The last day of Indian Summer.

Sad to say, but it now will be months before we can enjoy sunshine, blue skies and mid-day temperatures in the 60’s at 5,000 feet in the Cascade Mountains.

I savored every minute of it on a wilderness hike to the summit of Hawk Mountain, the site of an old wildfire lookout facility.

Gazing over the Breitenbush Drainage, Mt. Jefferson was sparkling white in the bright sunshine. The Sisters to the southeast and Mt. Hood to the northwest were distant jewels in the crystal clear mountain air.

I lingered around the lookout site for a long time before reluctantly beginning the hike back to the car.

How lucky we are to live in such a beautiful location.