Campground review

Great hidden gem in the high elevations just behind Oakridge, Or. It's about 20 miles from Oakridge up a washboard gravel road. I suggest an awd/4x4, or a car that can handle the terrain. I have a 4x4 truck, but with bad tires, so I was fishtailing the whole way up, and down. Once you arrive, the campground opens to a gorgeous little alpine lake with a surrounding ridge.

It is a very small, very primitive campground with six sites, two all gender pit toilets, bear proof garbage can and water pump. At $8 a night though you can't go wrong. I do suggest however to have a backup plan, as it would be a bummer to find it full after driving so far out.

Three of the sites are park and walk in, with the others park at site style; all are first come. I was able to score a walk in site right on the lake! Each site does have a table and fire ring, and you can even find some mountain Huckleberries along the trail into the sites. My site was huge and all three sites had enough space for at least 3 tents and were decently spaced from each other.

If you do find it full, or while you are staying; take advantage of the nearby Blair lake trail before you leave. It is a 17 mile moderate-difficult trail that heads toward the Waldo lake wilderness, through a great meadow and and then forest above the lake. You can take it about 4 miles to the Mule mountain lookout if you prefer a shorter hike. I wasn't able to go to the lookout as the trail was in the process of being closed due to a nearby active fire. I was able to get to a good viewpoint of the lake and grounds below; with a little bushwacking. There is also an overgrown trail circumventing the lake, but I hear it also takes a little bushwacking to complete. The lake itself is warm and great for swimming and floating, and I even saw some fish jumping so I imagine you could do some catching as well.

A great place to just get away from the grind and city noise, where you feel like your out in the middle of nowhere. I'm going to have to come back in the shoulder season when there is some snow in the hills and I can finish the hike that I started.

Product review

This isn't a traditional Ranger review, as this is the item that I purchased after winning a $50 REI gift card via The Dyrt contest in Oregon.

After contemplating my needs I decided on the Columbia Silver ridge lite LS shirt from https://www.rei.com/product/895032/columbia-silver-ridge-lite-long-sleeve-shirt-mens

In the past I haven't been able to afford true hiking, non cotton shirts. I have always just gone with my old T-shirts, sleeveless dri-fit or Dickies 50/50 work shirts. I can't believe the difference! This shirt is so lightweight, and with its vents and breathability, it keeps me dry on hot hikes. It does soak up the sweat a bit though, but when removed it did dry out very fast and didn't leave salt stains like cotton. I like that it is also UPF-40 rated with omni-vent, and the sleeves roll up and with a button strap; stay rolled up. It also has mesh, breast, velcro closure pockets.

The only down side to this shirt is it's length, and no "Tall" size availability. Being on the tall side, this is a problem I will always run into. It rides a bit underneath my pack and is not quite long enough for tucking. Other than that a great shirt and for the price, as compared to the other brands at higher cost; I can't see the advantage in those without trying them first. A good shirt to get away from cotton, I will definitely try other styles from Columbia in the future.