Homeward Bound - Part One - Mt. Ashland

Our last day of vacation.  We were thinking of hiking up the Castle Crags trail, but that was said to be an extreme climb.  We wanted to do the Black Butte climb, but the directions to the trailhead were so convoluted, we decided we didn't have the time this trip.  So, we started down Hwy 5, and let Fate choose our path for us.  It was a good decision!
***Okay, I re-named this Part One because I had so much to show you of and from Mt. Ashland

We drove up 12 miles (we were told it would be 4 miles) to reach the Mt. Ashland Ski Area, past the campground lower down.  Stopped for a view before we headed towards the peak, (2.7 miles on) where the white ball gleams.

The Mt. Ashland Ski Lodge.  Jeffery shows me something 

Mt. Shasta in the morning from up high!

the weather station radio receiver doppler effect thing atop Mt. Ashland.  We spoke briefly to two workers, and they loved their job; counted themselves very fortunate.

Jeffery atop Mt. Ashland with Mt. McLoughlin in the far background

me atop Mt. Ashland with Mt. Shasta in the far background

Taking a counter-clockwise turn from my seat at the top in this and the next three photos to show you the view.  This will give you about 180 degrees

the land falls away at first

I love love love all the ripples and layers and blobs, and the deeps

one more, with Shasta to the left, but the sun takes over

Can't help showing you different views of most noble Mt. Shasta,  There will be more later.

turned north away from the sun to show you the view down to the ski lodge, and to point out how many kinds of mountains and "coverings" for mountains there are.

geodetic survey marker

another of Shasta, with all the falling foreground to make your tummy hurt.

looking over either Ashland or Medford to the far mountains.  Is it Mt Hood?  We need to look it up.

Jeffery passes by the top of the ski lift to view the ski run below

This is as close as I could get from this viewpoint.  That's Mt. McLoughlin in the background.

the flat to the right is where you end up after skiing from here somewhere.  Hmmm.  Looks scary to me.

tiny sturdy lupin

Jeffery clowns for my vertigo

I pose by the rock with the view-hole in it

Hi Jeffery

Hi, view of the north-west

Hi back at ya, says Jeffery's hand

looking north

Mt. McLoughlin with cool foreground rocks

One more fun rock structure as we wend down the hill

pine-cones bedeck every tree

view back up to where we've been

back on Hwy 5, can you see Mt. Ashland, there in the middle?

I'll make my final trip post soon as my computer cools down.  Til then!  Thanks for your patience.