Lacamas Lake, Camas, WA

Camas, Washington is where I grew up (at least through my social years of middle school and high school.) I have a ton of good memories of that city.

I get quite depressed whenever I visit, though. It has changed a lot from its former, small-town culture. Most of the homes are expensive homes and the whole characteristic of the town is different. The forested areas and fields I used to play in are now crammed with expensive homes with no yards. The tree-lined roads and beautiful natural creeks and forest oasis' in the middle of the neighborhoods are traded for money and replaced with gigantic homes that stomp out all of Camas' raw beauty. It's like going to the movie theater that you've gone to forever, sitting in your favorite seat and then all of a sudden a super large person plops down right in front of you, blocking your view every time. Makes me feel like those who took over Camas don't appreciate the value of what was originally there. I suppose that's the typical story of community growth--or maybe I'm just jealous that they live there now...and that they can afford such nice houses.

However, regardless of all those changes, there are some constants that have been preserved for which I am grateful.

One of them is Lacamas Lake and Round Lake up the hill to the North almost out of town. The Lakes themselves are pretty cool, but the awesome stuff is the below the dam in what we called the 'Pot Holes.' Who would have thought hidden away in this small town was some of the prettiest natural carved rock features and waterfalls. As the water tumbled over these rock beds, they would dig deep pits and create several waterfalls. This was my playground for several years of cross country (we had the best course in the division), track, and school field trips. My brother even did his trail improvement Eagle Scout Project at the park.

Here you can see Lacamas Lake which is connected at the south to Round Lake (not labeled, but obvious). At the southern-most end of Round Lake is the dam and the myriad of trails taking you through some beautiful forests with creeks, and water falls, and plant life and a ton of interesting things to soak up. In the bottom right corner (in the dark green vegetation just east-northeast to my High School Football stadium (the high school has since relocated) is a little white patch...that is the long, cascading falls. Comparing it to the stadium, you can get a feel for how long it is.

The other constant is the place of the world's best french fries, Top Burger. Every time we visit Camas we get an order of fries...and sometimes we splurge and order a malt too. The food is still as good as I remember it. I think another reason why I like eating there is because of the many times I would go there with friends.

Top Burger is the building on the corner of 15th and Everett. The clue is all the cars in the parking lot! I used to live about six blocks to the west on 15th st. My High School is (was) a block to the east.

So this Spring Break we took a trip to Camas for a nice walk and some good fries! And I reminisced the good 'ol days.