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Crater Lake National Park, OR

Aug 25 - Sep 1, 2022 -- $1425 ★

7,700 years ago in Southwest Oregon (probably on a Wednesday) a volcanic caldera formed what is now Crater Lake National Park. The resounding beauty of Crater Lake's extremely deep, pure and blue water make it a life-list destination. Every day, we will day-hike atop the surrounding cliffs, 2000' above the lake for sweeping views of the lake and island and on one day nwill take a ferry to the Wizard Island where we'll summit the caldera. There's even swimming at Cletewood Cove if you dare (Crater Lake is cold)


Our excursion will base camp at the Mazama Village Campground for the week. We'll day-hike along the gorgeous Crater Lake Rim and summit 8094' Garfield Peak, 8054' Watchman and 8934' Mt. Scott and 6932' Wizard Island. We will be exposed to almost continual expansive views of Crater Lake and the surrounding mountains. Check out this page for more details about what to expect on our trip to Wizard Island.



Weather

Weather is always an important concern when hiking. Expect daytime hiking temperatures in the 60s & 70s and nighttime temperatures in the 30s and 40s. However, be prepared for the possibility of 80s during the day and freezing temperatures overnight. Summertime generally means fair weather, but it can rain and there still might be snow on the ground. You can also check out the historical weather conditions.



Probable Trip Leaders

Steve Silberberg
Bruce Cannon


Cost

$1425 per person double occupancy. Here, double occupancy means that you will share a room with another participant during the 2 hotel nights. You will only be responsible for transportation to and from Medford, OR (MFR), personal equipment, restaurant meals eaten off the trail and any gratuities for gugides.


Covered expenses include 2 hotel nights, 6 days of trail meals, ground transportation, Park entrance fees, Ferry fees to Wizard Island, National Park permits, campground fees, and 2 awesome guides.


Tipping: In order to keep our prices competitive with (and hopefully favorable to) other outfitters, we shamefully can’t pay our guides as much as we think they deserve. Like most other guiding services, we rely on the generosity of our participants to make up this shortfall by tipping the guides. While tips are not required or expected, if your guides have served you well, please consider a gratuity so they can continue living their extravagant lifestyles of eating powdered meals, sleeping in the dirt and pooping in smelly outhouses and small holes they've dug.



Important Note

The trails around Crater Lake, are very well groomed with occasional blowdowns in some sections. And while there are certainly terrain changes, expect most days to involve fairly long uphill (and subsequently downhill) climbs.


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Packing List
Itinerary
Weather
Guides for this trip
Cost
Important Note
Difficulty (Please Read)
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Itinerary


Thursday, August 25, 2022

Drive or Fly into Medford, OR (MFR). The best time to arrive is between around Noon-3PM. However this is a small airport with limited service, so if you can save a substantial amount by arriving a few hours earlier or later, then do so.

Take the free airport shuttle to our local hotel Quality Inn & Suites Airport, 1950 Biddle Road, Medford, OR, 97504, (541) 779-0050

Equipment shakedown

Make Your Own Trail mix from our assortment of items

Go to REI or Northwest Outdoor Store, 980 Biddle Rd., Medford, Oregon 97504, (541) 245-4000 for last minute equipment

"Before" body composition measurements taken

Go out for dinner in town (not included in trip price)



Friday, August 26, 2022

Second set of "before" measurements taken

Free breakfast at hotel

All the items that you won't bring on the trail will be set aside and put in storage.

Shuttle about 2.5 hours to the Mazama Campground

Set up camp for the week and have lunch

Shuttle to Park Headquarters to pick up permit

Hike 0.7 miles on the Lady of the Woods Loop, elevation 6400'

Hike 1.3 roundtrip miles to the Castle Crest Wildflower Garden Loop, elevation 6500'

Shuttle to the Watchman, elevation 7400'

Hike 1.4 roundtrip miles to the summit of the Watchman, elevation 8056'

Shuttle back to the Mazama Campground, site(s) TBD

Miles today: 3.4. Total miles: 3.4


Saturday, August 27, 2022

Shuttle to Mt. Scott, elevation 7450'

Hike 5.0 roundtrip miles to the summit of Mt. Scott, elevation 8929' (highest in the park)

Shuttle to Plaikni Falls Trailhead, elevation 6400'

Hike 2.0 round trip miles to Plaikni Falls, elevation 6656'

Shuttle back to the Mazama Campground, site(s) TBD

Miles today: 7.0. Total miles: 10.4


Sunday, August 28, 2022

Shuttle to North Junction on the Crater Lake Rim

Hike 4.4 undulating miles with all day views of the lake on the Crater Lake Rim to Rim Village.

Shuttle back to the Mazama Campground, site(s) TBD

Hike 1.7 miles on the Annie Creek Trail just adjacent to the campground, elevation 5800'-6000'

Miles today: 6.1. Total miles: 16.5


Monday, August 29, 2022

Shuttle to Vidae Falls, elevation 6400'

Day-Hike 6.2 round trip miles on the Crater Peak Trail to Crater Peak, elevation 7263'

Shuttle to the Godfrey Glen Trail, elevation 6000'

Day-Hike 1.0 miles on the Godfrey Glen Trail featuring old growth forest, elevation 6050'

Shuttle back to the Mazama Campground, site(s) TBD

Miles today: 7.2. Total miles: 23.7


Tuesday, August 30, 2022

Shuttle to the Cleetwood Cove Trailhead and arrive by 7:30AM, elevation 6831'

Day-Hike 1.1 steep downhill miles to the lakeshore boat landing, elevation 6175'

Take the 8:30AM Wizard Island Shuttle Cruise to Wizard Island (cruise fee is included in trip price)

Arrive at Wizard Island Boat Dock, elevation 6175'

There is an outhouse on Wizard Island

There is swimming off of Wizard Island if you dare.

Day-Hike 0.9 miles on the Wizard Island Summit Trail to the summit, elevation 6873'

Board the ferry at Wizard Island Boat Dock (time TBD), elevation 6175'

Arrive at Cleetwood Cove at 3:05PM, elevation 6175'

Day-Hike 1.1 miles to our shuttle vehicle(s), elevation 6831'

Shuttle back to the Mazama Campground, site(s) TBD

Miles today: 4.0. Total miles: 27.7


Wednesday, August 31, 2022

Break camp. Pack up all items and put them in vehicle(s)

Shuttle to Rim Village, elevation 7100'

Day-Hike 3.4 miles round trip to Garfield Peak Summit, elevation 8054'

End of hiking

Miles today: 3.4. Total miles: 31.1

Possible bailout: Rim Drive

Shuttle back to Medord hotel Quality Inn & Suites Airport, 1950 Biddle Road, Medford, OR, 97504, (541) 779-0050

After measurements taken

Dinner and awards Ceremony (Dinner not included in trip cost)

This is the official end of the trip. You are welcome to spend the night at the hotel, however if you drove and would like to get on the road or if you flew and would like to schedule a late flight (or a red-eye if this is a West Coast trip) you can definitely do so.


Thursday, September 1, 2022

Free airport shuttle


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