Tranquility Central
This picture of Scout Lake near Mt.Jefferson in Central Oregon is one of my favorite places to go backpacking. After untold days of continuous rain, we Northwesterners become afflicted with near-terminal cabin fever. One of the best ways to combat this disease is to plan the next hike by getting out the gear, checking it for torn fabric, applying water sealer to all of the tent seams, and most importantly, surveying the latest fly fishing gear.
See All Those Lakes?
Most of the lakes near the upper right 2000 marker are 15 miles or more from the nearest road. That means thousands of glacier fed trout and only a few hardy souls who hike in to get them. They don't get very big because of the large trout populations and the fierce competition for food, but it doesn't take very many to make a great breakfast or dinner. Sauteed with butter and some wild green onions, they are beyond description.
Don't Forget A Book
After hiking in with a 40 lb pack, one would think rest would be the order of the day. Usually, I make camp, then sit down to relax and do a little reading. Then, as I settle in, a trout will jump out of the water chasing whatever happens to be flying by at the time. I resist for at least 15 seconds, and then cave. The book goes back in the pack, the fly rod comes out, and I attempt to attain enlightenment through communion with nature. I am a spiritual sort afterall.
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