I slept in a bit, an extra 30 minutes, at the campsite and then packed up and headed out. I had about a 1 1/4 mile highway road walk to get back to the trail.
From the trail head, I went 2 1/2 miles to the PCT alternate trail that goes around the Crater Lake rim. I took the alternate for another 2.3 miles to the rim of the lake. The mosquitoes are out in force again Some of them wanted to hitchhike on my shoulder. I got my first look at the lake. It is gorgeous. I then went to the Rim Village Café. I had two English muffins with cheese and egg, not the breakfast I was hoping for, and spent some time charging up my electronics before heading back out.
The café did have a few signs explaining the history of Crater Lake that I thought were interesting.
I hiked the PCT alternate rim trail around crater lake. The views are phenomenal. The lake is beautiful, the water a deep blue, and crystal clear. I’m posting all the pictures individually, and I will make a video with them all included at the end in a montage.
The rim trail itself is 2 miles shorter than the actual PCT but it’s elevation gain and loss is significantly more, plus I did a mile road walk yesterday and today so all in all I’m pretty even the app I use counts the alternate and true PCT as the same mileage.
Once off the rim I had a fairly level hike through forests. I stopped 3 miles short of where I had intended to camp as it was getting later and I was hungry, but ended 3 miles more than my 20 mile a day goal. I had intended to try to get to Diamond Lake resort but once I reached the highway I would have to get a hitch in and I figured by the time I got there it would be too late. I may try to go in in the morning to get a breakfast.
I found a good flat spot on the side of the trail set up my tent ate my dinner, and my breakfast leftover from this morning and the remaining snack I have not finished. My goal is to eat all of every day as food not saving any and try to keep my calories up. And the mosquitoes are still trying to get me.
Today’s PCT miles hiked 24.2
Total PCT Miles hiked to date 1303.9
PCT mile marker 1845.1
(Flipped over 542.8 miles)
