Mon 8/8, Day 98, 16 miles, mile 1818

We were hiking by 5:45. It was just dark enough to need headlamps for the first 10 minutes or so. It is getting noticeably darker in the morning. If I didn’t have to worry about stepping on a rock on my forefoot, I wouldn’t need the extra light.

The blowdowns began right out of camp, like yesterday. However, there were not as many – perhaps half. Still, there were a lot of blowdowns and they went on for about 6 miles.

We got to Mazama Village at 12:30 and ate lunch in the restaurant. There were probably 15 thrus hanging out around the store and restaurant. The trails in the park had been closed for the past week due to fire but reopened yesterday, thankfully. The official PCT, oddly, does not go to the rim of the crater. So nearly everyone takes an alternate that goes up to the rim and stays up there for miles.

There are a number of alternates by choice (vs closure alternates) that are commonly taken. We have taken several, with more to come. The alternates are always more scenic. And certainly tomorrow’s will be, as well.

DC in the burnt out forest we hiked through this morning.

Entering Crater Lake National Park. We won’t see the lake until we hike up there tomorrow.

Bamboo and Knee Deep using pay phones. When was the last time you saw people on a pay phone? Obviously, there is no cell service here.

Hanging out around the Mazama Village Store