Tom, Dick, and Harry
Hiking
Trillium Lake
What a weekend! We finally made it out for our camping trip to Trillium
Lake, and it was everything we hoped for. The four of us—Julia, Jon, Gordon,
and I—headed out in two cars, both EVs. Jon and Gordon took their car, and
Julia and I took ours. It felt good knowing we were making the trip without
using any gas.
The campsite was perfect. We set up our tents right by the water,
and the view of Mount Hood was absolutely stunning, its peak reflected
perfectly in the calm lake. We didn't have a campfire, but we spent the evening
playing card and dice games, sharing stories and laughs. After a bit, Julia and
I went into our tent and Jon and Gordon went into theirs. It wasn't until we
were tucked into our sleeping bags that the rain started. Lying there,
listening to the drops patter on the tent, was surprisingly peaceful.
Tom, Dick, and Harry Mountain
The next morning, the clouds were still hanging around, and the
wildfire smoke made the air hazy. We were up early for the main event: a hike
up to Mirror Lake and then to Tom, Dick, and Harry Mountain. The trail was
beautiful, starting in dense forest and gradually opening up. The first part of
the hike to Mirror Lake was a great warmup, and the view there was unreal. We
all just stood there for a few minutes, soaking in the view of Mount Hood
towering over the glassy water.
After a quick break, we pushed on toward Tom, Dick, and Harry
Mountain. The climb was a bit more challenging, but the payoff was worth every
step. The hike was full of surprises, including a black bear we spotted in a
tree on the way up. We stopped to admire it from a safe distance before
continuing on.
When we got to the top, the views were disappointing because of the
haze, but we could still see a very close-up view of Mt. Hood. We couldn't see
any other mountains like St. Helens or Adams. At the top, we also saw a bunch
of chipmunks and the very elusive pika. The air was crisp, and there was a
sense of accomplishment that made Julia's vegan empanadas taste like a
five-star meal. We spent a good amount of time just sitting there, pointing out
different animals and taking a million pictures. It's those moments of quiet
awe that really make a trip special.
The hike back down was a lot easier, and we were all pretty tired
but in high spirits. We got back to camp, made a huge dinner, and spent one
last night playing more games. It was a perfect way to reconnect with nature
and with each other, rain or shine. I'm already looking forward to our next
adventure.