Scott Mountain sits just beyond McKenzie Pass and the Belknap Crater lava flow, in full view of the receding Collier Glacier on North Sister. On Tuesday, July 30 six CONC members (and innumerable mosquitos!) hiked from Scott Lake past Benson Lake, up 1300 feet to our lunch break on top of Scott Mountain. The view of the Three Sisters and The Husband to the south is “in your face” spectacular, but the view of Mt. Washington, Three Fingered Jack, and Mt. Jefferson to the north is also wonderful. After lunch we hiked through an interesting blow-down where the trees seemed to all have been topped off 50 feet up, then down along the Belknap Crater lava flow to Hand Lake. There we took a side trip to the Hand Lake shelter and splashed water on our faces in the lake. The 1.5 mile return to Scott Lake was a pleasant, fast cruise.
