Klamath Falls

Day 290 – Klamath Falls, USA

After a night aboard the train -not too bad, I had chosen the Business class with wide seats and plenty of legroom-, I arrived at Klamath Falls not quite rested and bright-eyed.

I’ve crossed the state line into Oregon, and I’m slightly inland… hence the snow on the ground, and earlier aboard the train, the dusting of snow on top of the cars seen through the window. It ain’t California any more.

Through the train window – Welcome to Oregon!

What am I doing in Klamath Falls, you might wonder: it’s the end of a long planning process.

Initially, when I was thinking of making my way from San Francisco to Seattle, I had vision of visiting the beaches, finding a way of following the coast North… then arrived reality.

The only bus I found didn’t follow the coast. Nope, the Greyhound goes inland and links bigger cities, such as Sacramento, Redding, Eugene, Portland… inland cities. And well, hours and hours of bus… been there, done that, got the puke-stained T-shirt.

I looked into renting a car, the way to have the most independence and freedom. And an empty wallet, as they insist upon tons of insurances -or guilt you into wanting to take them all- and a hefty safety deposit.

So I finally remember that I could take the train again, and watch the scenery, and enjoy myself in relative comfort.

But again, I wanted to take breaks… and Klamath Falls is the first major stop after the first night -the train leaves San Francisco during the evening-, and there are tons of hiking trails around the town. So here I am!

I was kinda hoping that the motel I booked would let me get in the room before the official check-in time, but they didn’t. So I rearranged a few bags, left the majority in their keeping, and left with my day pack, my trekking poles and the lunch I had the foresight to pack yesterday in the direction of the lakes and the visitor centre.

I found maps of the trails, including of the most interesting I want to take tomorrow, a reconverted train line that is now a hiking/biking trail.

But for this morning I went on an easy loop, following the short river that links the two lakes surrounding the town, and back on top of the ridge overlooking the same river.

Klamath Falls – River Link Trail

The River Link Trail is sandwiched between the river and a side canal. I saw an otter in its bank, and a group of waterfowls interesting in their lack of thinking: swimming in the same direction I was taking, I was slowly overtaking them… and spooked by my approach, they would take flight, land 50m or so further up, swim again… until I closed up on them again. Rinse and repeat. It happened three of four times, and they still haven’t learned their lesson!

Coming back along the Eulalona trail, I was treated by quite a bit of unmelted snow on the ground. (Some melted also, making the trail nicely muddy.)

Klamath Falls – Eulalona Trail

Back in town, nicely frozen but still early for the check-in, I stopped in a bagel place for a big hot chocolate -yummy-, then finally got my room, a very hot shower, and a nap.

I made a quick run out again afterwards, and found a fleece to add to my wardrobe! Next, warm pants!

The pictures are here.