Mount Jefferson
On a lovely day last weekend, we took out-of-town guests on a drive to a nearby state park, the Mount Jefferson State Natural Area . A winding road carried us to a parking area not far from the summit. En route there were opportunities to pull off and get out of the car for a closer view of the surrounding region. An overlook map provided an orientation to the distant mountains: we caught a glimpse of Grandfather Mountain off to the left. For hardier souls, there were rugged trails to enjoy the journey. We chose the gentler approach by vehicle, however, at the final parking lot ventured on a short hike to the apex. We walked a well-maintained path lined with lichen studded trees and budding mountain laurel. At the peak, there were two interesting technological items. The first was a communications tower. This tower is part of the national VIPER network which originated after 9/11 when it became apparent that different public service agencies were unable to communicate ...