In spite of the fact that it is really cool and rainy here, we decided to go hiking anyway. We chose the Santiam Wagon Road trail, which was interesting because it follows the old wagon road that went from Albany to Sisters. The total hike is 11.2 miles but we didn't realize it would take us 2 1/2 hours to get there so we probably only went about 9 or so miles. We only got rained on a few times and one or two hail storms. We could see fresh snow in the mountains ahead of us. I'm quite sure it did not break 50 degrees today.

For a little bit of history, the wagon road travels throught the South Santiam River valley and was finished in 1867. For awhile it was a toll road and was the main route through the Cascades until the 1920s. The first automobile to drive clear across the country, Old Scout, took the road through the Cascades in 1905. The toll for the car was three cents. The road was in use until 1939 when Highway 20 was built.

About two miles from the trail head where we started in a huge rock-as big as a house. So guess what it is called? Yes, House Rock. Actually, I don't know if that was because of its size or because it has a tremendous overhang and both Native Americans and pioneers used the overhang as a shelter.

We had such a good time that Cal decided he is really going to retire so we can do more of this.
posted by Cathy Crandall at 9:26 PM