Northwest Magazines

EDITORS NOTES

My 4-year-old companion and I boarded the train in a beautiful mountain meadow, sitting in a car open to the sunshine. Under our feet, Sam the golden-retriever train dog stretched out, his tail sticking out one side of the narrow train car and his head the other, patiently awaiting our departure. Pretty soon, our engineer, Ray Robinson, announced we were ready to go.

The train started off at a slow pace and we traveled along the edge of the meadow, passing Lake Kathleen on our left and then heading up onto the trestle crossing the West Fork of Deadwood Creek. Then into the woods, through the tunnel, past the water tower, and back again over the creek to where we had started. Then we did it again, only faster. The Meadows & Lake Kathleen Railroad rail loop is just over a mile long, but it is the result of more than 11 years of work.

The narrow-gauge (18-inch track) railroad was built by Ray and Kathy Robinson and dozens of friends on 40 acres in a beautiful, remote valley near Deadwood, Oregon. In October, Ray and Kathy will drive a “Golden Spike” celebrating its completion. To learn more, you can visit their Web site at www.peak.org/~kmr3/M&LKRailroad, and if you’d like to visit this incredible place yourself and ride the train, email Ray at kmr3@pioneer.net. The railroad is not officially open to the public, but if you write Ray a note, he’ll invite you out for one of his Sunday afternoon train rides.

Speaking of riding, this issue includes a great story on mountain biking in Central Oregon. Now that fall is here and the crowds have thinned, what better time to get out on one of the beautiful trails around Bend and enjoy a peaceful afternoon filled with views of fall foliage, sparkling rivers, and majestic mountains. Also in Central Oregon, Randall Hodges writes of a hiking and photography adventure in the Mount Jefferson and Three Sisters wilderness areas. Take a look at the photos, and you’ll surely be planning a trip yourself.

More photo ops—and plenty of oohs and aahs—are available at Northwest wildlife parks, where critters roam free on hundreds of acres. Each park offers a unique opportunity for seeing wild animals in naturalistic settings. At Northwest Trek, hop aboard a tram for a guided tour and see everything from bison to bighorn sheep. At Olympic Game Park, meet the descendants of Hollywood critters who starred in Disney nature films. At Wildlife Safari, see rhinos, giraffes, and lions roaming free from the comfort of your car. Mingle with an assortment of wildlife and pet some of the babies at West Coast Game Park on the southern Oregon coast. And let’s not forget Outback Kangaroo Farm in Arlington, Washington, where you’ll see everything from wallabies and wallaroos to flying squirrels and pygmy goats. These parks are sure to delight kids and grownups alike.

Whether you choose a wilderness hike, a wildlife park, or a tour in a well-outfitted RV (see Kachina Starr’s story on the joys of RV travel), be sure to get out and enjoy our glorious fall weather. These warm, sunny days are a priceless gift before the advent of winter’s rain and snow.

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