Hosmer Lake (Bend, OR) July 2009

The Teardrop is 2 years old now and besides a couple longer trips to Vancouver Island, BC (2007) and California's Lost Coast/Point Reyes National Seashore (2008), the first year didn't bring as many weekend trips as we had hoped, so in 2009 we were pretty determined to get it out on weekends to our go-to recreation mecca... Bend, OR.

After a unremarkable camping weekend at Tillicum State park on the coast of Oregon, we began lucking into some great camping spots along with some equally great hikes. Our first trip was a 4-day/3-night trip on July 4th weekend to our favorite old standby - Hosmer Lake in Bend. Hosmer Lake is one of the dozens of beautiful lakes dotting the Cascades Lakes Scenic Highway that leaves from Bend. Hosmer Lake actually has 2 campgrounds (South Hosmer and Marsh). We favor the Marsh campground as it is smaller (16 sites) and has a handful of A+ sites that look right out on the lake. On this trip, all of those sites had been taken and the remaining sites, though still nice were not particularly Teardrop accessible (not back-in sites) or were to close to other sites for our easily agitated dog. In typical 4th of July weekend panic mode, we tried South Hosmer campground (about 5 minutes away) and found a nice site at the very beginning of the string of campsites that offered very good seclusion, although no lake view (or other view to speak of). It was however secluded, quiet, and close enough to the lake (our favorite lake to canoe in the area) to walk down to with our gear. This trip was a canoe-centric trip with day paddles on Hosmer Lake and Sparks Lake. Overall, a nice way to start the summer in the mountains. And a couple pics....

This last pic is actually from our last tent camping trip to Hosmer Lake. That is the lake directly beyond the tent.