Day 123: ⛺@ mile 1'804.3 - Crater Lake NP

Date: 08.08.2018 Miles hiked today: 16.6 Miles / 26.71km Total Mileage: mile 1'820.9 Today we will reach Crater Lake, one of the highlights of Oregon. It's the deepest lake in all of America but I wonder if we are lucky enough to see it, due to the smoke. But it's roughly 17 miles away from our camp and this is the village, which again is a couple of miles away from the actual lake. In the village you can shower, eat, make laundry and resupply. That's were we plan to stop first and then hike 7 more miles to the camp at the lake. Parmesan is still packing up, Dutchess left camp already and I'm about to leave. Soon later I pass Duchesss and keep on hiking. I hike fast and only break twice. We mostly hiked through burned areas which only burned last year. It was like I would imagine the moon to be. Dark to black ground out of sand and ash, if trees were left and still standing they are pitch black from botton to top, no branches left and fallen burned trees all over the trail. This was the most recently burned area I hiked through I guess. Sad to look at but in a way also beautiful. Often the trail today felt more like an obstacle path rather than a hiking trail. Shortly after 12 o clock I reach the street to the village. And surprise, surprise there is trail magic! A cooled box full of drinks, cherries, avocado, cheese and ice - amazing! Three other hikers are there too and after refreshing we walk to the village, guess what?, straight into the restaurant! Parmesan and Duchess have not yet arrived. In the village I run into Maria (Sparkles). I've thought she is far away and never thought that I will see her so soon again, what a pleasant surprise! However, she is just about to leave, she arrived last night already. She tells me that also Apachi and Helther are here. This is the second big surprise. I was wondering when we will pump into them again, but didn't think this will happen for a while. And soon later our plan to hike in 7 more miles was gone - again - no sight of crater lake today :) we all decided to stay here tonight and celebrate Parmesan's birthday with some more beers :) that also gives us the opportunity to resupply, shower and even make laundry. I feel so good again! We set camp together with a couple of other hikers, where I also meet Moses again! He hitched here from Ashland and made it here too, how nice! We have a good evening with some beers and wine and stayed out late (for us hikers!). 

Evening camping party!