That stretch of the PCT near Crater Lake made me ditch my plans to go faster

I was pushing 20 mile days until I hit that ridge overlooking the lake at mile 1,820 and realized I had walked right past three waterfalls I wanted to see, so I'm dropping to 12 miles tomorrow just to actually look around.

3 comments

3 Comments

ward.piper1mo ago

Crater Lake made me take 47 photos of one chipmunk and call it a rest day.

martin.jamie1mo ago

My buddy did the same thing last year at Crater Lake. He sent me a picture of a chipmunk posing like it was National Geographic worthy with the lake behind it.

wesleyburns1mo ago

Oregon Section H, mile 1,819. That's where I picked up my pace and kept going. I get why you want to slow down, but I'd argue the opposite. The whole point of thru-hiking is covering ground, not stopping to count chipmunks like @ward.piper did. Three waterfalls you missed? You'll see plenty more before Canada. The best views on the PCT aren't always the ones you stand and stare at for an hour. They're the ones you earn by pushing through and seeing how the land changes over twenty miles. I passed that same ridge and kept my 20 mile days, and I don't regret a single one.