Since last post we've headed out of the Coast Range, into the Willamette Valley, through up and over the Cascades, and now in the Central OR high desert. Yesterday we started the day outside Eugene and quickly biked thru the city for the McKenzie River valley. A long steady climb through magnificent forests of Douglas-fir and western red cedar, including patches of old growth. The river is fed by resevoir-impounded snowmelt and runs cold clear and fast.

We camped in McKenzie Bridge beneath a stand of old growth with some trees over 6' in diameter. This morning we climbed to McKenzie Pass, over 3800' vertical climb with narrow switchbacks through textbook Cascades old growth. The pass was a moonscape of ancient lava flows north of the Three Sisters mountains. Add the following major tree species to the list: noble fir, white fir, sub-alpine fir, lodgepole pine, western white pine, mountain hemlock and engelmann spruce. Once you get over the Cascades heading east in the rain shadow it gets very dry and hot. Add ponderosa pine, juniper and sagebrush.

We pulled into Redmond OR with no camping and stopped at a bikeshop. I guess we looked pathetic and exhausted cause the owner put us up at his home - nice folks but they don't have internet so still no photos to post. My attempt to upload photos at the Eugene library failed because I ran out of time on the public computer. Big city libraries have too many rules. Will try to get to a computer soon.