the volcano that is a bachelor to its three sisters

“In wisdom gathered over time I have found that every experience is a form of exploration.” ―Ansel Adams

Lately I have been revisiting, re-exploring my neighborhood. I take my camera with me. I became so accustomed to my surroundings, I had looked elsewhere for fun and inspiration.

My life seemed ordinary, pleasant. I had visited and revisited the back country within easy driving distance from home. But I wanted to escape my routines, even though from far away my friends and relatives looked on my adventures into the wild as exceptional.

I had simply become too habituated to it. I could not imagine that Oregon might be somewhere I would miss. I felt more tormented with the possibility of exploring those remote countries.

Before I returned to Mt. Bachelor, I had traveled in Europe several times and visited India and spent five weeks walking the chemin of Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle and hiked the John Muir Trail, which included climbing Mt. Whitney a couple of times.

Recently, I went back to Mt. Bachelor and paid some money so I could ride the chair lift to the top, or near to the top. I did not climb nor walk up. I did it the easy way.

Unlike the Three Sisters nearby, Mt. Bachelor will often have little or no snow during the summer. The chair lift, used by skiers during the winter season, goes near the summit, but a utility road can be walked the rest of the way. (Click on any photo to see it larger and in more detail.)

The ride on the chair lift was a bit unnerving. I was not told by the attendant to pull the safety bar over my lap. It was assumed I would do it, I suppose. With my camera, I turned to the left and to the right and shot photos over my shoulder, oblivious to ascension and the distance to ground. Then it occurred to me I was too reckless. I saw the bar above me and pulled it down. Much better. (Click on any photo to see it larger and in more detail.)

At the top I had beautiful panoramic views of the Three Sisters and Broken Top and the cinder cones that dot the region surrounding Mt. Bachelor. (Click on any photo to see it larger and in more detail.)

In addition to the views one can escape the chill of the air and enter the restaurant the top. One can eat and drink or simply relax and look at the view through the windows that extend the length of the building. Of course, tables line the patios as well. (Click on any photo to see it larger and in more detail.)