Dan, Jean, and I set out early for this hike in the mountains east of Mt Jefferson and Three Fingered Jack. It was the first time I had been on that side of those mountains. A new view! You really feel like you are back in the wild on those trails because these are close up views you don't get from any road. The hike begins on a stretch recovering from a 2003 forest fire. Lots of new growth here. Plus as we climbed, the huckleberries got ripe for the picking. Eventually we ran into unripe ones, but boy, when they are ripe there will be tons. The forest was covered in huckleberry. It will make for a stunning fall hike when all those bushes are red.
After entering the non-burned area, the forest was not too exciting, typical eastern Or forest. The lakes were pretty. After 4.7 miles we passed Carl Lake and headed over to the PCT on the ridgeline, and South Cinder Peak at 6700 ft. The scenery improved, with cliff views, valleys, pinnacles, and views of Mt Jefferson then Three Fingered Jack. We stopped to fuel up before the final push up the Cinder Cone and then had lunch at the top amid beautiful views! Pretty day, despite the fire in eastern OR. Hike was 13.6 mi, 2200 ft, and took 7 hours. 2.5 hr drive time.
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| Hiking in the burnt section |
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| Huckleberries! |
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| Carl Lake |
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| A cool gorge with massive rock cliffs |
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| Our destination on the left - South Cinder Cone peak |
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| hiking up the cinder cone |
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| Mt Jeff from the top |
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| Broken Top, Sisters, Mt Washington, and 3 Fingered Jack from the cone |
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| Cone peak and Mt Jeff |
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| Burnt trees |
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