Week 34 - Obsidian Limited Entry Area - August 11 - August 17, 2025

It is time, again, to go to the Obsidian.  This year it was (by tent) Beverly, Melissa, Riana in one tent, Jen in her own tent, Kim and Olga in a tent, and Jessica and Laurie Couch in a tent. S0 - eight people, four tents, and two cars.

Monday-

We started at 11:00 and got to Sunshine Meadow at 4PM.  It's lucky I trained a lot this summer by walking in the woods, 2-3 miles a day, with a full pack.  It wasn't until the last mile on the Glacier Way trail that  pooped out....Bev rescued me and carried my pack the last mile.

The burned area is still here....like, where would it go...and the area seems a bit greener, and we could see lots of new baby trees.

We finally got to Sunshine Meadow.  I have never seen it more full of flowers that this year.

Here's our campsite.  We were is a different spot than previously and our "slope factor" was not particularly good - but we survived.

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Tuesday

This is the little creek from which we get our drinking water.  It would be a perfect addition to our front yard.

The flowers by the water source were magnificent.

Our goal on Tuesday was to walk across the obsidian plain to the waterfall and to relax alongside the trail.

Here was Sunshine Meadow when we started out....so bright and yellow.

One of the tarns along the way.  This particular tarn is the one we see directly below us when we are up by Arrowhead lake.

The cliffs in the photo are up by Arrowhead Lake.

Stopping by Sister Springs and filling water bottles.

Sister Springs turns into a stream that turns into the waterfall.

The waterfall from the top/backside.

Heading back to our campsite - literally on the obsidian plain.

I'm pretty sure that spot up on the cliff is where were meet when we go to Arrowhead Lake.

Back at camp Olga captured the big frog (toad) and released it by the stream.

Wednesday - we headed up to Arrowhead Lake.  I LOVE this part of our :adventure".

Up at the top...the cliff edge with the Cascade Mountains in the distance.  You can see the shape of the heart which is where I placed by Dad's ashes.

An interesting tree with interesting cones.  Dad will tell me the name of the tree.

Coming back down, on the loose gravel, Laurie fell on her knee and Jessica applied first aid.

Down below is the valley we'll walk through on our way back to our campsite.

Off in the distance we could hear "cawing"....like a crow.  Yes, it was Beverly.  I took four photos...

Bev is wearing a red jacket.

The hike back to camp is more fun/beautiful that the morning walk on the same trail.

We're back at Sunshine Meadow.

Thursday - sigh....it is time to head back to civilization.

A morning good-bye to sunshine

Up and over the lava field.

Hike back through the burned forest.

We decided to drive to sisters for lunch and on the way stopped at the Dee Wright Observatory.  I didn't visit it last year because i was too exhausted.  But I did walk up the stairs and wander around the stone building...to discover that the mountain I had been calling Mt Hood, was actually Mt Jefferson - my BAD.

In sisters we went to the obligatory bakery and then to the food carts to make our lunch choices.

It was a great hike - my favorite of all time.  I will diligently "work out" in the hopes that I can do it again next year.

Our pears are ready!!!  They are yummy....and not too many crawly things in them.

The Clackamas County Fair was this week.  We took Bev's kids because Bev was not feeling well - she's worried because she drank some of the water for Sister Springs - and so did I, but I feel fine. 

We ate lunch at A&W - because "fair food" is way too expensive.

 Jane spent 3/4 of her fair money on the trampoline.

I did a glass "clean up" by Bottle Spring.  Three buckets of broken bottles and one bucket of unbroken bottles.

Tyler has flown the coop. Jessica took him to St Martin University in Lacy, 

Washington where he will be starting his freshman year.   

On Sunday we celebrated Ryan's 57th birthday!