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| Rainbow over Fourmile Lake |
My bride and I set up camp at
Fourmile Lake, located 6 miles off Highway 140 along the crest of the Cascade
Mountains in Oregon. Monday morning, unforgiving winds whipped up waves and sent them
crashing against fallen tree snags lining much of the shore. Gathering strength
as the day progressed, the gales stirred the water into a sea of whitecaps.
Later that evening, I paddled out into the calming waters in search of trout, but
caught nothing. If not for the fantastic view of Mt. Mcloughlin and the commitment to
meet my parents at the lake later in the week, we would have packed up and
camped elsewhere. I had one big goal that week, and it didn't matter where in the Cascades it occurred, just as long as it happened.
Monday morning I began the 5 mile hike and climb to the
summit of 9,495' Mt. Mcloughlin. The trail meandered through the forest for awhile and
gradually steepened, snaking along the mountain's east ridge. Eventually, the
number of trees along the trail thinned and the summit of the mountain could be
seen. At the top, I stood alone, save for a couple water bottles carelessly
left behind by some hikers. The only other hints of anyone else were spray
painted rocks and the ruins of a lookout. High
clouds hovered above, affording me a view of Mt. Shasta; Fish, Fourmile and
Klamath Lakes; Lake of the Woods, the Mountain Lakes Wilderness; and to the north
Three Sisters.
