We were going to do the 20 mile loop around Three Fingered Jack, but with one of us suffering from a respiratory cold, we opted for the shorter hike through Canyon Creek Meadows.
It was a beautiful weekend in the area.
We got to Jack Lake trailhead around 2pm on Saturday Aug 21. With rest stops and picture taking, it took us about two hours to get to the meadow below TFJ.
Fungus along the trail
TFJ from just below camp
TFJ from lower meadow
Since we had been to the area the same weekend last ear, we knew where we wanted to set-up camp at and hoped that the spot was available. Since it is up a hill and away from the creek a little, we were in luck!! The secluded spot was all ours.
arrow marks our camp. Mt Jefferson peaking out from behind the ridge
There is a great view of TFJ from this spot. There is a nice sitting area, where we like to have our meals and enjoy the view of the ancient volcano.
Dinner with a view
a little wine to go
Its a great spot because it is just enough out of the way that people dont normally pass by. Its also close enough to the creek, that we can go cool off, or filter water as needed.
Diego helping to filter water
getting ready for bed
We took it easy for the rest of the evening and turned in at dusk.
In the middle of the night, there were some faint thunder rumblings in the distance, but no lightening was seen.
After a good nights sleep, we woke up and had some yummy breakfast. We spent the day exploring the areas along the creek.
TFJ from a little further east, down the creek
Lots of bloom-less Lupine in the area
love to be able to cool off in the creek
TFJ from creek
so many colors
we saw a lot of frogs hanging out by the creek
most of the wildflowers were already gone
As we were exploring around, Diego found a nice spot (probably really stinky) to roll around in. After a few minutes, I noticed he went to pick something up in his mouth...
Deer bones?
In the early afternoon, we decided to head up to the cirque and check it out. The cirque is about 1/4 mile and a couple hundred feet of elevation gain from the base of TFJ. The trail is filled with loose rock and it is easy to loose your footing. There are also some areas where recent rains have washed out portions of the trail and it is hard to tell if you are on it, or not.
us at the cirque
Southeastern side of TFJ. Almost up at cirque
pano from just above cirque
the cirque was pretty grimy looking
Cher enjoying the view to the east. You can see Mt Jefferson in the upper left of the photo
We didnt have the will power to make it up to the viewpoint on the ridge above, on the southern shoulder of TFJ(maybe next year). When we were eating dinner on Saturday night, we saw some mountain goats hanging out on this ridge. We also heard from another hiker that about 30 minutes before we got up here, there were a group of mountain goats walking across the glacier.
Diego loves this place!!
When we woke up on Monday morning, we noticed that the area we had been using as a lavatory, looked like something had come through and was brushing the dirt around. I had read a week or so prior that mountain goats love human urine...maybe they decided to come down and see what we had to offer...
Monday, we ate breakfast and took our time packing up. We headed out from camp around 10am. As soon as we crossed the creek our dog, Diego, started yelping. The area was a little mucky and there were some bees hanging out. He was licking his paw and wouldn't put any weight on it. He either got stung(although there was no stinger to be found) or bit a few times by a pesky yellow jacket(there were a lot this year). We went down to the creek and I held his paw in the water, hoping the cold water would soothe it. A minute later a guy pops out from the trees and said he was a veterinarian and would be more than happy to take a look at Diego's paw. He said that since it just happened, it could still swell in the coming hour. He offered some anti-inflammatory medication, some cream and a sting pad. Talk about perfect timing! I didnt catch his name, but he works at Birch Street Animal Clinic in Canby. So, if your in that area and need a vet, he gets my seal of approval :) I carried Diego out until we made it to the main trail. He seemed to be walking fine by that point.
After going through the lower meadow, the trail forks. The right fork takes you back the the trailhead the way you came and the left fork completes the loop. Both are about the same distance. There is less elevation gain, if you go to the left. Also, the forest service would like you to take the left fork, to keep the traffic going one-way. Going to the left, you will also pass a trail that will take you to Wasco lake.
We made it back to the trailhead after about 90 minutes. We stopped off at Jack Lake to cool off a little. We saw a few more frogs and a small garter snake.
pano of Jack Lake with TFJ in the diastance
This is definitely one of our favorite areas to hike to. We would probably be here every weekend, if it wasn't for the drive time from Portland.
Our journey home, we decided to head towards Redmond and up through the Mt Hood area, to try and avoid the holiday traffic that was most likely going to be on I-5. It was a pleasant drive. We were able to see the Three Sister, Jefferson, TFJ and Hood together. It was also seeing Smith Rock and the rhyolite cliffs in the Crooked river area.
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