The end of the road trip

This photo is a still life, a very still life. It is a red-breasted sapsucker that met its end on the road. Our mountain journey has also ended.

Gold Lake

Another favorite lake for a canoe paddle is Gold Lake. It is just west of Willamette Pass. The lake is named for its color, which algae are responsible for. Along the south side of the lake, in the shade of the firs and spruces, a pretty white flower with fringed petals (grass-of-parnassus) is found (bottom 2 photos). The north end of the lake is a bog (top 2 photos).

Davis Lake

One of our favorite Cascade lakes for a canoe paddle is Davis Lake. It is very shallow, with reeds rimming much of its border. Water birds are usually quite abundant and active here. The setting is rather spectacular, and can only be appreciated by viewing as a panorama. The bottom photo is the panorama to the west. The top photo is the view to the north, and includes two of the Sisters, Broken Top, and Mount Bachelor (a top ski area).

Mountain wildflowers

In early summer, some of the most beautiful sights in the Cascades are the abundant and colorful wildflowers. Meadows full of blooming wildflowers are a welcome sight. Several hardy flower species are sometimes present on steep rock slopes (bottom photo). One morning I watched a hummingbird gathering nectar from the flowers at the top of this slope. A close-up reveals the dominant species on this slope are Indian paintbrush, penstemon, and bleeding hearts (next to bottom photo).

Hiking along trails through the woods, Trillium plants, also known as wake robin, were abundant (middle photo). Young Trillium flowers are white, and older blossoms turn purple. During the 10 days we were in the mountains, all the Trillium flowers turned purple.

In moist habitats, near creeks and at the edges of the lake, I found shooting stars (next to top photo) and monkey flowers (top photo).

Morning in the mountains

During our stay at Odell Lake, each morning, the fisherman got up early to fish. Some days he fished for the super-abundant, but still wily, kokanee, which are land-locked sockeye salmon (bottom photo). Other mornings, Bori fished for Mackinaw, which is also known as lake trout. He caught a 20-pound Mackinaw one morning (see photo). And yes, Mackinaw grow that large by eating kokanee.

While Bori fished, I generally went out walking/hiking through the woods, or up the road, and often took my camera to capture flora and fauna. As this is the beaver state, I always look for fresh beaver chews (middle photo). I also look for dippers, one of my favorite birds. They are gray, about the size of a robin, and can walk underwater looking for prey (next to top photo). This year, we didn't see as many mergansers (a diving duck) as in past years, but I always enjoy seeing them (top photo).

Odell Lake

We have just returned from our annual trip to Odell Lake, which is located just below Willamette Pass in the Oregon Cascades. At about 5100 feet, the pass is the site of a ski area, which bears its name. Not much snow at the ski area this time of year. Looking north from the lake, the Willamette Pass ski runs are visible (bottom photo). Looking east, tall spruce trees frame the lake, at the level of the lake. Looking southeast, spruce branches frame the lake, and our little marina, from the road down from the pass. Snow-capped Diamond Peak rises above the lake, to the south. The top photo is our little cabin in the woods.

More photos to follow, stay tuned.