Jefferson Park hike

After about a month break from my hiking my roommates and I went near Mt. Jefferson, the second highest peak in Oregon.  Our goal was a place called Jefferson Park near the base of Mt. Jefferson.Since it has a beary high elevation some of the wild flowers are still out.  Let's hope all the mosquitoes are gone though.

We started off on a section of the Pacifc Crest Trail (PCT) which actually starts on the border with Mexico and goes all the way to the Canadian Border.  People hike all the way through it but us less adventurous types do sections and the sections are clearly marked.

The hike was about 12 miles round trip so we saw lots of different scenery.  We started off in this rocky area.  I liked it a lot since it's different than what I usually see on my hikes.  I may not be the smartest fox in the world but I bet that alpine lake is beary cold.   

The weather cooperated with us - do you see any shapes in the clouds?

Back on the trail and I still have lots of miles to travel and lots of elevation to gain.  I started to see my first glimpse of Mt. Jefferson in the distance. I usually only see it from my car window and the weather typically does not cooperate - not today. 

We reached the ledge easily but on this hike once you reach the ledge you have to go down into the "park" area where all of the flowers and lakes are.  I was a beary lucky fox and saw some fresh mountain huckleberries so I had to stop and eat quite a few of them.  Beary good.

 Just relaxing in the Indian paintbrush plants.  Beary comfortable.

 Aaaahhh here were are in Jefferson Park.  Apparently, when they surveyed the cascade mountains years ago they wanted to create a president range.  Hence the name Mt. Jefferson and Mt. Adams (in Washington).  But they realized there were not enough mountains for each president and oh yeah the mountains already had names so they scrapped that idea.

 Another view of yours truly enoying the lake and the mountain.  I wonder if my roommates brought a book for me to read?

 Well, now that I have descended to the park that means I have to ascend back to the car.  I guess I better start hiking.  Periodically, I stopped on the way up the trail to eat more Huckleberries and rest on occassion.  The stump looks peaceful.

Whew, still tired, better rest in this small tree.  

It was a great hike and at the trailhead someone was having a party with beer, bacon, and chips.  My roommates didn't join the partiers I guess they were too tired to join up.