[movermike] movermike: Clear Lake, Oregon LoopTrail

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Posted by movermike:
Clear Lake, Oregon LoopTrail
http://www.movermike.com/posts/1159207943.shtml


   I had an amazing experience Sunday. My wife and I and our friends from
   Central Oregon decided to hike the five mile circumferance of Clear
   Lake.

     ...created volcanically, [1]Clear Lake boasts some very clear, blue
     water.

     [OR-ClearLake-mirror.jpg]

     Clear Lake is fed by snow run-off that passes through miles of
     volcanic rock, coming into the lake virtually pure. And being a few
     degrees above freezing, it doesn't harbor much in the way of algae.
     A hike around the north end of the lake brings you to this
     treasure: Great Springs, where the clear water just flows out of
     the rock, to the delight of the butterflies that land there to
     drink.

   We started the hike at Clear Lake Resort and joined the trail moving
   clockwise. Soon we were in an old growth forest and could from time to
   time get a peek at the clear, blue lake. One stop gave us a great view
   of the three sisters towering above the lake. It's an easy trail,
   relatively level until you reach the old lava flows where the lake
   starts from underwater springs. We had Ralph, our Golder Retriever
   with us, and every chance he got would go for a swim in the frigid
   water. I could see ahead that while only about five miles around, that
   five miles looked like quite a distance arounf to the other side.

   About half way into the hike I started to worry, needlessly, that we
   could be out here until dark, if we didn't pick up the pace. I got
   into a rhythm and my friend Bill said don't let us hold you back. So
   Ralph and I stepped out. Through the lava fields, we walked, studded
   with vine maples draped in their yellow and red fall colors. At about
   the three mile mark we came to a bridge that crosses the MacKenzie
   river and the trail started rising back to the resort.

   Ralph and I were moving as fast as I could walk. Arms swinging with
   each step, I marveled that my thighs weren't protesting the steady
   climb. It felt so good to be alive! On we walked. The pace seemed
   slow, so I broke into a jog and still no thigh problem. My shirt was
   soaked, the sun was giving my back a gentle push and my heart hardly
   moved above an idle. Only in my dreams have I had jogs like this. I
   waited ten minutes before my friends met me back at the car, where I
   handed them a cold beer.

References

   1. http://www.mediusres.com/orwabc/OR-ClearLake.asp