Map Guy was busy running the hike to the top of Tumalo Mountain through his various cost-versus-benefit models, assessing the slope and the burn and the potential return, when a funny thing happened.

We reached the top of the 7,775-foot mountain, caught our breath and gazed out at Broken Top and South Sister in all their snow-laden glory.

It’s a mile-and-a-half to the top, which makes the climb just about right for a bracing half-day hike. One moment you’re trudging upward listening to Map Guy mumble beneath his breath about the terrain, the next you’re there, reaping the benefits of your toil.

The trail begins at Dutchman Flat parking area and climbs through a thick canopy of mixed conifers. But before long, you’re stepping into the sunlight midway up the mountain and admiring Mount Bachelor to the south. The snow has pretty well melted off the trail; the patches we did encounter were short-lived and going fast.

There’s a big, steep, scary-looking snowfield just over the crest on the northeast side; otherwise the summit is clear. Except for the wildflowers that bloom in profusion all over the higher reaches of the mountain.

It’s a far cry from winter. That’s the season when a steady stream of skiers, snowshoers and snowboarders head up the snowy mountain for cold weather thrills.

But this day, it was all butterflies and birds and the pungent tang of evergreens.

Scrambling back down the hill, I paid close attention to my footing; I came close to crashing a couple of times.

But that other part of my brain, the one that’s not responsible for survival but likes to ramble about the countryside, began wondering where the word Tumalo came from.

It turned out Map Guy didn’t know (he made something up and it took me a few minutes to determine he was leading me down the garden path). So I had to wait to consult the experts.

And here’s the deal.

According to Pat Kliewer, Deschutes County associate planner for cultural and historic resources, tumalo was the Native American term for icy water.

That jibes with Lewis McArthur’s ”Oregon Geographic Names,” which says the word tumalo comes from the native word tumallowa, or icy water.

McArthur also lists the Native American word tmolo as a possible root for tumalo. Tmolo means wild plum, which was once quite abundant in Central Oregon, according to the author.

Dogs are permitted on the Tumalo Mountain Trail, but horses, bikes and motorized vehicles are not.

The trail and the top of the mountain are on the cusp of the Bend Watershed but don’t fall within its boundaries. The watershed, to the north, is a source of Bend drinking water and is off limits to dogs, stock, camping, fires and motorized vehicles.

IF YOU GO:

GETTING THERE: From Bend, drive about 20 miles west on Century Drive toward Mount Bachelor. The Dutchman Flat parking area is on the right side of Century Drive just before the main Mount Bachelor parking lot.

ROUND-TRIP DISTANCE: About three miles.

DIFFICULTY: Moderate.

ACCESS: Hikers.

PERMITS: Northwest Forest Pass required to park in the lot.

Jim Witty can be reached at 541-617-7828 or jwitty@bendbulletin.com.