Donaldson Crew Adventures

With Kelly's family in town this week and staying at Black Butte Ranch resort, we decided to do a boys hike up Black Butte that overlooks the resort.  The hike starts about half way up the Butte.  From the trail head to summit its 4 miles round trip, and about 1600 vertical feet elevation change so a fairly constant uphill hike to the top, but the views are worth it.  

Our motley crew after the hike was finished: (L-R) Pat (Kelly's Dad), Scott (Sister Erin's Husband), Noah, Dylan (Sister Jenn's Husband), Kevin, Hunter, cousin Carter (son of Jenn & Dylan).

Today I did a really nice hike with my friend Jamie up to the glacial lake in the crater of Broken top in the Cascade range just out of Bend.  Two summers ago I hiked to the summit of Broken top and always wanted to hike to the crater.  The trip is about 7-8 miles round trip with approx 1600 ft of vertical.  Was originally going to bring the older boys but they are still recovering from Camp this week :)

On Saturday we spent the afternoon at Suttle Lake. The weather was beautiful with a warm breeze.

After paddling at Hosmer lake we headed over to Sparks Lake for dinner and got some nice early evening shots over the lake.

Family paddling on Hosmer lake in the cascades this afternoon.

After our Todd Lake hike we headed down the road a couple miles to Sparks Lake. A very canoe/kayak/paddle board friendly lake that is too shallow for boats and really isn't a fishing lake. The lack of motors and the views make it a great place to go. Kelly and I did a moonlight canoe trip with friends here a couple summers ago.

Once we got the canoe off the suburban, we hopped in the canoe and went across the lake to have a late picnic lunch on the north shore. We played there for a little while before heading back across.

Kevin

Today it was cold and clear.  My buddy Mark wanted to know if I was interested in heading up for a half day of back country skiing, so we headed to Tumalo mountain.  I took the boys up here this past summer (2015) but this is my first winter trip to the top and skiing down the bowl on the north side. (2nd back country trip with skins since getting the equipment)

To celebrate the first day of 2016, we decided to go sledding at the Wanoga snow park in the Cascades about half way to Mt Bachelor from Bend.  Here are some additional video's below.

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.    

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.