Day 120 – From Bobby Lake to Cliff Lake, mile 1942

Aug 18.

Cold morning, so we got a bit later start at 7.15am. Bobby Lake offered spectacular views with the rising of the sun.

We saw signs from an ultra trail run (100km) and ran into a station shortly after. We chatted with the people there and got some trail magic… Got some snacks and moved on.

We took water at 7 miles in at Charlton lake but continued on without break. We needed to reduce our breaks to make more miles. We planned to filter in another two miles where cellphone reception was expected. We did some online ordering for gear replacement at Amazon and REI.

Today we ran into Pinecone, Medicine Man and Sharpshooter a couple of times.

Next stop at Stormy Lake at 2.15pm. Took a bath and thoroughly washed, had lunch and relaxed.

Just before leaving, Crumbs showed up. Some smalltalk, then we left.

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Arrived at a tentsite above Cliff Lake at 7.15pm. Pitched the tents, got dinner and slept before nightfall.

Day 119 – From Shelter Cove to Bobby Lake, mile 1915

Aug 17.

Slept long and well at the Shelter Cove campground, the night was comfortably cool. But I realized that my sleeping pad is loosing air… again. I had it replaced just before the Sierra and now it was loosing air again. Probably not a puncture but maybe a failure of the valve – just in the early morning I hit the floor. Will try to get it replaced again – hope Thermarest / Cascade Designs is again customer friendly.

Went for breakfast around 8.30am. We were hanging out a bit longer, using internet, having snacks and another shower. Chatted with Medicine Man, Sharpshooter and Pinecone – they have also been hiking as a group for long time and we ran into them again and again. Left Shelter Cove finally around 1.30pm.

A 1000 feet climb was waiting, but with the short hiking day yesterday and today’s late start, the hiking went well. We had missed the 1900 miles marker, so we created our own.

Made use of a water cache at mile 1913.

Pitched the tents at Bobby Lake at mile 1915 around 7pm.

Day 118 – From tentsite to Shelter Cove, mile 1904

Aug 16.

We got an early start at the water cache, on trail 6.30am.

Found the trail head for the Oregon Skyline Trail (OST) and started the hike for about 20 miles towards Shelter Cove. A shop for resupply, potentially a shower, laundry and some hot food were waiting for us.

We did 10 miles by 10 and walked a bit further to the Whitefish Horse Campground for tap water and an early lunch break in the shade.

Continued through the heat and humidity. We walked behind a family riding horses on the OST for quite a while. The trail was so dusty… Dust everywhere and the horses created even bigger clouds of dust.

But the trail was easy to walk and we made good progress towards Shelter Cove. The Oregon Skyline Trail is an alternate to the PCT. We had expected better views – at the end it was again lots of trees and some lakes with mosquitoes.

The last section just before Shelter Cove was beautiful – following a river leading into Shelter Cove.

With just 20 miles today, we made it early enough to Shelter Cove for all the errands we had planned. We ran into Happy Hermit leaving the resort already – he had been taking a dip in the lake instead of a shower and was heading back to trail.

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Day 117 – From tentsite to tentsite, mile 1876

Aug 15.

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We got up at 5.30am and continued our chat with Excel during breakfast. She would leave later since she only planned 8 miles for today. She had been off trail for some days due to the smoke and was slowly increasing miles again.

We left at 6.30am. We had amazing views on Mt. Thielsen. With the smoke and a cloudy sky, the morning sun offered some nice photo opportunities.

We took water 8 miles in at Thielsen creek 1854. It would be a long water carry, took 3.5 liters for the next 22 miles.

After the lunch break at mile 1863 at 2pm at the Maidu lake junction, we had several milestones waiting… the highpoint of the PCT in the states Oregon and Washington at about 7500 feet as well as the 3000 km marker.

Considering the overall PCT highpoint at Forester Pass in the Sierra at around 13000 feet, this is really not so much…

Nice that major milestones are even marked in the metric system….

When you walk on the PCT and suddenly run into a group of hikers, there is either trail magic with free sodas or beer to be expected… or cellphone coverage. 🙂

cof — Who cares about an amazing view if you can have internet access….

Continuing on, we had an increasing humidity and even a few drops rain…

With the limited water availability today, we had to push on to the next source and camped at a water cache at dirt road at mile 1876, the crossing with Skyline trail.

30 miles today.

Day 116 – From Crater Lake to tentsite, mile 1846

Aug 14.

Got up in time to be at the Mazama village store opening at 7am for a first breakfast.

We got some donuts and coffee started hiking towards the Rim Village around 8am. We got offered a ride up but with only place for one, Mermaid took the ride and our packs with it. So we could slackpack quickly the steep 3-4 miles up to the crater rim.
What a view!

Up there we met up with Mermaid again and got our packs. Twerk did a crater photo session, we watched and joined later for a group shot – unfortunately not the one he would publish later.

Afterwards breakfast in the Crater Lake Lodge – never miss out an opportunity to eat.

cof — Delicious french toast with bacon strips and some extra scrambled eggs….

We finally started hiking around 11.30am with our bellies full. Mermaid decided to stay back for another zero to watch sunrise at Crater Lake tomorrow.

We followed the Rim Trail around the crater. It is an alternate to the PCT. But since the PCT is closed here, everyone is taking this scenic alternate. The trail was steeper than expected and passed by parking lots for the day tourists every couple of miles.

Made it to the first water cache where the rim trail joins the PCT again around 3pm, lunch break there.

Hiked on to the next water cache at mile 1846, group of hikers trail magic. Met up with Excel again – we had been hiking with her and others in a bigger groups for several weeks but had not seen her since the Sierra.

We had a very nice evening – dinner together and quite a lot to chat about – catching up on the last weeks.