Published 10:00 am Thursday, May 28, 2026 There is a moment when driving up the Cascade Lakes National Scenic Byway that never ceases to give me chills. It’s that first look at Mount Bachelor when you round a curve on the way up. After miles of thick forest surrounding the ribbon of asphalt, the mountain rises sharply in the center of your windshield. This most recent trip up one of the most stunning roads in Central Oregon, that view was coupled with the John Denver final chorus of “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” which only added to the overall goosebumps with the thought of “the place I belong.” I try to make the trek up the byway annually on those first days after the road opens for the season, usually just for the drive, as most trails and lakes are still inaccessible due to snow. This year is an exception.…