Crater Lake (6/9)

Monday we slept in a little, we were both tired from yesterday and from our night at the races.  Once we get moving we drive up to Crater Lake.  We were about half way there when we started seeing snow, a lot of snow. We had wanted to take the East Rim drive but it was closed, we heard until July 1. What a bummer.  But then we got out first view of Crater Lake.  Now I have seen it before but seeing it with snow all around the peeks and some on it's shores was breathtaking!

We walked around the top of the crater as far as we could and went up Garfield Peak a ways but you couldn't go past the snow.  So we drove on down to the visitor center where we were told all the trails are still closed.  That includes the PCT.  You can go a little ways but then you lose the trail.  We were told it should all be open by the time the PCT hikers get here.
We were very sad to hear that our good friend Alan Underkofler has sustained an injury and had to leave the PCT for 4 to 6 weeks.  He has a stress fracture in his foot.  He made it to Lone Pine where he was able to receive medical treatment and is in good spirits.  His hiking partner and girlfriend Nicole is going to go on without him.  He will be her trail angel until he can rejoin her on the trail.  We wish them both the best send our love to them.

OK no hiking at Crater Lake, so on to plan B.  After the visitor center we drove back to the Clearwater Falls to see the falls since we weren't able to do that while turning the fifth wheel around.  It is just a short walk up the creek to the falls.  It is small but majestic!


On the way back to the park we stopped at the store and pizza shop.  The gentleman working the counter suggested we try hiking MT Thielsen.  So the is what we will do on Tuesday.