Ginger Miller takes in a well-earned vista of the Three Sisters.
“What??? SO worth it. Holy crap — this is amazing!”
Such were the words of Ginger Miller as she summited Black Crater on Wednesday and was confronted with the majestic view of the Three Sisters just off to the south. That hard-earned moment is the reason Black Crater is my favorite hike in the Sisters Country – and why I love sharing it with friends.
Ginger is the 21-year-old daughter of mi compadre, the noted writer/shootist Craig Rullman. She has discovered a passion for aviation and is planning to enter the U.S. Marine Corps to become a Marine Aviator. She’s in Sisters for the summer, flying, studying — and preparing for the rigors of becoming a Marine officer.
Craig Rullman and his daughter Ginger Miller.
Miles and miles of Oregon…
Craig’s been running us through shooting and tactical drills on Wednesdays and last Wednesday we decided to add a “ruck” into the day’s “work.” Because nothing prepares you for the demands of rucking better than rucking.
Ruckin’ like the doo-dah man once told me you gotta play your hand…
So… Black Crater: 7 miles; 2,440 feet of elevation gain to the 7,257-foot peak and all the majestic views it has to offer. As a training run, you could do worse.
Our extreme winter, which gave us a massive snowpack, did wonders for wildflower proliferation. I’ve done this hike just about every year for the past 23 years, and I’ve never seen the like of this year’s crop. And we descended through a swarm of butterflies.
Post-hike, Ginger adjourned to do homework while Craig and I headed up to Zimmerman Butte for an hour’s worth of transition drills (transitioning from rifle to pistol, from 7 yards to 50 yards and back down again). Then I was off to load in gear and play a most satisfying gig at Black Butte Ranch — gorgeous venue and a wonderful audience.
I commented to Craig that a day hiking, shooting and playing music is my definition of a perfect one, and that suchlike makes me feel like a rich man.
“Well, it’s the true definition of wealth, right?” said he.
Damn straight.
Craig Rullman says
It was a marvelous day in every respect. And we were even graced with a brief lightning display on the range. I felt comfortable in that environment–a flat range, holding up a lightning rod–only because you are so much taller than I am. 🙂
JimC says
Glad to know I am useful for providing cover…
Paul McNamee says
Lovely.
I got a mere hour on a canoe in Maine a few weeks ago and it was the highlight of the vacation for me.
Nature. It’s wealth and it’s a good mind flusher when you really need one.
JimC says
Canoeing in Maine — following in the wake of some Frontier Partisans there…
Paul McNamee says
Well, as Keith West pointed out, the bright orange life-vest sorta put a crimp on my FP-stylin’. ;D (the crocs, too – but hey, I knew my feet were getting wet)
JimC says
Hah! Well…
Keith West says
Sounds like a perfect day. I didn’t get to do any hiking on the vacation except a 30 minute walk with my son on Lookout Mountain the day before heading home.
John C. says
Ruckin’ like the doo-dah man? Really?
Groan.
JimC says
Hey, man… sometimes the cards ain’t worth a dime if you don’t lay ’em down…
john roberts says
Sitting here in my comfy chair with a glass of wine, I’m really glad that there are people willing to take these hikes so I don’t have to.
JimC says
Hah! Cheers!
lane batot says
Well, not to be a spoilsport, but the day coulda been better with a DOG! Dogs ARE one of my symbols of wealth, however. Which is wealthier–“a life spent HAVING, or a life spent DOING?” I know which I choose(and continue to). And no, I didn’t just contradict myself, as HAVING dogs automatically means DOING a lot of stuff! Just came off a big doo-doo patrol,actually. But gotta admit, that is some INCREDIBLE country.God’s country, fer shore. But then, of course, ALL country is God’s country, but THAT is God’s country after he perfected the process……
JimC says
The dog is an old man. He was waiting at home for me though.
lane batot says
Ahhhh, well do I understand that. Most of my pack are now either 11 or 12–only a couple of middle-agers(5), and no new young pups coming along. Yet. So I have to limit certain outings with the old ones, to keep them from killing themselves! As time passes(sigh), I will be acquiring some new pack members(that is, if I continue to survive myself), and in my present circumstances, they need to have certain characteristics to be suitable “frontier partisan” dogs–and as to just what that entails, is a subject we’ll havta discuss at length in the future!
JimC says
The qualities of a Frontier Partisan dog would make for a great post.
Matthew says
Some Seneca quotes on wealth. The Roman Philosopher, not the Indian tribe.
“Wealth is the slave of a wise man. The master of a fool ”
“It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor. ”
“A wise man is content with his lot, whatever it may be, without wishing for what he has not.”
JimC says
The Stoics… Much wisdom.
Matthew says
The interesting about reading classical philosophy is how much of it was flipping practical. Maybe Plato’s metaphysics is a bit out there, but most of it is is pretty useful for life. Compare that to so many grad students who try to hard to be deep.
JimC says
If you can’t use it, you can’t call it useful. More on that in a bit…