Forest saddle under Charlton Butte - forest above Elk Lake
Mile 1924 - 1946
Total 22 miles
Early in the morning I wake up surrounded by thick fog. Hardly any sound can be heard , except little droplets dripping off branches of trees. I quickly pack up and head on trail, first through forest and then into a recently burned area.
Thick fog is creeping across the ridge, covering burned tree snags and volcano cones. Then the fog suddenly disappears and a view opens up towards mountains on the northern horizon. These mountains of volcanic origin are the Three Sisters. New seedlings of pines are conquering the new territory. In twenty years, dense forest will be covering the burned area again.
Then the trail enters forest again and crosses the border of the Three Sisters wilderness.
The wilderness is dotted with thousands of lakes of glacial origin. Hundreds of these lakes can be seen from the trail. The bigger lakes have water all year round, the smaller ones only in the spring. Most of them are shallow, just around one or two feet deep.
In between the lakes, various species of fungi are pushing their way through the soil.
In forest between the lakes, the most abundant shrubs are huckleberries. They come in dark purple, blue and black colors. The sweetest ones can be found in south facing sunny slopes.
Past more lakes such as Brahma Lake, Stormy Lake and many unnamed ones the trail approaches a steep rocky outcrop: a perfect place to cook lunch, charge batteries and completely dry out the sleeping bag.
In shady valleys there are patches of moss, more fungi, more little lakes, and many more delicious huckleberries.
There is also beargrass growing along the trail same as in the mountains of Northern California.
One of the lakes named Mac Lake is deeper and great for swimming. I do not resist and take a quick plunge in its refreshingly cold water.
Clouds have a silver lining as evening slowly approaches. Then they turn orange and purple.
It is time to find a hidden camping spot in shade of pine trees and have a good sleep after a beautiful day in the wilderness. Tomorrow is Sunday and I am going for breakfast to Elk Lake cafe just a few miles away and then continuing my journey north through volcanic landscape under the Three Sisters. So far Oregon has been my favorite U.S. state!
Mile 1924 - 1946
Total 22 miles
Early in the morning I wake up surrounded by thick fog. Hardly any sound can be heard , except little droplets dripping off branches of trees. I quickly pack up and head on trail, first through forest and then into a recently burned area.
Thick fog is creeping across the ridge, covering burned tree snags and volcano cones. Then the fog suddenly disappears and a view opens up towards mountains on the northern horizon. These mountains of volcanic origin are the Three Sisters. New seedlings of pines are conquering the new territory. In twenty years, dense forest will be covering the burned area again.
Then the trail enters forest again and crosses the border of the Three Sisters wilderness.
The wilderness is dotted with thousands of lakes of glacial origin. Hundreds of these lakes can be seen from the trail. The bigger lakes have water all year round, the smaller ones only in the spring. Most of them are shallow, just around one or two feet deep.
In between the lakes, various species of fungi are pushing their way through the soil.
In forest between the lakes, the most abundant shrubs are huckleberries. They come in dark purple, blue and black colors. The sweetest ones can be found in south facing sunny slopes.
Past more lakes such as Brahma Lake, Stormy Lake and many unnamed ones the trail approaches a steep rocky outcrop: a perfect place to cook lunch, charge batteries and completely dry out the sleeping bag.
In shady valleys there are patches of moss, more fungi, more little lakes, and many more delicious huckleberries.
There is also beargrass growing along the trail same as in the mountains of Northern California.
One of the lakes named Mac Lake is deeper and great for swimming. I do not resist and take a quick plunge in its refreshingly cold water.
Clouds have a silver lining as evening slowly approaches. Then they turn orange and purple.
It is time to find a hidden camping spot in shade of pine trees and have a good sleep after a beautiful day in the wilderness. Tomorrow is Sunday and I am going for breakfast to Elk Lake cafe just a few miles away and then continuing my journey north through volcanic landscape under the Three Sisters. So far Oregon has been my favorite U.S. state!
Mary wonders why Oregon is your favorite state. I suspect huckleberries, Crator Lake, and seeing the Canadian border getting closer could explain Oregon's favored status. You have experience enough to judge which are your favorites as you make this huge trek.
ReplyDeleteSome of those fungi look like they would make good eating, but only if one knows which are safe.
You are a favorite of ours, so we begin to think about when we will see you back in our mountain village. Meantime we enjoy your reports and interesting photos. Pysyy lämmin. ~R