Mount Hood across Trillium Lake

Mount Hood across Trillium Lake, originally uploaded by fuzzyjay.

Last weekend, I had a very nice time with Ian and Michael and David, camping aside Trillium Lake. We went floating out on the lake with Ian and Michael's inflatable boats, ate some nice meals, built a giant campfire and played cards. I taught everyone Crazy Eights.

We got lucky with our campsite. Michael applied his parking karma, and we scored the best, most private campsite on Trillium Lake, #3! The views of Mount Hood were spectacular. It was warmer at night and cooler during the day than Portland was experiencing during those days.

On the way home David and I stopped at Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood, the exterior of which was used in the movie The Shining. It's a beautiful example of stonework, huge wooden beams and great ironwork throughout. We had a drink in the Lodge's bar. I had a Girl Scout Cookie (hot cocoa with creme de menthe and coffee liqueur.) After that, we went on a little (and I mean little) hike behind the Lodge. Being at the tree line was bizarre. The wind was whipping around the dust, there was very little plant-life. It looked like a desert.

Descending the mountain and going back to Portland, the air got hotter and more humid the closer we got. I missed being in the mountains right away...