Woke to snow falling this morning. It would appear that winter is here. Not an issue, just a shift in travel strategies.
Looking ahead . . . the forecast shows rain, rain and even more rain.
Earlier in the week, we used a crisp, sunny day to take a tour up the Cascade Highway. In late summer the Upper Deschutes is a regular stop.
This year wildfires kept us away. The smoke is gone, but the breath of winter has been felt.
This section of the Deschutes River looks nothing like the lower run that holds big Rainbow and Steelhead.
At the source, the Deschute’s crystalline water is rarely more than a couple of feet deep.
It’s home to Redband Trout that are rarely over ten inches. It is perfect for dog wading.
Past September 22, this stretch of water is closed to fishing however, Tip was interested in fetching.
He quickly procured a suitable stick. Well actually, what he showed up with had to be trimmed a bit to serve our needs.
The season of fall is over. There are patches of snow under the trees. A few leaves still cling to branches, but for the most part they carpet the understory.
The wind had a bite . . . so we didn’t linger.
Once Tip had chased a few tosses of stick in the river, he was ready to get back in the car. Afternoon sun can only offer so much warmth. It did make for a very pleasant drive.
There are plenty of sun drenched days ahead. The days may only warm to the high forties, but that just means gloves and sweaters.
Once the early winter rains pass we’ll embrace the snow and shift to a winter schedule . . . starting with installation of a set of snow tires. It’s just that period of adjustment between seasons that is a bit awkward.