Hardships of Life in Oregon

Once again Nancy had the unenviable task of moving into new digs the first of August without Ron's help. (Stay tuned for the next blog which hopefully will show some of the results of Nancy's labors.)

Meanwhile, in Oregon Ron plays golf, visits Starbucks, watches the Olympics on TV, follows the Boston Red Sox, and goes on hikes in the beautiful Oregon Cascades. (Just call it a "hardship posting.") The latest hike took place on Friday, August 22nd when Ron and Kennard Haworth drove down I-5 to Springfield, then up to the Erma Bell Lakes trailhead on the previous afternoon right at the western edge of the Three Sisters Wilderness. The plan was to camp there overnight and then take the hike on Friday.
In typical Kennard Haworth fashion, the first "hard-ship" occurred when NY steaks were cooked to perfection on a portable gas bar-b-que. With previously baked potatoes heated-up on the grill and a tossed salad adding to the meal, we did eat rather well.

First thing in the morning we headed out together for what was to be an 8-mile loop trail to see six different lakes. So, what does one do when one sees a Forest Service sign with the word "Danger" applied to our trail due to bridges being out across two different creeks? (The sign called on all hikers to take an alternate trail.) Does one:
a) follow instructions and take the alternate trail?
b) give up the hike altogether? Or,
c) continue on the trail anyway assuming that the problem can't be that bad?
You guessed it. The answer is "c."

Together Kennard and I continued hiking until we came to the first creek where the bridge was out. Since the wash-out, the Forest Service had apparently dropped two huge bark-less logs about 18" in diameter across the creek. However, since it had rained the day before, and since the logs were about 2 feet apart and looked very slippery, to try to cross on one of them seemed to forecast about an 85% chance of ending-up in the creek 6' below. However, I noticed that very near the partially finished new bridge there was a do-able crossing that I accomplished quite easily. Kennard, however, decided that his sense of balance was not up to the attempt, so he and I decided that I'd continue and he'd return, hopefully to meet me at one of the last lakes on the other side of the loop. Crossing the second creek was even easier by walking on a partially rotten log that had been part of the former bridge while balancing on the two newly placed logs shown in the picture.

One genuine hardship on the hike was trying to deal with hordes of mosquitoes that weren't supposed to be present this late in the season. Repellent did little to deter the pesky insects, and on the 8-mile hike I really only found one spot (pictured) where I found the freedom to cut up an apple and enjoy a snack just sitting in the sun. Hence, since I had little luxury just to sit and enjoy the scenery, I completed the loop-trail in less time than we'd anticipated, enabling us to pack-up and leave the campground by mid-afternoon. A stop at Elmer's Restaurant in Albany turned out to be the last event of the day. I'd heartily recommend the hike -- but not until late September when mosquitoes should be a thing of the past! - rw