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Along the OC&E
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| H&N photo by Steve Kadel Ray Kolb Sr. rolls along the OC&E Trail on his electric scooter with great-grandchildren in tow. |
Trail brings neighbors together
By STEVE KADEL
H&N Staff Writer
One of the best places to meet a cross-section of Klamath Falls residents is the OC&E Trail that starts at Washburn Way behind the Safeway store and extends nearly 60 miles to Bly, and north to Sycan Marsh.
Preschool-age children and adults well into their retirement years hit the trail last Saturday afternoon to enjoy the warm sunshine.
The trail’s first 3.3 miles from Washburn Way to Highway 39 get the most use. It is paved for that stretch, providing a smooth surface for bicyclists, in-line skaters, walkers, joggers and horseback riders.
David Camp, 41, of Klamath Falls by way of North Carolina, parked near the trail’s starting point and unloaded bicycles from his truck. He was the guide for cousins Kenneth Whitmire, 11, and Cheyenne Fairbanks, 5.
It was Cheyenne’s first time on the trail, and her big smile showed she was savoring the impending trek.
Camp, who has ridden from Lakeview to Klamath Falls, said his goal is to do the entire OC&E Trail. But that would wait for another time. On Saturday, he and the kids bit off just a short piece of the trail.
“It’s better than staying around the house,” Camp said as they pedaled away.
The trail begins with unimpressive views of the back of retail buildings. It crosses traffic at Altamont Drive, then cruises past Altamont Elementary School and into residential areas.
It intersects the A canal trail just east of Summers Lane, not far from where Luis Jimenez, 16, and Maria Pena, 17, were walking hand in hand. Luis said it’s the first time in about a month they’ve been on the OC&E, although they usually walk it every weekend.
“It’s close to my house,” Luis said.
Wiard Park
Farther east, the trail crosses Hope Street and parallels Wiard Park. Teenagers tossed a football back and forth, and families spread out picnics on tables in the park.
Up ahead, Ray Kolb Sr. was chugging down the trail on his electric scooter — pulling his three great-grandchildren behind in a wagon. Kolb, who had polio, wears braces on both knees but gets around well with the aid of his scooter. His dog, 4-year-old Sara, alternately walked beside him or hitched a ride at Kolb’s feet on the scooter floor.
“I’m out here almost every day except in wintertime,” Kolb said as the kids waved. “I don’t miss many days.”
The trail crosses Wiard and Kane streets, then passes Suburban Heights Baptist Church at Homedale Road.
Those who’ve worked up a hunger or thirst in the first 2.1 miles can stop at Chicken-N-Cheers Restaurant and Pub just before crossing Madison Street.
Idyllic scenes
Beyond the restaurant, the trail gives intimate glimpses of suburbia — people barbecuing, a man operating a weed eater, children in a wading pool. Farther along there’s a large garden with tall corn growing, and three horses grazing on lush grass.
Pretty soon, Collier Memorial State Park Ranger John Williams came into view. He was riding a lawnmower off to the side of the trail. Williams regularly patrols the trail to clean up problems such as broken glass or graffiti. And he mows when necessary, keeping each side of the trail cut neatly.
Taking count
He mentioned there are electronic beams across the trail near Washburn Way and Wiard Park. The beams add one tally each time someone passes, giving a head count for trail use. The information is given to state park officials in Salem each month, with the high use a good way to justify trail maintenance costs.
Williams said between 100 and 150 people are counted each day near Washburn Way, with 150 to 200 people counted near Wiard Park.
In the trail’s third mile, a big field opens up adjacent to Klamath Community College. That’s the trail segment where Ferguson Elementary School third-grade teacher Cheryl Matchett was walking her Parson Russell terrier named Molly and a neighbor’s dog.
She’s a three-times-per-week trail user. “I like the fact I can jog on soft dirt beside the trail,” she said.
Everyone who was on the trail Saturday had their own reason for being there, and their own way to enjoy the trail. But it was great-grandfather Kolb who mentioned the best reason to get out now while the days are still golden.
“It’ll be snowing before long,” he said.
Preschool-age children and adults well into their retirement years hit the trail last Saturday afternoon to enjoy the warm sunshine.
The trail’s first 3.3 miles from Washburn Way to Highway 39 get the most use. It is paved for that stretch, providing a smooth surface for bicyclists, in-line skaters, walkers, joggers and horseback riders.
David Camp, 41, of Klamath Falls by way of North Carolina, parked near the trail’s starting point and unloaded bicycles from his truck. He was the guide for cousins Kenneth Whitmire, 11, and Cheyenne Fairbanks, 5.
It was Cheyenne’s first time on the trail, and her big smile showed she was savoring the impending trek.
Camp, who has ridden from Lakeview to Klamath Falls, said his goal is to do the entire OC&E Trail. But that would wait for another time. On Saturday, he and the kids bit off just a short piece of the trail.
“It’s better than staying around the house,” Camp said as they pedaled away.
The trail begins with unimpressive views of the back of retail buildings. It crosses traffic at Altamont Drive, then cruises past Altamont Elementary School and into residential areas.
It intersects the A canal trail just east of Summers Lane, not far from where Luis Jimenez, 16, and Maria Pena, 17, were walking hand in hand. Luis said it’s the first time in about a month they’ve been on the OC&E, although they usually walk it every weekend.
“It’s close to my house,” Luis said.
Wiard Park
Farther east, the trail crosses Hope Street and parallels Wiard Park. Teenagers tossed a football back and forth, and families spread out picnics on tables in the park.
Up ahead, Ray Kolb Sr. was chugging down the trail on his electric scooter — pulling his three great-grandchildren behind in a wagon. Kolb, who had polio, wears braces on both knees but gets around well with the aid of his scooter. His dog, 4-year-old Sara, alternately walked beside him or hitched a ride at Kolb’s feet on the scooter floor.
“I’m out here almost every day except in wintertime,” Kolb said as the kids waved. “I don’t miss many days.”
The trail crosses Wiard and Kane streets, then passes Suburban Heights Baptist Church at Homedale Road.
Those who’ve worked up a hunger or thirst in the first 2.1 miles can stop at Chicken-N-Cheers Restaurant and Pub just before crossing Madison Street.
Idyllic scenes
Beyond the restaurant, the trail gives intimate glimpses of suburbia — people barbecuing, a man operating a weed eater, children in a wading pool. Farther along there’s a large garden with tall corn growing, and three horses grazing on lush grass.
Pretty soon, Collier Memorial State Park Ranger John Williams came into view. He was riding a lawnmower off to the side of the trail. Williams regularly patrols the trail to clean up problems such as broken glass or graffiti. And he mows when necessary, keeping each side of the trail cut neatly.
Taking count
He mentioned there are electronic beams across the trail near Washburn Way and Wiard Park. The beams add one tally each time someone passes, giving a head count for trail use. The information is given to state park officials in Salem each month, with the high use a good way to justify trail maintenance costs.
Williams said between 100 and 150 people are counted each day near Washburn Way, with 150 to 200 people counted near Wiard Park.
In the trail’s third mile, a big field opens up adjacent to Klamath Community College. That’s the trail segment where Ferguson Elementary School third-grade teacher Cheryl Matchett was walking her Parson Russell terrier named Molly and a neighbor’s dog.
She’s a three-times-per-week trail user. “I like the fact I can jog on soft dirt beside the trail,” she said.
Everyone who was on the trail Saturday had their own reason for being there, and their own way to enjoy the trail. But it was great-grandfather Kolb who mentioned the best reason to get out now while the days are still golden.
“It’ll be snowing before long,” he said.
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