Day 99: mile 1808.9-1820.9 (Crater Lake)
Day 100: Rim Trail mile 2.3-11 HALFWAY!!
The walk into Crater Lake was pretty uneventful and a mile longer than expected. I accidentally stopped shorter than planned last night without even noticing, oops! I passed through the burn area (the majority of the 12 miles) and made it to the parking lot where I was hoping to score a ride, but no such luck. It was a short walk anyway.
I arrived at the park and headed straight for the restaurant where I spent the rest of the day. Myself and a pack of other hikers hung out to charge our phones, do laundry, shower, and eat of course. I had planned to take the trolley to explore the lake, but it only runs 3 times a day at 9, 10, and 11, being that I didn’t arrive until after 1, I missed them all. The walk to the lake was a long one, so the consensus was to wait until tomorrow and take the trolley.
A wonderful family was nice enough to let us stay at their campsite since the PCT camp is closed and everything is full. They invited us for s’mores and beers, but somehow it’s already after 9 pm so I’m being a lame party pooper and staying in my tent. It’s also a little cold and mosquito-y out. What a baby.
Day 100
In no hurry this morning I headed back over to the restaurant for breakfast and one last charge of my phone and batteries, along with everyone else. We all sat around discussing plans for the day while I drank way too many cups of hot coffee. Fully caffeinated I jumped in the trolley with most of the gang that had been hanging around since yesterday. We also had one new addition, who I discovered was not so new. Bowie and I met around mile 300 and hadn’t seen each other since. So crazy! It was so fun to see him again!
We hopped off the trolley to finally get a glimpse of Crater Lake. It did not disappoint. The water was so blue, and the way it turned a turquoise-green at the shoreline and shallow areas reminded me of a tropical island. Wow, I was mesmerized. So happy I chose the alternate route for this area, I can’t imagine missing this!
Descarte and Squeeks joined me for the first few miles, and then I left them as they were considering getting a ride around the rest of the lake.
Shortly after myself and a very curious deer celebrated my halfway point. If this isn’t the ideal halfway marker I don’t know what is?
I caught back up with Bowie and we hiked the rest of the afternoon together. We were going to try to camp somewhere we could see the lake for the sunset (my one goal), but it just didn’t work out, so we headed on to Grouse Campground, which was just shy of where the alternate rejoins the PCT. I celebrated halfway one more time with my can of bubbly while we talked for hours around the fire. Realizing it was 9 o’clock we headed to sleep. Such a cool day and big milestone, definitely one of my favorite stops yet!
Goodnight!
XOXO Becks
What a beautiful lake! Definitely made for a fantastic halfway mark it seems!