Top O' Scott

Squeezed in one more trek into the backcountry with several hiking mates from my days at Eugene Water & Electric Board. Known far and wide as “The Committee” back in the day, a group of us -- two from Bend and two from Eugene -- met near McKenzie Pass for a hike up Scott Mountain in the Mt. Washington Wilderness Area.

The trail skirts Benson Lake, an indigo lagoon rimmed with cliffs, and Tenas Lakes, a half dozen smaller ponds sprinkled among tall conifers and huckleberry meadows. Winding around Scott Mountain to a summit meadow, the old lookout site features views of numerous Cascade peaks, including North and Middle Sister (above).

The mountain is named for Captain Felix Scott, Jr., who built a trail from Eugene over the Cascades to Eastern Oregon. Nearing the lowest route east across the mountains, Scott’s crew detoured around the jagged lava fields at McKenzie Pass in favor of a notch on the shoulder of North Sister. The route was later abandoned.

On our way down Scout Mountain, we encountered a bonafide wilderness ranger in full U.S. Forest Service regalia. I believed the species to be extinct, so you can imagine my surprise. Now retired from EWEB, we also have retired our previous agnomen of “The Committee.” We are now known officially as “The Geezmos.”