Day 52 : Thielsen Creek Meadows

Start – Thielsen Creek Meadows (2115 m)
Finish – Highway 138 (1805 m)
Daily Distance – 14 km + Mt Thielsen summit
Ascent – 785 m
Descent – 500 m

Mt Thielsen can be said to have an abundance of characterful topography. Colloquially known as the lightning rod of the Cascades as its summit is struck by lightning more than any other in the region, it has a jagged and rather forbidding aspect. Fortunately, the route is reasonably well trodden and generally clear. It is nevertheless a loose and rocky route, requiring scrambling towards the end, so is far from easy. The undertaking was eased greatly though by Deschutes and I carrying only light rucksacks. Liberated from our large packs, we felt like we could almost fly up the ascent. For about 5 minutes anyway, before reality and limited lung capacity set in and flying morphed into trudging, which in turn eased into light scrambling. It is at this point I should mention that we actually didn’t quite reach the summit. The final 6 metres or so require an even greater degree of climbing, and not quite being sure where the route was we ended up missing it. After assessing what we thought the route was, we concluded that getting up would likely pose little problem, but getting safely back down may have been a different story. It was only after our ‘summit’ photos, admiring the view and looking back down to our campsite of the night before that we noticed the correct route up. However, by that point, the moment had passed, so shrugging we set off back down the mountain, leaving the summit untroubled by our presence.

Returning back to the trail junction where we had hidden our packs after only 2:45, even if the summit hadn’t been achieved, we were comfortably quicker than the 6 hour round-trip estimate we had received from the Diamond Lake resort staff. And overall, it was a great break from the routine of beautifully groomed PCT paths, which generally avoid any technical terrain.

After the strenuous morning, our afternoon was considerably easier and ended with another early finish. Within the boundaries of Crater Lake national park camping is restricted to only a few locations, leaving only options of an early finish or a late finish. The clinching factor was the presence of picnic benches and a toilet at the nearest campground. Sometimes, it really is the little things.

This does nicely setup hiking the Crater lake rim trail tomorrow though, which may end up being my final hiking day of this trip. On the one hand, I am ready for a break from hiking, but on the other, the end has snuck up on me, so I have not mentally prepared myself for reintegrating into the ‘real’ world.