I visited Mirror Lake for Thanksgiving. It was a way to make the most of a somewhat isolated, restricted holiday. A hike like this is the perfect way to spend the day during lockdown, as long as nothing goes wrong. (Fortunately, nothing went wrong.)
It’s the pride of the accessible mountain lakes. I’ve seen it and the landscape change a lot. I saw it when it was liquid – a friend took me along it and along Tom/Dick/Harry mountains.
I also saw the lake when the first snows arrived. Another friend had a puppy who felt snow between her toes for the first time (and went berserk in the powder). On that day the sun joined us with its friendly powers and we marveled when we suddenly saw Mount Hood rise to our right over the lake. In fact it caught us off guard with its hugeness on hugeness.
Finally I saw the lake with another friend who I, in turn, introduced the place to. He had never been out there and he was blown away. It was wet that day and snowy plumes were falling from the trees constantly. The fog was thick and close and we only saw the peak of Mount Hood unexpectedly, against the odds, as we were leaving. He fell on the trail and struggled in the snow but trudged on faithfully with me, a trait I admire.
Having grown up in Minnesota, I wish I could say I was hardened by winter and inured to the cold. But I am not – I just overprepare to avoid discomfort and emergencies. I might be more sensitive to the cold than ever. And this time I channeled those endless anxieties about the cold toward helping my friend stay happy and comfortable. Next time I visit it will require snowshoes and even more layers against the cold and wet.
When we returned to town we grabbed Thanksgiving takeout at the only place that was open: Panda Express. The workers were prohibited from accepting a tip, even while working late on a covid holiday.
pseudoisaac 