of crickets and the lapping of the water, the waves of the Pebbles roll back and forth. 
THE ONLY (and very small) Desert CANADA
Then we visit the only desert in Canada, only a few acres is large. On the Board Walk, a walkway made of wooden planks, we have in the midday heat, a nearly two-hour guided tour by an enthusiastic young biologists. We are grateful for our protective straw hat, we have not used since May in New Mexico. We see different grasses, including the Wild Rye Grass, various Sagebrush (sage), including the Antelope Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata, a rose family), which is eaten by deer. It also housed a female badger in the small Desert. Occasionally, she is visited by a male badger, from Rock Creek an hour's drive away to find its way here. A fly that can impaled with her mouth sucking insect sting and see us. The fact that it now makes, we see later only because the photography!
SEARCH FOR A CAMP GROUND
We take the # 97 south to Okanogan (he is called in the U.S. instead of Okanagan) along further. At the confluence with the flowing from the east Columbia River, we visit the Fort Okanogan Interpretive Center, a base of the fur traders who were able to control on behalf of the Hudson Bay Company from here to trade along the two rivers. A 75-year-old volunteer explains to us personally, the individual objects. It is very warm. The thermometer shows 91 ° F (= 33 ° C). Then we drive to Chelan, where we ask the Visitor Center for directions to the nearest campground, but must learn that all public places are near fully booked over the long weekend. We have no choice but to drive over 25 miles back and to surfaces adjacent to the Alta Lake SP in a private place.
The situation on the small lake between the mountains is very beautiful and we are next three games, staying in tents, the only people, but the toilet cubicles huge stink. Only when it's cooler and we will close the window, it is bearable. Obviously there is also a boat rental, least we can see a list hefty prices. The boats but all are delicious and rotten. We would be flooded during a boat trip simply! The owners have specialized in horse riding and accommodation - including Cabins - quite neglected. After all, does the current, and does not stink! The next day, we are already at lunch time and look for a place in Wenatchee State Park, which forms a large area with beautiful trees, Passed at the mouth of the Columbia River in Wenatchee. We are lucky we get to the last place. The state parks are consistently well maintained and are also supervised. There is peace and order. Most have their walks. The state has set up a nature reserve here with Interpretive Trail. We spend the afternoon heat for a good two hours to watch the birds. We see Northern Flicker (woodpecker with white tail, black breast, reddish brown leaf base), a
beautiful Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) with a long beard, quail, a large bird of prey nest etc. On the iron bars of the old railway bridge two Ospreypaare (Eagle). We see them back and forth across the river to fly. They scream constantly. The next morning we go before the morning meal again to the Osprey. From the pedestrian bridge, we can watch them shoot well. One sits in one of the two nests on the iron skeleton of the old railway line, another consumed on the branch of a tree above the river, his morning meal, a fish wriggling between his claws yet. A crow tries to take themselves to approach him silently, waiting for an opportune moment to get to the loot, what you do not succeed, however. way: the Columbia River, as mentioned in recent news, originates in Canada, is in fact a 1000 km long chain of 14 reservoirs, the intensely for power generation, but also for water be used.
From Monday to travel is simple: The school holidays are to the Labor Day on 4.9. to an end. Will be on roads and campsites less operation. On the road there this weekend but still a lot of traffic. We drive past an accident scene: a scooter is in the ditch. Police, ambulance, fire department, everything is present. It is the first accident that we see on our already but now nearly five months of travel!
CASCADE RANGE
is a series of glaciated, partly active volcanoes (2,000 to 4,000 m height), which extends from Canada to California. These mountains, we are trying to California to follow as closely as possible.
The route from the Canadian border to Yakima through a rather bleak landscape. The river, first the Okanogan River, then the Columbia River surrounded, but a green lake shore, but then rises on both sides of burnt earth barren, rocky mountain slopes, on which presumably were once forests. On the other hand, has developed thanks to the water, the fertile volcanic soil and warm climate of the valley into a major fruit paradise. Along the road is lined with stalls and shops where we wonderful aromatic apples, pears, Peaches, nectarines, plums, prunes, tomatoes can buy so cheap. We do like the Bears before the long winter after the summer Lachskur a vitamin in the fall - with the difference being that we want to set is not as thick fat.
soon as we drive away from Yakima to the west, we find ourselves in a lush green landscape, either dry pine forest or impenetrable rain forest. Finally, we also see animals again, unfortunately, more extended than live. We have never seen a live porcupine, but dozens dead, and just before the Mount Saint Helens, we see a badger and later extended to two possums middle of the road: a mother with her baby. In the photo retoucher of the gaping wound that has treated '. 
We drive to Mount Saint Helens in turn, we know from 1999 here and we on 5 June has seen from the west. We marvel at the rich colorful vegetation that has evolved over the years since the outbreak 1980th And what makes us happy, above all, and what we have long been waiting for: at last we can pick to your heart's Huckleberries (a type of blueberry) and eat without fear of the fox tapeworm. 
We feel like on a plantation. We have never in the wild so many shrubs with berries such large seen at once. Hundreds of kilos wait berries. Where to stay because the bears? And of course we make jam again. Since we have no scale, we cling to an end of a clothes hanger with a plastic bag the berries, at the other end, we'll match with the appropriate amount of sugar. Then we take away a fifth of the sugar - and we have the right mix 5:4.
The next day we leave the state to cross Washington (again!) The Columbia River and drive through Oregon Mt Hood, another peak in the chain of volcanoes. The rise from glaciers and snow-capped volcanoes in a mutual distance of about 50 km and form independent Massifs. Yesterday we saw the Mt Rainier (almost 4400m), Mt Saint Helens (after 1980 only 2500m) and Mt Adams (3300m), now of Mt Hood (3427m) and south of Mount Jefferson (3300m ). On Saturday we will be near the Three Sisters (all over 3000m) to the virtuous name, Faith, Hope, Charity. On the southern slope of Mount Hood leads a good asphalt road to Timberline (= tree line) Lodge at 1,800 m altitude. There we can stay on the large parking lot. We enjoy the wide panoramic view of the sunset and the (almost) full moon.
The Timberline Lodge is built and run by the National Forest comfortable mountain hotel. It was the time of the Great Depression built to create jobs, and inaugurated in 1937 by President Roosevelt. The investments were enormous. The first floor is built of large stone, above which rises a solid wood construction. The large beams have an edge length of about 80 cm. Much effort has been made for the furniture and iron work. Almost everything was prepared on the spot. Several ski lifts are in operation in winter. The Sommerskibetrieb, especially for snowboarders was not appointed until two weeks ago. is snow amounts of 5-7m it any more. Here also were shot, such as Bend in the River (1951) with J. Stewart and Julia Adams, All the Young Man (1950) or the horror film The Shining with Jack Nicholson.
The next night, but we spend later in a magic lake. We have a beautiful place with lake access. The atmosphere is fantastic. A female mallard ducks waddling approaching and begging for food. A Steller's Jay (blue jay with the main ridge), caw. Ravens fly around and perform a murder noise. An osprey sails across the lake. Of course we enjoy the water and just let the warm sun to dry. Then we walk along a beautiful path in an hour around the lake surrounded by mixed forest.
The next day we left (after three days!) The forest and go southeast into a furrowed by deep canyons high level, some is used for agriculture. In the west the volcanic peaks of the Cascade Range to remain in sight. On Saturday we will begin a tour of the mountains in the evening and wanted to be already in Bend. But the ride on the beautiful mountain road through the deep woods and open lava fields, shorter and longer hiking trails on the way let the time pass very quickly. So we decide later in the afternoon, on a small campground, which offers only just seven RV's place to spend the night. We hear the sound of the McKenzie River. This mountain river along a beautiful trail through the dense forest to two waterfalls. The water is crystal clear and icy cold.
Today is Sunday, it further about Sisters to Bend, where we send that message in the Visitor Center. The sky is still cloudless, the view now very clear, because at last the fires have declined. The thermometer climbed to over 30 ° Celsius.
The next time a report from Northern California!
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