I went to sleep last night, virtually mosquito free at my camp. I was able to eat dinner with only a couple of them bothering me this morning completely different story. They are all over the place. I picked up ate my breakfast and needed to walk back down to the creek .1 away and top everything off for a long water carry. I walked out of camp at 6 AM.
The trail crosses above another beautiful meadow and then shortly I enter my first large scale burn scar here in Oregon although there is much devastation, there are also many new trees beginning to grow.
As I pass by this volcanic peak I marvel at another area where the geology is just amazing
This is the Desert Stink Beetle. I decided to finally stop and get a picture of it. I have seen it literally on just about every section of trail.
It is interesting when you come upon a patch of snow like the one pictured here it is the only remaining patch in such a large area.
There is a nice but very small stream trickling down the hillside. I’ve cameled up (term for drinking a full liter) and I’m refilling my water bottle. It was a nice surprise. I did not expect water on this section.
The trail is lined with these purple Spreading Philox plants that I have identified before. They seem to have more fragrance in this section as I walk through and they are bunched together
As I reach the top of the saddle, I again have amazing views on both sides.
While I am still about 6 miles away from actually arriving at the lake portion of the park, it does feel good to reach what has been kind of an Oregon milestone for me, Crater Lake. I won’t see the lake until tomorrow.
This is Union Peak standing tall. I will go around to the other side.
Not how I was, hoping my last 2 miles would go, full snow! The trail crossed Highway 62. We did a 1 mile road walk on it down to the Crater Lake National Park campgrounds in Manzama Village We stopped at the store and I picked up a food supply box, my son Josh sent me. He did a fantastic job! I went to the restaurant, had a burger, fries and soda, and then set up my tent and started sorting my food.
Once I got all my food days put together, I went back up to the restaurant for a second dinner. As much as I hate spending the money (I have always been fairly frugal ie tightwad) I realize I am not getting enough calories on trail and I need to get as many as I can when I’m off.
Sadly I forgot to get a picture of today’s tent site.
PCT miles hiked 18.7
Total PCT Miles hiked to date 1279.7
PCT mile marker 1820.8
(Flipped over 542.8 miles)
