Big Lake

It was a cold, rainy, and windy morning at the trailhead, about four miles south of Santiam Pass. After several days of hiking in perfect, bluebird weather, I was getting a taste of the other side of the coin.

I put on rain gear and began hiking west on the seven-mile loop past Patjen’s Lakes. Soon, I could see Big Lake below me, but visibility was very limited due to the low and heavy cloud cover.

Patjen’s Lakes

As I hiked, the rain continued to pour, but hope springs eternal. Some of my most memorable hikes have been on days that started with heavy rain, where the rain stopped and the sun broke through, making everything look sparkling fresh – a little like magic.

But, not this day. It stormed to the very end. I was barely able to see Patjen’s Lakes due to low visibility. In another mile, Big Lake appeared again, a clear sign that the loop hike was almost back to the trailhead. And, sure enough, it was.

As I dried off and removed my rain gear, it dawned on me that only five other hikers had been on the trail. Three were deer hunters returning to the trailhead early on.

One of the beauties of wilderness hiking is that you never know what to expect. As always, it’s best to be prepared for whatever is thrown your way.