Ashland to Crater Lake
Five days and 132 miles out of Ashland, the start of solo life, ending on the rim of the deepest lake in America.
Ashland was the hinge of the whole hike. Day 98, August 5, “3 zeroes to shake out,” was the first day of a month that ran Ashland to Canada, more than 900 miles in 31 days.
Day 99 was a “smoke show.” Day 100 carries the heaviest title in the log: “The split. Solo life.” The photos from that day are an empty road into the sun and Mount McLoughlin standing over a lava field.
Every quoted line is from 2021, verbatim.
Day 101 was 35 miles, the biggest day of the hike to that point, with sunrise over a cloud sea in the Sky Lakes.
Day 102 was 28.8 more and ended at the rim of Crater Lake, Wizard Island floating in that blue. The trail walks you along the rim like it’s nothing.
The food, Ashland
My Shop’n Kart review from that week: “Don’t go anywhere else. I went to every store. Everything you need, great prices (Pro-Bars 2.60) dried goods, crazy bar selection yadda yadda.” The phone note did the math for what came next: Ashland to Crater Lake, 100 miles, 4 days. 8 dinners, oats for 6 days, bars for 6.
keep walking