September is still a good time to visit the Cascades of Oregon, as one can enjoy huckleberries (Vaccinium species) along the trail, and a number of wildflowers that may still be blooming in the meadows. Last winter's snowpack is now finally melting at the highest elevations. Indeed, some high elevation areas may not see a full melt in places where winter winds pile the snow in deep drifts (the north side of north facing cliffs, and in narrow, deep canyons).

My reccommendations for wildflower exploring would be Crater Lake National Park, The Three Sisters Wilderness (especially in the Broken Top vicinity), the alpine slopes around Mt Jefferson, Olallie Butte, and the Mt Hood Wilderness. In the Mt. Hood vicinity, it is typical for a decent wildflower show to persist into mid October, again depending upon the weather. Areas to visit around Mt Hood include Elk Meadows (it's Gentian time!), Cooper Spur, including the trail from there to Lambertson Butte, and the Round the Mt Trail, between Cooper Spur and Lolo Pass. Paradise Park, on the southwest corner of the mountain is also interesting, escpecially in late September until the snow flies, due to the intense color of both the huckleberries and mountain ash (Sorbus species).

Beware at this time of year of the ever increasingly aggressive yellow jackets, and although the fire danger in the cascades is not excessively high at this time (Sept. 7), the drying winds of September and October can change that in a hurry.