Trippin’ thru the Lava Beds

The April 19th tour of the Lower Klamath Refuge and its surrounding area was quite a treat. We visited a number of sites, including the CCC/POW camp, called Camp Tule Lake, Petroglyph Point, Captain Jack’s Stronghold, the Tulelake Museum and the memorial marker for the Newell Japanese Internment Camp. It was a chilly day, but we braved the wind to hear about these sites and view the wildlife. The wetlands area is just amazing – there are so many birds in the air that it’s hard to stay focused on driving. I found myself watching great Vs of birds wheeling across the sky, peering into the shallows of the lake to watch the red-legged stilts, and marveling at the number of ducks – most of which had their heads down in the water to feed. As I drove through the Lower Refuge I remembered my previous note-to-self that I should always bring a bird book and binoculars when visiting the Tulelake area.

So I’m planning on coming back – with a bird identification book and the binocs, as well as a few other tools. Certainly bringing good hiking shoes so that I can complete the two trails at Captain Jack’s Stronghold – a maze of cheese-grader like lava rock that scrapes at the skin and provided a hideout for the Modoc Indians when they went to war with the US Army back in 1872. A headlamp, since at the suggestion of a Lava Beds ranger, I’m planning on taking an evening hike up Schonchin Butte to the fire lookout where the sunset views are said to be amazing with Mt. Shasta and Mt. McLoughlin rising up in the distance. I’ll put the headlamp to use in the caves as well – the Parks Service has discovered over 700 lava tube caves on the 73 square miles the Lava Beds inhabits. There are a couple of lighted caves, but mostly you’re on your own, especially if you leave the main trail to go to any of the backcountry caves.

I’m also looking forward to Memorial Day Weekend when the evening ranger talks begin. I spoke with Amy, the ranger who gives the astronomy talk, about the Lava Beds’ possible designation as a “Dark Sky Preserve.” This is a new designation from the National Parks Service, as it begins to recognize a clear, dark night sky as a resource – one that an estimated two thirds of Americans can’t view from their homes. I grew up in a rural area and just didn’t realize that not everyone can see that many (or any!) stars at night. Amy said that now is a good time of year for stargazing at the Lava Beds, and winter is especially good for viewing the Milky Way. Her astronomy talk begins with a power point presentation, followed by a laser-pointed tour of the night sky and wraps up with telescope viewing of nebula of the Milky Way, moon viewing and other objects, depending on when you visit. The ranger talks, which rotate through a somewhat weekly cycle, run from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend. Call ahead (530-667-8100) if you want to know which talks will be given; they schedule them one to two weeks in advance.