Happy Tenth Anniversary to Us

It's been about that many years since we've backpacked together.  We chose Mount Jefferson wilderness area because of proximity.  We chose the Marion Lake and environs routes to avoid the Labor Day weekend crowds.  And we chose August, because December backpacking is for sissies.  Autumn (many thanks) watched our kids so we could go.

Marion Lake

With a late afternoon start, we set up camp only 3 or 4 miles from the trailhead.  This was fortuitous, because the next morning I realized I'd forgotten an essential supply, which necessitated an early afternoon requisition foray back to civilization.  The details I will skip, as this is a family friendly site.


We got to Wasco Lake in the early evening of Day Two.   Lots of huckleberries along the way.  Day Three we took the "unmaintained trail" route to get back up to the Pacific Crest Trail.   If we'd taken my word for it, we'd be bushwhacking around the wilderness to this day, living off of huckleberries.  Actually, not a bad thought ....  Briton has a better sense of true north, as it turns out, and hooked us back to the main trail within feet of where we were supposed to be.


We ridge-hiked for a bit.  Excellent views.  Windy in spots.  Hefty cairns.  Hefty chins.

We took a side trip up one trail to see if we could see Mt. Jefferson.   There was cloud cover the whole way until we were about to turn back; and then for a split second we were granted a peek-a-boo glimpse of Mt Jefferson.  We hooped and hollered like we'd just won a million bucks.

 

 Swallow Lake.  BEAUTIFUL!  We were the only ones there.  Jumped in for a few minutes (er, seconds) -- pretty chilly; but also got to light a legal fire.  Things were pretty soggy after the drizzling rain.   Does everyone else already know dry moss is more flammable than wet cardboard and damp pages from your hiking book?

The next day was clear and, thanks to the old burn, we had great sight lines of both Jefferson and Three Fingered Jack.

 Our route skirted the edge of a closed off section of trail.

 We had to be careful near Marion Lake because there were tons and tons of these teeny frogs jumping along the path.  They were the same color as the dirt and fit perfectly between the treads on our shoes.