It was the first Saturday of autumn, the traditional opening day of deer season. And, sad to say I was unsuccessful again at being drawn for a coveted Eastern Oregon mule deer tag.

Not to be deterred, I went for a hike to Burnt Lake in the Mt. Hood Wilderness. It was a blustery, rainy day and I was the only person on the trail.

Even with the heavy rain and wind, I had an enjoyable outing. So, how did I stay dry?

I didn’t. A tip to the wise is that it is much more important to stay warm than dry. Wear clothes that remain relatively warm when wet and put your important stuff in Ziploc bags (GPS unit, TP, maps, etc.).

Burnt Lake in the rain (on a clear day Mt. Hood would have been reflected in the Lake)

Green Comma Butterfly

The muddy trail bordered by Beargrass and Huckleberry bushes

Mushrooms

Small waterfall along the trail

Mushrooms

Burnt Lake