July 11 - Crater Lake NP : Its a Party!

July 11 - Crater Lake NP : Its a Party!

On the way to Crater Lake National Park I met just a few people; Debbie from Vancouver British Columbia, Pascal from somewhere overseas, and the guy that deserted me to the crazies that showed up last night after the family went elsewhere. 

I'll start with the crazies. Just as I turned off my the kindle and decided to sleep a group showed up with headlights scanning everywhere, but it seemed especially in my direction. Not only did they see my tent, they set up their hammocks and tent just feet from me, lit a fire (there are fire restrictions in place - duh), and proceeded to talk about how quiet they should be (Not!). In return I got up at 4:15 and shown my light around as I made as much noise as I could getting ready for the trail.   I hope they appreciated my preparations. 

I was up early on purpose since today needed to be a 23 miler if I wanted something other than oatmeal for dinner. I miscalculated how long it would take me to get to Crater Lake NP and only included enough dinners if I really hoofed it the last day. Fortunately I made it, but not without some extreme effort. 

The first indication of a potential bad day was when I met Pascal as he passed me on the trail. I met him again half an hour later as he turned around to get the water he had forgotten. Not good. It was 19 miles between water holes! That resolved, he passed me again and led the way over snow covered trail. I blindly followed his tracks through a particularly difficult snow covered section with lots of blowdowns only to find that I was almost a mile from the PCT on a trail that went somewhere I didn't want to be. At the point I noticed his footprints going the other way I checked my phone navigation and promptly sat heavily on a log to let out a stream of F*** F*** F***! Then I calmly turned back and my 23 mile day became 26 miles. 

That wouldn't have been so bad except for the blister on my heel and the fact that the last five miles were snow covered and mosquito infested which made for very slow progress. I made sure I checked my navigation whenever I lost tracks or was unsure if the trail took a turn. It was a good thing I did because several times I was a few hundred feet from the trail, but clearly following a series of footprints. 

As I trudged into Mazama Village I could see hikers at the store. My destination was the restaurant as I had mostly skipped lunch (oatmeal for lunch? Yuck) and it was already 6:30. I met several hikers there who gave me the low down on where to camp, etc. after dinner I picked up my resupply box at the store and talked with a few hikers. Most had skipped to Ashland to avoid the snow in the Sierra. 

The hiker camp looked a bit like a homeless camp in the woods with tents set up in any space available and stuff left out on picnic tables for the critters. I put my box and food into a bear box and set up just in time for everyone to come back and tell stories around the campfire. 

18 year olds Levi and Phil, Captain, Sharon (Poison Oak), and Cougar Bait are just some of the characters I met. It seemed that everyone was avoiding the snow and yet they all enjoyed glissading down Devils Peak. 

Sorry, but not many pictures on this section. I think I was too focused on standing upright and making the miles. 

Yes, that's the trail. About 95% of the last five miles was covered with mounds of snow in between patches of wet trail. 

Hikingsolo (aka Allen)