Every fall for as long as I can remember, I have taken a trip into the mountains. I have been lucky to have Nonna share my adventure during the last several years. This year was to be the east side of the Sisters Mountains from the Pole Creek trail but the Pole Ck. Fire, a major forest fire, is burning right where we planned to be. Plan B was to hike into and camp at a favorite lake on the west side of the Sisters as a base and take day hikes. The day before we were to leave, the wind shifted from the east. Not healthy for camping and hiking. Plan C was to take the motorhome to the beautiful Belnap Resort; check out our lake and mountain pass from there and enjoy the hot springs pool and gardens.
The dogs briefly settled into their bones but they, like us, were restless to get to the mountains.
The dogs briefly settled into their bones but they, like us, were restless to get to the mountains. 
Our lake was abandoned and not really that smoky. We could have camped there after all. But then, the resort does have a pool and showers. 
The usual view from our favorite campsite.
With no one around, the dogs were free to run, swim, run... and swim again for a couple hours.
A large plume of smoke can be seen towering over over the 10,080' North Sister. Time to go for a closer look.
The top of the pass had a sign board. The fire covered 14, 500 acres. Up from 7,000 acres the day before. The SW point of the green section is the oldest part of the fire. From near the center it runs SW along the Pole Creek trail and extends up to where Cedar and Willy are in the next picture. Not much to burn higher than that. Had we been there as planned this year, we would have had to climb over the ridge between the Middle and South Sister (pretty much straight up and over from just left of the dog's heads in the picture); bushwhack down the steep, rocky, trail-less west side; and hike out 25 miles to a trail head near our lake - as the unfortunate people caught up there had to do this week. I have done the arduous trek a few times but I was much younger. It would have been even less fun with a forest fire on our tail.
This is what the view should be - same day/time last year.
What our view was. Nonna with McKenzie and Cedar.
Wind is from the west so the air really was not that bad where we were.
McKenzie has been having her picture taken at this spot since she was 6 months old.
Ever curious Koyuk.
"Hey Cedar, check this out."
Meerkat Chinooks.
Time to head back down the pass for wonderful food, wonderful wine, wonderful swim - wonderful friendship.
Time to head back down the pass for wonderful food, wonderful wine, wonderful swim - wonderful friendship. 
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