More Lava Fields

Driving west through Oregon I was impressed with the number of cattle.  I would have expected more in Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho.  To be sure, they were there, but upon entering Oregon, there were many more.  Other observations:

• East of the Rockies the hay is baled in round cylinders; while west of the Rockies it is baled in rectangular cubes that are stacked
• We have seen evidence of drought everywhere.  The reservoir north of Boise was almost dry.  The reservoir on the McKenzie River was quite low as well, although I am told that it is normal to release water throughout the year
• The Ponderosa Pines seemed to prefer the west sides of the mountains, not the eastern slopes
• I saw more fleece starting in Sisters, Oregon, at the eastern start of the McKenzie-Santiam Scenic Byway
• This is our second McKenzie Pass, the first being on the Milford Track in New Zealand
• The Works Project Administration (WPA) did some amazing things, many found in national parks.  I can see how it not only provided work, but also rebuilt confidence.

When we reached the summit of the McKenzie-Santiam we came upon another set of lava fields (since Craters of the Moon).  These were less than 3000 years old.  The Dee Wright Observatory can be found here.  Built by the WPA, and named after the crew’s foreman who had passed away the previous year, it provide views to the area peaks, flows, and cones, including the “Three Sisters.”

The west side of the pass was a series of steep hairpin turns.  It’s hard to imagine wagons going on them, but they did.  The original builders created toll roads.

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