The Watchman - 7.2.2024
We drove to Crater Lake National Park... and we parked on the south side of 'The Watchman' in the very small Lightning Spring Picnic area... and 'The Watchman' is out there in the distance.
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Less than 50 yards from where we parked we joined the Rim Trail and started hiking north on it toward 'The Watchman'... Llao Rock is out there in the distance.
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The Rim Trail offers many awesome views of the lake and the high points that surround the lake.
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Getting ready to head west on the Rim Trail... leaving this awesome view temporarily as we hike around to the east side of 'The Watchman'.
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Hiking west on the Rim Trail as the trail takes us underneath the south side of 'The Watchman'.
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The Rim Trail is still covered with snow in places.
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Time to put on the micro spikes to give us better footing in the snow.
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After hiking the Rim Trail for one mile we have headed cross country to the east... with the top of the watch tower barely visible up there in the middle of the photo.
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In less than a quarter-mile of cross country hiking on the snow we have found the snow-free Watchman Peak Trail. This trail comes up to the peak from the north, but this trail is closed due to avalanche danger on the north side of the peak.
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Nearing the summit of 'The Watchman'... here looking NE to Hillman Peak on the left... and Llao Rock on the right.
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Denali Girl heads up the steps that lead to the summit (8,013 feet) of 'The Watchman'.
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The watch tower on 'The Watchman'... and Denali Girl is very happy to be up here.
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An incredible view from the summit of 'The Watchman'. At 1,943 feet, Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States... and the 9th deepest lake in the world.
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A closer look at Hillman Peak (left) and Llao Rock... but just to the right of Hillman Peak on the horizon is Mount Thielsen... also known as the 'Lightning rod of the Cascades'.
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A closer look at Wizard Island... a volcanic cinder cone located just below 'The Watchman'... with Mount Scott on the horizon in the middle of the photo... and Dutton Cliff on the far right.
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Pretty much tracing our steps back down to the Rim Trail.
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Back on the Rim Trail.
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On the Rim Trail... hiking on the south side of 'The Watchman'.
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Almost back to the car... looking back up at 'The Watchman' in the left foreground... with Llao Rock out there in the middle of the photo.
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A stone's throw from the car where we parked in the Lightning Spring picnic area... the hike was a total of 2.9 miles, gaining 807 feet of elevation.
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