Crater Lake

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We woke in the motel and found it was raining heavily. Fortunately check out time was 11 and the diner over the road served breakfast until 11.

hash browns, eggs, guacamole, salsa and toast with all the coffee we could drink.

Headed out into the rain and began climbing. Riding beside the beautiful Umpqua River which is a delightful blue/green colour.

(look closely to spot me)

The area had suffered a devastating fire in 2015 and the landscape was still in the process of recovering. 

We rolled into a campground and it was raining heavily. We spotted that the campground was also a place where rafting trips put onto the river so there were changing rooms. We also knew that the rafting season has just finished so they would be unused. They were also the perfect size for our tent.

Onwards and upwards in the rain. Stopped for supplies at Dry Creek stores and had a great chat with owner who told us all about the gradients ahead and his exploits as a child floating down the river in tractor inner tubes.

Called in at Tokatee Falls and had coffee by the lake.

Onwards up to Diamond Lake. We didn't manage many miles but it was all uphill and we were glad to set up camp.

Woke ready for the last climb up to Crater Lake. At the pay booth the ranger said we might not see the lake as it was cloudy. We carried on anyway.

By the time we got to the top it was cold but sky had cleared. Amazing views of the lake and found we had reached the snow line.

All in all an amazing place to visit and well worth 90 miles of climbing up to 2400m to reach it.