Tonight Hunter, Noah and I did an intro to welding class at the DIY cave. A new place in Bend that just opened in May. We got to try oxy-acetylene cutting, AC/DC arc welding as well as MIG welding. Lots of fun and great to try things that allow you to use your hands. We will be back for sure.
We just returned from our second annual boys fall camping trip. Last year we canoe camped on Sparks Lake. This year Hunter wanted to do a backpacking trip so I selected Benson Lake as a good starter - a 1.5 mile hike into the lake with wilderness camping. Mileage-wise not a lot, but with packs on it was plenty to get a taste and enjoy the experience. We left home after the boys soccer games on Saturday afternoon. The drive was about 50 minutes from Bend past sisters on hwy 242. We had spectacular weather and it didn't even get very cold at night. The water was so clean and clear we drank right out of the lake. The boys loved it.
Hunter and Noah have their first soccer game today. Go Challengers! Go Bears!!
Today the Donaldson kids started back at school. Always bitter sweet but so proud of them. They will go and do great things!
4th, 2nd, 1st and Preschool
Today we went to another small swimming-only local lake called Scout Lake near the town of Sisters. Its a very small lake but lots of space to spread out and have your own space and the water was crystal clear. We got lucky with some 'natural entertainment'. There was a huge log floating out in the lake that you could walk on and jump off. Great fun.
One of the most popular hiking trails in the central Cascades near Bend is the Green Lakes trail. You follow a creek with lots of waterfalls up to beautiful alpine scenery with lakes surrounded by mountains, all with minimal uphill grade. The hike is 8 miles total but you only gain a modest 1100 ft over the 4 miles to the lake. Plus the trail-head is only about 25 minutes from Bend signed just past Sparks lake on the right.
I had never hiked it before and Hunter was game to go and see if he could do the 8 mile trek, so we arrived at the trailhead a little before 1 pm. It was crowded as one might expect for a nice summer weekend but even with all the cars it still felt very peaceful.
Here are a few pictures of the hike in:
A few pics of the main lake:
These lakes are beautiful but are fed by surrounding snow melt so are known to be frigid most of the year even on the hottest days but maybe because this past winter was low snow, the water today was cold but still bearable! I tried it first and then Hunter made the plunge as well!
A great late summer day to be out in the mountains. Hunter did an awesome job!
End of summer calls for a day at the skate park with the boys. The boys brought their scooters and rode up and down ramps today for 4 hours. What a fun day!
Joining the Donaldson Crew were the Bercots, the Hornsby's, the Delemarters, and the Currys. Thanks for a great weekend everyone!
if you cannot see the video click here
Kelly left for California today with her dad and the kids for the week. I will fly down next weekend and drive back with them, however with no family today, I decided to go out for a hike today in the high cascades. My destination was the Matthieu Lakes (North and South) via a 7 mile loop hike. I departed from Dee Wright Observatory about 15 miles southwest of Sisters. This starting point adds an extra mile each way from the standard trailhead but the views from the lava fields are great. The weather was warm with a slight breeze, and a perfect day for a walk. I brought Red with me to enjoy the lakes. He love the swimming but is not in as good a shape as he was in his younger years. He was suffering near the end and I had to carry him off and on the last 1/3 of a mile.
View of North and Middle Sister at the start of the hike along with the snow barren Mt Washington while hiking along the lava fields.
The hike takes you up to around 6000 ft. Here are some pictures along the highest point of the hike and South Matthieu lake that has North Sister poking up in the background.
After enjoying the sun at South Mattieu Lake, we headed down hill to the slighly bigger North Mathieu Lake. Red got out and did more swimming at this one.
From here it was back to the car for a cold beer waiting on ice.