SPORTS
Pacific Crest Trail hike
is worthwhile challenge
(INTO THE
OUTDOORS
BY JAYSON JAC08Y
When I made the decision
to write about the Pacif
ic Crest Trail north of
Santiam Pass for this week’s
column, the unusually dry and
warm fall in Oregon was still
holding strong.
If you decide to take this
week's hike anytime soon, be
prepared for several inches of
snow — at least, but more on
that later.
The Pacific Crest Trail is one
of only two National Scenic
Trails in the country, the other
being the Appalachian Trail.
One of the closest (railheads
to the Eugene area is at Santiam
Pass, along Highway 20 east of
town.
To reach the (railhead, drive
east on Highway 120, past Mc
Kenzie Bridge and along the
McKenzie River to the juru tion
with Highway 20 three miles
north of Clear Lake, which is
about 75 miles from Eugene.
Follow Highway 20-120 (they
are combined for this stretch)
three miles further north to
Santiam Junction, where they
are joined by Highway 22 Keep
to the right at the junction and
drive seven more miles east to
Santiam Pass.
Thi! Pacific Crest [railhead is
marked by a forest service sign
on the left (north) side ol the
highway about one-half mile
past the entrance to Hoodoo
Ski Bowl Wilderness permits,
available at any area ranger sta
lion or at the (railhead, are re
quired for all visitors
The trail heads north from
Santiam Pass through mixed
lodgepoiu pine and western
hemlock forests carpeted with
heargrass, .1 large, bushy plant
that resembles beach grass At
one-quurtur mile, the trail en
ters the Mt. Jefferson Wilder
ness area at a junction with the
mile long Square Luke trail.
From this junction, the Pucil
u Crest Trail climbs gradually
hut steadily, passing several
small ponds on the right side of
the trail, and past beautiful old
growth hemlock trees At 1.5
miles, you reach a small open
area at the base of an interest
ing rock formation and another
trail junction, this time with
the Santiam Lake trail, which
leads northwest to a cluster of
lakes at the base of Three Fin
gered Jack. Keep right at this
trail junction, staying on the
Pacific Crest Trail.
From this junction the trail
gets steeper, gaining the crest of
a ridge at the 3.5-mile point
This is a good place to stop for
a rest, but a better reason is the
first glimpso of the real goal ol
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this trip — 7,841-foot Three
Fingered Jack From tho
ridgetop, you can see the very
tip of this old, eroded volcano.
The Pacific ('.rest Trail con
tinues along a steep cliff, with
views south to the pristine blue
waters of Martin Lake There is
no trail to this jewel like tx>dy
of water, but an easy cross
country hike will get you there
After leaving tho cliff, the
trail continues climbing with
switchbacks through deep, cool
forest Although the trees here
are large and closely spaced,
there is much less undergrowth
than is found at lower eleva
tions, making short cross-coun
try excursions to hidden mead
ows and small crevices in the
volcanic rock easy and tempt
Ing
At about 4.5 miles, the trail
gains the top of another ridge,
and continues north on a most
ly level grade Views to the
south begin opening up, and
the high peaks of the central
Cascades Mt Washington,
the Three Sisters, and Broken
Top begin poking their in
slopes above the horizon
But the real views are just a
little hit farther At about the
5.5 mile point, the unaware
hiker may stumble when sud
denly there is .i huge volcano at
his or her very feet Lor more
than two miles, the tr.iil has
been following the southern
spur ol Three Fingered Jack,
which hides the mountain from
the hiker's view
By now, me entire souinwesr
face of Ibis rugged, craggy
mountain comes into view It is
an awesome spectacle ami well
worth the 1,00(1 leet .>1 eleva
lion gain from Santiam Pass
Climbing the mountain is not
recommended lor inexperi
enced or unprepared Inkers
The safe ascent requires rope
and .in experienced leader
Back to tlie weather With the
last two days ol cool rain, the
hiking season at the t>.-100-foot
level of the Pacific Crest Trail
near Three Fingered Jack is
probable over. However, hikers
prepared lor the weather and
experienced in winter travel in
the mountains can make this
trip, arid so can snowshoers or
cross-country skiers Remember
to bring food, water, and a map
and compass, though
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Continued from Page 4
low incomes after school,"
I’otri s.iiil "Those who expect
to make high int:omos would
still ho attracted to the pro
gram hv its still-reasonable
terms und by its flexibility
"Under 1IJKA, every student
would ho able to take out
loans for his or her education
with complete c onfidonco that
repayment would he afford
able, no matter what Income
the student ends up earning
after leaving school," I’etri
said "If you lose your job, get
sii k. or take time off to raise
kids, your loan is automatical
ly rescheduled
I’etri noted that any loan
amounts left unpaid after .'.r>
years would he wiped of! the
books Tim degree of subsidy
providi'd in Ibis way would
depend on .1 borrower's total
income over the .!f> years
"The only way to avoid sig
nificanl loan repayments is to
have <i very low income for
much of vour working life,"
Petri said "You would have
to be very unfortunate to qual
ify for substantial amounts of
loan forgiveness But if you
are unfortunate, them's a wuy
out for you
The push lor the program
stems from Congress' growing
realization that the present
system is in bad shape, i'etri
said
In the past 25 ve.irs. federal
financial aid has shifted from
predominantly grants to prt
\ ate loans. (lonant said
Under the existing system, a
student now typically bor
rows from a bank or financial
institution, with loan repay
men! guaranteed try ttie ride
rant st.ite agenev. which in
turn is reinsured try the feder
at government
The tranks are subsidized
with SI billion a year as a li
nancial inventive for tranks to
make low-interest loans for
students The government
pays a lender a special al
lowam e so the annual rate rtf
return on new loans is ;i 25
percent a trove tiro interest rate
for three-month Treasury
trills
Thu government also pays
the lender all interest and
capital on loans where the
student defaults, if the lender
followed the due process, tar
mint said
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