24     Mazama Village - Shelter Cove Resort  81 miles

Mazama Village CG

Stock/Hiker Trail Junction              14.6 m

Road 1853                                   9.5 m

Road 700                                    25.5 m

Little Pond                                  25.5 m

Shelter Cove                                6.2 m

Following an extensive breakfast at the NP restaurant I started late to crater lake. There I had a great view of the lake. Due to the many forest fires the view deteriorated during the day. Here I made use of civilisation in form of the restaurant and had lunch. This spared me from making my own meal. From here the trail went for a while along the crater rim. Towards evening the trail left the lake and later I arrived at the point where the hiker and the equestrian trail meet again. And here was a water cache. During the night it started raining. I had to get up and set up my tarp in a hurry. And then we even had a thunder storm passing by. It was still raining the next morning. This was for sure the wettest day of the whole hike. So I started wearing my poncho / tarp. Fortunately it slowly dried up before midday. The following day I had just finished my lunch and was about to start hiking again when I ran into two people. One of them was on his bike. They informed me that only about a mile ahead trail magic was waiting. And I had already finished my lunch. A big camper was waiting at the intersection of forest road 961. Chairs were set up and a table was full of food. Later they started their barbecue preparing great food. Including the trail angels we were finally 21 thruhiker. What a site. Next morning we got breakfast.

From here on the trail was closed due to wild fires. So we had to start a reroute. Following the forest road we arrived at Diamond Lake. Following its shore we walked through an endless camp ground until finally reaching Diamond Lake Resort, another spot with ice cream. From here on we had to follow for a while a busy main road. After a while a car stopped. It was the trail angel from Mazama Village and several earlyer places. Once he dropped us off again we followed another forest road. Only the day after around lunch we arrived at the PCT at Summit Lake again. A day later the PCT was closed again. At Shelter Cove Resort & Marina located on Odell Lake was another food package waiting for me. Also I was waiting for my new foam sleeping pad. The old one was worn out after having served on Appalachian Trail, several European trails and almost 2,000 miles of PCT. And here we met the trail angel again. He supported his thruhiking son.

View of Crater Lake

Raindrops around midnight forced me to set up my tarp in the dark

Trail closure due to forest fires

Rider near Mink Lake Trail

Morning fog at Horseshoe Lake

This is the US. PCT sign is used for target practice by trigger happy Americans

Blooming plants by the wayside

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