A peek at some peaks

McKenzie Pass runs through a lava flow zone. The Dee Wright Observatory (built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s) is at the summit. It's not an astronomy observatory. It's for observing the landscape. Well, if you're up there at night I guess you're free to look at the stars with your naked eyes or your own telescope.

There are peep holes between the windows that point at individual mountains

From there you can see two of the Three Sisters mountains (the third one is behind the others), as well as mountains named after presidents.

The Three Sisters in the background, the Rolling Steel Tent in the foreground

Mt. Washington

Mt. Jefferson

On the way up and back you can try not to run over cyclists. And you can swear at the guy pulling the huge fifth-wheel trailer who ignored the 35-foot vehicle limit sign and the last chance turn-around for jerks like him.