It’s been awhile since I’ve been on a good, long hike so earlier this week I set out for higher ground – Broken Top, in the nearby central Cascades. My car isn’t quite equipped to make it to the trailhead, so I opted for the longer route starting from Todd Lake. After a stretch of forest and wildflower-covered meadows, I reached one of the climbing routes and started up. Lots of loose rock and sand made for some tough footing, but the views on a clear day are worth the effort. I ran into only a few others making the weekday climb and was mostly alone in the wilderness. Todd Lake made for a good spot to cool off after a long day on the trail.