May 21 -- 12 mile hike, Metolius River Trail

We launched our 50 in 50 year* by doing the traditional birthday hike (10th edition!).  After a quiet, rainy night in Sisters and breakfast at the Cottonwood Cafe, we headed to one of the most famous (and cold!) cold water fisheries of the Cascades, the Metolius River.  After visiting the Head of the Metolius (the spot where it emerges from the ground as a fully-formed river), we drove downriver to Lower Canyon Creek Campground.  From there we hiked north through a fairly remote canyon, along the wild, rushing, deep blue-turquoise river.  The Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery provided a nice part-way stop both directions, as we looped further down to Lower Bridge.  Some rain, but some blue sky.  Many birds, and a few anglers waist-deep in the river.  Beautiful!

* Not actually a year.  More like 18 months.