Maidu Lake 8/8

Silent birds flying in the air catching insects, hordes of mayflies ascending, fish jumping, dragonflies flying and suspended in air eating bugs, fingertip-sized still developing  frogs jumping in and out of the water, water providing a floating burial surface  for dead insects and other species seen and unseen, scum collecting at the edges, FC swimming with her sandals on laughing and almost drowning as she watched TC try to balance on a log to keep her feet out of the muck but inevitably falling in, and in the sky going back and forth, crossing each other were those familiar chem- trails not seen since Mt. Shasta. The skies have been smokey for three days but before that they remained blue. Now, all of a sudden, for some reason they are back. We are nearing some high volcanic peaks that still have snow on them and today we passed under the base of Mt. Theilsen, an impressive pointy peak( the lightning rod of the Cascades). This idyllic lake scene was overshadowed by at least 8 or 9 trails turning the sky white. These are not airliners. Check them out. 

 

Mt Theilsen

   At Mt. Theilsen we saw a group of hikers/climbers from the Mazama Mountaineering Club. They were going to summit Theilsen, all 12 of them. It can be free soloed but the guide was going to put up a fixed rope (5.1 )for safety. FC was so envious. She wanted to see what rock looks like when it has been hit by lightening hundreds of times. Maybe next time. 

   

  Princess.Mr. Sandals. FC. Watching the Maidu lake show after dinner. 

The temperatures have been lower in the last few days, in fact, autumn feels like it is just around the corner. The humidity is less and I think the bugs might be done for the year. We got a few hours of mosquitoes three days ago but we appear to be walking away from them. Our sweating is under control and therefore our pace is increasing. Oregon does appear to be kinder to us. It may indeed be the land of milk and honey. We are energized knowing we only have 40 more days of walking and less than 800 miles. The end is in sight.

      We passed the highest point in Oregon/Washington: 7,750 or something like that. We will not be going over anything higher. In fact we met the forest ranger who put the sign up commemorating this site. 

 He was camping at Bingham lake passing out Pacific Crest patches to passing hikers.(PCT in the Umqua National Forest) He had given out 10 patches that day and TC & FC received the last 2. Since he just retired he wants to DO the PCT and asked many ?'s of us professional hikers. 

   

High point for OR & WA. 7750 ft. All downhill from here?

  Two days ago while walking north of Crater Lake we passed through young forests(trees are 50 ft.)and some gnarly looking dead forests. The trees had lost their bark and they looked like there were garlicbulbs growing inside the wood. Grotesquely shaped, "Elephant Man" trees, all deformed and dead. Unfortunately, the photographer, TC, who carries 2 cameras, neglected to take pictures of what might have been award winning photos. She could have submitted them to National Geographic or Nature or The Smithsonian but she didn't think them interesting enough. FC, the weirdo couldn't get enough of the strangeness. 

       Maidu Lake was pretty. Besides one other person and their dog on the other side of the lake we had the whole place to ourselves. We walked half a mile off trail to get here but it was worth it.

Bearded trees. 

Mt Theilson.