Lizards Rule Paulina

Here the lizards have made the arduous climb to the summit of Paulina Peak, far above the lake of the same name. They enjoyed the view and the crisp, dry air. The lizards are almost eight thousand feet above sea level at this spot. Blow up the pic and you can see the Three Sisters and Broken Top in the distance on the left.

Though it was a calm, mild day when I was atop the summit, the Paulina Peak climate is harsh. Here the whitebark pines, hardy survivors at timberline throughout the west, soar into the alpine sky. These are tough, gnarly trees; every one of them has character. They inspire admiration for their strength and adaptability.

Look closely at the top picture and you can see a reddish cliff rising out of Paulina Lake, to the right of the lizards. This picture was taken from just to the left of that cliff, looking toward Paulina Peak; the lookout where the lizards are perched is on the far left side of the peak. Paulina is a fine lake, with a fairly easy trail all the way around it. Of the 7.5 miles, about half passes through wilderness while the other half, mainly on the south and east shores, connects various campgrounds and resorts. I've always liked the scene at Paulina Lake...have gone there off and on for 35 years.