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Canyon Crek Meadows/Three Fingered Jack - Page 2

© Wayne R. Brown

For the more adventurous hike up to the saddle, follow the directions for the Canyon Creek Meadows hike. However, when you near the mountain, take the fork of the trail that climbs to the left.

Climb, and climb, and climb. Admire the cirque at the base of the mountain. Bear left on the trail and climb some more. Then climb some more after that. By this point, you can see most of the remaining trail to the saddle. But you're not there yet, so climb some more.

Eventually, if you don't turn back, you'll reach the saddle. from here you can enjoy views of many of the other mountains of the Cascade range, both north and south. Nearby, more than a thousand feet below you, are Canyon Creek Meadows. Close at hand also is the looming bulk of Three Fingered Jack. Eat something. Drink some water. Take some pictures before heading back down. But be warned, as challenging as the ascent was on your muscles and lungs, the descent is just as demanding on your joints. Once you've reached Canyon Creek Meadows, follow the return directions for that hike.

A word of warning for both hikes; bring lots of water. Also, purchase either a Mt. Jefferson Wilderness Area map, William Sullivan's book, or both.

Further words of warning for the hike to the saddle; wear top notch hiking boots with a tread pattern that really grips, instead of just wishing you had. Watch out for high winds-they might just blow you off the trail and into the cirque. Stay away from the cirque-water, floating ice and steep sides could spell disaster.

As for my own experience, I went with a friend from work on a late July day. I was not on time for my rendezvous with him, but he graciously waited for me. We drove for hours. We hiked the meadows. We trudged up tons of loose rock to the top of the saddle, resting many times along the way. I did not proclaim our triumph with a shout. Instead, it was more like a whimper, as that was all the strength I could then muster. We ate. We enjoyed the view and took pictures. I had to put on the second knee brace about half the way back down from the saddle, as I no longer trusted my left knee's ability to hold my weight.

Back at the truck, we started home. I made a quick stop at Suttle Lake, a favorite place, then drove straight through. I stopped at Shari's restaurant on the way home as well as at Safeway for a bottle of Wildwood Blackberry Wine (of which I will only imbibe half a glass this evening).

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