Newberry, a crator of glass

The past few days were an escape from telephones, schedules, and tasks undone. I accepted an invitation from son,Timothy, to go hiking somewhere in Oregon. He had no particular destination in mind but several alternatives to suggest. One was the Newberry volcano area in Central Oregon. He also suggested that we ask, brother, Michael, to join us. We all could use a few quiet days in a wilderness to appreciate nature and our own lives. Michael's wife, June's, schedule was particularly stressful so she ought to join us.
And there we were, in a shady site in Paulina Lake Campgrounds, looking over hiking trails and wonders of nature to peruse - wonders none of us had the privilege to see before. We agreed on a seven and a half mile hike around the shore of Paulina Lake and were off on a clockwise direction of the circle trail at seven o'clock on a very cool morning. The temperature was in the forties, a chilly change from the ninety degrees we left behind in Grand Ronde. At sixty three hundred feet elevation with clear skies, the temperature climbed to a sweaty level in two hours.
Hundreds of photos later and a herd of deer and a brood of ducks we arrived at the trail's end, agreeing to a person, that we had enough exercise for the day. Nevertheless with tummies full of blueberry pancakes, sausage, and eggs we settled down and looked over other opportunities in the area. Paulina Peak drive and walk seemed intriguing -- so we did it - drove a one lane road on a curving road of hairpin turns and breathtaking scenery of cinder cones and nearby mountains to the top of Paulina Peak. More photos, more ahhhing and ohhing, as we looked down on the lake and trail we traversed that morning. We impressed ourselves. Well, the hike was not much so we trundled back to camp and headed for the obsidian flow we could see from the peak.
It was a tougher hike over the ridge and into the flow but sadly as with all national treasures we could only admire the fabulous black obsidian, not take samples. It is not for pickup regardless of how many arrowheads or other sharp tools it could make. But it was a great hike up and over the edge of the flow. Hard on my knees. Reminescent of a South Sister hike I took with Thomas thirteen years ago. My knee was a pain to remember. But this time we did park ourselves by the campfire and discussed the full day of exercise.
Asleep in a tent with the fresh clean air to revive us we kept our cool in a purely physical way and at dawn welcomed another leisurely breakfast over the camp stove. Fried potatoes, onions, and eggs never tasted so good. However we still had one natural wonder to view - Paulina Falls. The spacious tent was dropped and packed along with all our individual camping gear then we trapsed down hairpin turns for one fourth mile to view the 80 foot falls. What a walk that was!
The hiatus is over but as with all adventures, memories will persist with a great deal of pleasure.
Naomi Sherer