Another weekend over 90F. Our original plan is a loop around Jack, using an off trail shortcut across its eastern ridge, a saddle of colorful rocks, camp at Canyon Creek Meadow, then join PCT south.
7/18, Saturday. Sunny. We started from Portland ~6am. Arrived at Santiam Pass TH before 9am. PCT north, 5 minutes later, turn right to Square Lake (a very nice campsite right by the lake, by the junction. Of course now occupied), then north on Summit Lake trail to Booth Lake. Lots of dead trees: it's all in a burned area. 
Dusty, feels like beach walking at times. Hot, no shade. Views to Sisters unobstructed. Undergrowth is healthy. 10 minutes later, we cut cross the span of fallen trees towards east flank of Jack. It's more interesting than following a trail, but I was glad when it was over. 
We crossed some small meadows, with 1 creek barely flowing, some place completely dried. Then it's rock and scree going up. View gets better the higher you go. At the ridge, view north to Jefferson and Canyon Meadow below. Don took a nap here. The pond at the foot of Jack is a dusty yellow. Not much ice left on Jack. 
Met people coming from Canyon Creek and Jack Lake. I walked up the colorful eastern hill for better photos of the ridge. A smoke is bellowing up just NW of Canyon Creek. someone called authority : cellphone works here. Shannon, our organizer was concerned that if no water at the meadow below, we would have to walk extra 3 miles to xxx lake. But people at Wasco Lake (next) was being evacuated. She decided to walk back to camp at Booth Lake. Even though I don't like the idea of going back, swimming in the lake is refreshing (not cold). But I hit my right foot on some rock in the lake. Limping the rest of the evening. Also saw a tiny snake in the water!
A deer came to check us out around dinner time. I didn't put up rain fly, so I could see stars from my tent. It was a good idea. Nice stars, no condensation.
7/19, Sunday. Got up at 6. Only Jerri the amateur photographer was up. Sunny, no clouds. I typed this blog waiting for the others to rise. Hiking out at 8am. It's straight forward. More runners churning up dust. At Square Lake, Uday decided to rest. I dropped my backpack, took water and food, followed the rest of the group. We did in and out to Round Lake. It's just outside of the wilderness boundary. A red road. A cluster of cabins with a large gate "Wilderness Land Retreat". Long Lake can be viewed earlier, but unaccessible via trail. Back to trailhead at noon. Driving back is straightforward.
We crossed some small meadows, with 1 creek barely flowing, some place completely dried. Then it's rock and scree going up. View gets better the higher you go. At the ridge, view north to Jefferson and Canyon Meadow below. Don took a nap here. The pond at the foot of Jack is a dusty yellow. Not much ice left on Jack. 
