I every year I take my "Put the Mountains To Bed" trip in September. Even as a small child we always went to the mountains in September. Because of being out of the country and then the unprecedented fall rains, my trip this year was put off until yesterday and did not include backpacking.
Between rainstorms, Nonna, Cedar and I headed up the old McKenzie Pass. First stop and probably our favorite place in the world, was Camp Lake. The recent storms had brought a few inches of snow to the mountains but the pass road was still open.
I must have hundreds of photos of Camp Lake but can never have enough.
Already camera-shy Cedar refused to sit for a photo.
I chased her about with the camera as she explored all the interesting new smells and I took in the beautiful vistas.
With the weather rapidly changing, it was off to the Dee Wright Observatory at the top of the pass.
Three Fingered Jack, Mt. Washington and Mt. Jefferson are behind Nonna as we climbed to the top.
Looking to the south afforded a view of the Sisters. The once formidable Collier Glacier on the North Sister has receded so much it is no longer in view. I need to go through my archived photos to see this view from the 1960's until today.
Except this small stand on the shore of Lava Lake, as far as you can see, all trees east of the Observatory almost to the gate, are dead from disease and fire. The view is totally shocking.
Cement barriers have been built along the road to prevent the rocks and soil from the once lush Ponderosa and Lodgepole pine forest from avalanching across the road. I was startled to see the Cascade mountains to the north as we drove east. They have never been visible from the road because of the dense forest. Now they stand forth as if seen from a scenic view pullout.
Nonna and I drove on to another tradition: lunch at Three Peaks Brewery in Sisters. We sat outside with Cedar enjoying another of their amazing meals and of course a brew.
What was to be a celebratory trip was sobering. Ma Nature is still trying her best to ornate the pass with brilliant fall colors but she can't compete with climate change. Her glaciers are disappearing. Her forests are all but gone.
