September 8, 2025

We’ve had some sun, and we’ve had some clouds. We’ve had some bright blue views, and we’ve had some gray. What we haven’t seen though, is rain, and we are supposed to dodge it all week long. That will be music to everyone’s ears with hopes of sliding in a hike to the summit now and through the coming days. Temps have held in the upper 40s and lower 50s today, likely getting a number of folks in the autumn spirit. There’s still plenty of summer left though, as the landscape is vividly verdant from ridge top to valley. One of the great things about September is that the mountains maintain their lush green but as the humidity eases off, the air quality clears up for better sightseeing…unless you have wildfire smoke blowing in from the Pacific Northwest and Canada of course. Best to keep a watch on the air quality just in case you are someone who is sensitive to such things when hiking at elevation.

This month, our region really sees the daylight hours shrink and quickly. Now’s as good a time as any to remind folks that less daylight means shifting gears. For all visitors looking to get an early start on trail, this could require the use of headlamps if your first steps are before the sun rises. For day hikers, be mindful of when sunset takes place as you don’t want to begin your descent so late that you risk getting caught on trail in the dark with miles to go. For overnight guests, supper will continue to be served at 6:00 PM until about the last week of this month, at which point we’ll move the meal service up so there is adequate time to enjoy a warm meal, then safely make the climb to Cliff Tops for sunset. Breakfast will not see a change at any point this season, even as sunrise creeps closer to the usual 8:00 AM meal service in the coming weeks. In order to provide all of our required visitor services and have the cabins ready for the next day’s arrivals, breakfast does not get delayed. What guests hoping to catch an inspiring sunrise CAN do is attempt the shorter hike to Apollo Overlook located between the backcountry shelter and High Top. This affords onlookers an eastern view in less than half the distance of going to Myrtle Point.