Annual Fall Mountain Trip with McKenzie

Every year I take a fall trip to the Three Sister's Wilderness. For the past 13 years, McKenzie has accompanied me. Today I took a wonderful memory tour through thousands of pictures to document each of our trips.
2001 - Six month old McKenzie at the Dee Wright observatory after hiking into Obsidian Falls on North Sister.

2002 - with her first backpack into Mathews Lakes (NW ridge of the North Sister).

2003- More weight and a longer trip into Glacier Way at the base of the Middle Sister.

2004 - On the SE side of the Three Sisters

2005 - McKenzie with Jake on a week long trip into Green Lakes, Moraine Lake and the SW side of the South Sister...

 until we were snowed out by an early winter storm.

2006 - A week long trip along the east side of the wilderness.

2007 - With Willy into the base of the Middle Sister. (North and Middle Sister in the Background)

2008 - McKenzie on the trail. Her red pack is worn through from her many pack trips including our annual fall adventures. 

2009 - At Scott lake after a hike to the snowline on the Middle Sister (North and Middle Sister in the background)

2010 - With Willy and Cedar exploring new trails on the NW edge of the wilderness.

 

2011 - at the Dee Wright observatory after packing up to Mathew lakes

2012 - A massive forest fire had the wilderness closed. We went up to the Dee Wright observatory and retreated to Scott lake then Belnap Hot Springs.

The mountains are enveloped with smoke and the air too unhealthy to camp at Scott lake.

2013 - Scott lake campsite after a hike up to the snowline on the Middle Sister

2014 - Two days ago - Our campsite at Scott Lake. This trip was actually two weeks later than last year. The temperature was in the 80's and the mountains haven't seen rain let alone snow thus far this fall. McKenzie has aged. I was concerned that a trip up to the top of the Dee Wright observatory let alone the mountains would be too much for her. We enjoyed two blissful days together lounging at the lake. Pictures to follow next blog.