Table Lake, 27 Years Later

Mt Jefferson from Hole in the Wall 

My brother, Ken, and I hiked into Table Lake in 1991 and had not returned since.  We rectified that problem last weekend and I am very glad we did.  In the intervening years the B&B fire occurred, making it a slightly longer hike in since the Jefferson Lake trail is now mostly gone.  This is a good thing.  We spent the weekend by ourselves at the lake and enjoyed a fabulous day of off-trail exploring on and around The Table.  Good stuff.  A great time of year to be on the trail.

Table Lake Camp

Up on the Table 

More Table Views

Table Lake Camp from Above 

Frosty Morning Hike Out

Twin Pillars

First time into the Mill Creek Wilderness

It is an increasingly rare event when I can visit a nearby wilderness area for the first time.  This weekend presented one of those opportunities.  For some reason, I had never set foot inside the Mill Creek Wilderness area.  It is in the Ochocos, near Prineville, and an hour from home.  At 17,000 acres it is not a huge attraction, but on an early October day it was deserted and offered a twelve mile round trip hike to the base of Twin Pillars.  I'm glad I made the short trip for this opportunity.

Twin Pillars

Forest Fire Sculpture

Metolius River

The Metolius river just below Camp Sherman

After a few days in the North Cascades we continued or Pacific Northwest fall color tour with an overnight campout along the Metolius River.  Just 45 minutes from home and offering year-round camping, the Metolius is a perfect quick getaway any time of year.  Late September is a perfect time to walk the river trail though and I think this, too, will become a fall tradition.

Metolius in The Gorge

Fall color along the Metolius

North Cascades Fall

Cutthroat Lake

Maria and I recently dropped Will off in Bellingham, Washington.  He is starting school there at Western Washington University. Taking advantage of the long drive from Bend we added three extra nights in Winthrop, just the two of us.  Fall in the Methow Valley is always spectacular and hiking high into the North Cascades surrounding the valley is one of my favorite activities.  It did not disappoint.  I am excited about future trips back here, especially at this time of year.  Truly spectacular.

Fall colors at Cutthroat Pass 

Views into North Cascades NP from Cutthroat Pass

Swamp Creek - classic U-shaped valley 

Mt Logan from Easy Pass

Fisher Creek

Mt Hardy from Easy Pass 

Rainy Lake

View from Washington Pass overlook