Another Typical Day in My Office

After the short journey up Cascade Lakes highway, we unloaded our gear at Sparks Lake landing. The lake was like a sheet of glass as our paddles cut quietly into it. We ventured out a short distance where we were afforded views of South Sister and Broken Top that would take the breath away from even the most stoic of us. An osprey let out a cry alerting us of his presence. We watched him soar above us for a moment before he was joined by his mate. The two raptors seemly floated stationary on invisible perches as their eyes pierced the depths of the lake searching for prey. As we continued onward, a plethora of nighthawks engulfed the sky above. If one was a Hitchcock fan the sight may seem reminiscent save that these birds are insectivores and are quite beneficial to have around. Bug spray becomes all but superfluous when you have these delightful and all but nocturnal hunters gobbling up mosquitoes in bulk nearby. As we soaked in the last of the sun's rays, our time on the lake was coming to an end. A female mule deer and her spotted fawn must have realized their time to make an appearance was running low, and walked down to the shore to drink from the pristine snow melt that feeds Sparks lake. A day of such wonderful wildlife viewing is not always a guarantee, but the warm, smiling faces I saw gazing back at me through the rear view mirror on the drive back to town is something I have grown quite accustomed to. I couldn’t help but look back and reflect on the epic day in the High Cascades – an area I am so privileged to call my office.

See more about our paddling tours at www.wanderlusttours.com