Lookout Mountain to Flag Point 10/23/2013 Badger Creek Wilderness

A couple weeks ago I hiked at Lookout Mountain in search of Oval Lake. It had snowed a few days prior and I was not able to find the trail. I went back today and most of the snow was melted and I was able to find the trail. The trip was just over 12 miles, even though the stats below show less. I started the GPS tracking a little late. The weather was incredible. When I first arrived, it was frosty in spots. The strange thing is as I hiked, I would hit patches of frozen ground and long stretches that were not. There were isolated pockets of cold air.

Mt Jefferson before smoke started filling the air.A fire flared up to the east of it later in the afternoon. 

Mt Hood

On this hike Mt Hood takes center stage, but St Helens, Rainier, Adams, Jefferson, Three Sisters and even Mt Washington all can be seen. 

Mt Adams

Mt Jefferson

Mt Adams on the right and Rainier just left of Adams.

Mt Hood

The entrance to Oval Lake

Oval Lake is a small spring fed lake. Very shallow. 

Mt Jefferson

Western Larch. They change color and they are amazing in the sun. 

Something dug up a beehive. The hole dug is too small for a bear. I am not sure what it was. 

My destination. Flag Point Lookout. The lookout can be rented. It was closed up when I arrived. But I was able to climb up part way to take some pictures. 

Mt Adams from the lookout. Rainier is just to the left. 

Mt Hood from the lookout. The Western Larch trees were glowing. 

Mt Adams

Mt Hood

Someone put a salt lick near the lookout. It is used to attract deer. Not sure what the intention was. Since hunting season was earlier in October. 

Mt Hood

This shot is hard show what I was seeing. There were 4 types of pines growing very close together. 

All along the trail, there are open meadows like this. 

Interesting Tree

Lots of rock formations and cool sun rays. 

There were some patches of snow left around the 6000ft level. 

There are definitely Bucks around this area. I saw many deer tracks and then I came across this tree. It was used to scrape the velvet off the Buck's antlers. This was very fresh and looked like prints from the deer near it.