I drove to a different area today. The road, off the eastern section State Route 22, is signed for Old Cascade Crest Trails. I’m very pleased to report that the color in that area is very fine indeed. Just driving on SR 22 was a treat.

I hiked to four lakes in that area. All were worth seeing at least once. I don’t know that I would return. It’s not that the lakes weren’t enjoyable. The trouble is that there’s a lot to see in a limited amount of time, so I doubt that they would make the cut for a future trip. But I got to enjoy them today. For the most part I enjoyed the solitude. Why if it were not for the ever present sound of a helicopter I might have even thought I was enjoying nature. I’m not kidding. That helicopter was flying around for the entire time I was out in that area. I never saw it, but I sure heard it.

I finished the day at Tamolitch Pool. I’ve been there four times. The most recent had been in 2012. Something has changed. I had seen signs highlighting Blue Pool among the can’t miss local attractions. Now there are signs and a large parking area. There are also lots of people. I used to have the place to myself, but now there are probably as many people as I’ve seen on a fall week day at Silver Falls State Park. I probably wouldn’t have seen so many people if I had stuck to the original plan and went there first thing in the morning. But due to the weather forecast I switched and saw the lakes while it was sunny and then went to Tamolitch when the clouds came in. That worked out very well. That part of the McKenzie is very attractive, and in my opinion photographs exceptionally well.