We're running for the trails in our new KEEN trail runners – and we're sharing our favorite places to go. Check back for more trail run reports from KEENers around the world.
My Run Log
Location: Snow Lakes Trail in the Sky Lakes Wilderness of Southern Oregon
Distance: 2.3 miles, but felt longer at high elevation!
Shoes worn: KEEN Seek trail runners
Nutrition: Oatmeal and dried fruit for breakfast. Brought a Perfect Bar (the dark chocolate chip peanut butter flavor is my jam).
Hydration: Ice-cold alpine lake water with my portable water filter
I had backpacked to Isherwood Lake and was looking for a quick run to explore the area after camping overnight. I hopped on the Snow Lakes Trail to Margurette Lake for a multi-terrain run across mineral soil, loam, rocks, gravel, and downed trees – a little bit of everything!
Honestly, I had never heard of the Sky Lakes Wilderness until two days before I left – It was a last-minute pivot due to wildfires in the Wallowa Mountains. The wilderness area abuts the southern end of Crater Lake National Park, and the Pacific Crest Trail runs through there. The setting is stunning – high-alpine forests, rocky ridges, and basins with clear, cool lakes. Oregon even stocks a few of the lakes with trout, and I packed my fly rod in and did some catch-and-release fishing. Wallowas Schmallowas…Sky Lakes is such a nice little hidden gem!
Favorite Part:
This trail passed by a few other lakes, and each had its own character. Plus there were occasional views of ridges and buttes above, and of Klamath Lake far down below. I liked the combination of close-in and far-off views.
Toughest Part:
The altitude. This trail segment was on undulating terrain at about 6,000 feet, topping out at 6,096. So, I was gassed pretty quickly. Quicker than I usually get gassed, anyway.
Personal Takeaway:
I’m certainly not a spry young guy anymore. But I can still leap through the air like a majestic show-jumping horse when a trail calls for it. There were about 15 logs down on this segment, and I hurdled most of them. I learned that it’s always fun to take a kid-like view of every trail obstacle.
My Shoes:
I wore my Seek trail runners for the backpack journey into Isherwood Lake, too, while carrying a 40lb pack. They performed equally well for both hiking and running. Lots of grip wherever. Supportive. Couldn’t feel jagged rocks through the cushioning. Really happy with how they performed!
Other Gear:
Sun hoody, hat, and sunglasses, because of the altitude and cloudless skies. Also brought a pair of Shanti clogs to wear around camp, and for wading while fly fishing.
Pro Tips:
It’s pretty remote, so not somewhere you’d want to pop by for an afternoon. Plan to backpack in, set up camp at one of the lakes, and then trail run to get out and explore.
