Beautiful Black Butte

Settle in folks.  This is going to be a long one.

Black Butte Ranch is a resort community 8 miles outside of Sisters.  The community of Black Butte Ranch was developed starting in 1970 on the site of the former Black Butte cattle ranch directly south of Black Butte.  The first residents arrived in 1971.  The Cruzes arrived in 2011.

I've been to Black Butte quite a few times.  As a kid I came 3 times with my parents, and usually with a friend or cousin Heidi.  Once I got to know my friend Sarah, I came many times with her and our friend Laura as Sarah's parents have a house there.  We actually rented their house for this trip.

We arrived on Monday.  After several hours in the car, Luis, Yaya, Mason and I were ready for a walk.  Apparently the walk ended up being longer than we had anticipated.  Luis had to return with the car to pick up Yaya and Mason.  I should note that Yaya could have made it had it not been for the fact that she didn't wear socks with her shoes.

The next morning was canoeing time.  Siena was a trooper and paddled with Luis and I.  Mason, not so much, though he brought a paddle along, just in case.

Mason's head occasionally got in Siena's way.

Siena later found the perfect lap to lounge on to watch Sponge Bob.

Wednesday was to be lava day.  Unfortunately for us, the lava wasn't ready for us.  The lava tunnel was closed.  Fear not my blog friends.  For information on the tunnel, see the July 2009 blog posting when the kids and I visited the tunnel.

Anyway, we walked around the gate at Lava Butte. Lava Butte only experienced a single eruption, some 7000 years ago.  The eruption began with a fissure spewing hot cinders to form the cone. In the next phase, a river of hot basalt flowed from the base of the small volcano to cover a large area to the west with a lava flow which remains largely free of vegetation.

Here's part of the group in front of one of the large lava balls.

Here's the kids, with the Lava Butte cinder cone behind.

Mason is checking out one of the many tunnels.

Yup, that lava goes for miles.

The photographers get their picture taken too.

Yaya and her girl.

This little guy came to enjoy some of our Propel water.  He seemed particularly fond of the kiwi strawberry flavor.

They came up right next to the kids.  One of them even went right up to Siena to check out her shoe.

Here we are, going right through the closed gate.

The hiking continued with a .5 mile walk to Benham falls.  This is an old water level measuring contraption.  We told the kids that if they didn't listen to us, we were going to send them up there.

Mason by some of the raging waters.

At the falls. 

Benham falls are the largest falls on the Deschutes river and considered to be an unpassable Class 6 rapids.  They were created by the Lava Butte eruption 7000 years earlier.  Lots of white water here.

Siena takes one of many breaks on this hike.

We later got some lunch at Red Robin in Bend.  Mason drew a picture of Black Butte which he is proudly displaying.

And of course some Ben & Jerry's for dessert.

Thursday was the day for the hike.  The one to the top of Black Butte.  Black Butte is an extinct volcano rising a bit over 3000 feet from the surrounding plateau.

Yaya and Mason were brave enough to attempt the 2 mile hike to the summit with me.  Mason got tired though and Yaya stayed back with him.  I think she could have made it to the top but she was a good grandma and stayed with her boy. 

It was a tough hike.  It's 2 miles, entirely uphill.  Plus the total elevation at the summit is over 6000 feet above sea level so I found myself getting extra winded as well. 

I made it though and the view was spectacular.  Here is a view of the 3 Sisters from the summit.  North Sister is the one you can see most prominently, with Middle Sister and South Sister to the left.

Also from the summit, the house in the distance was built in the 1920's and served as quarters for the forest rangers stationed at the fire lookout atop the summit.

Here is the fire lookout tower.  Note also the charred trees.  This was caused by the 2003 B&B Complex fire which burned 90,769 acres in central Oregon.  A lot of the remains of this fire can still be seen on Highway 20.

Here's Mason with his stick antler back at the trailhead.

We later went to the pool at Black Butte for a swim.  I was sitting on the side of the pool when Luis swam over.
Luis: Rainn Wilson is here!
Me: Where?
Luis:  The guy over there with a bald spot lime me!
Me:  Is it the real Rainn Wilson?
Luis: Yes, it's the real guy. 
At this time we notice the lady to my right smiling.
Luis (to her): Do you know him?
Lady: Yeah, I'm married to him.

We chatted with her for a couple minutes and Luis eventually went and said hi to Rainn, who was nice and friendly in return.  For those of you unfamiliar with Rainn Wilson, here's a link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainn_Wilson  He's most known from The Office.

Friday morning was horse riding!  Mason loved riding Joe the horse!  No fear whatsoever.

Siena had a good time on her horse, Cougar, as well.  They were considered "Lil Buckaroos" and walked around a big corral area with Luis and I leading each of their horses. 

Papa Ron made a horse friend too.

We left for home on Saturday, with a detour to Kah-Nee-Ta on the way.  The big pool was crowded but nice.  Definitely warm water.

Yesterday Luis had work and the kids and I did nothing.  It was fabulous.  Today is the 4th of July and we went to the annual Torland family picnic.  This picnic includes all of my dad's aunts and uncles and there family so there's always a lot of people I don't know.  Siena found one little girl she knew though.  Hi Ellia!

A picture was requested of all of the 2nd cousins present.  Don't even ask me everyone is.  I know me, Travis, Amanda, Heidi, and Jay B.  Beyond that...no clue.  Papa Ron?  Care to take a stab?