August 3rd Seeping Spring to Jude Lake

An hour or so on the trail was enough to get me to my watering hole and breakfast stop at Little Crater Lake, which is more the size of a large pond, yet nevertheless interesting and beautiful. It was formed when the siltstone was worn away by an artesian spring over time. Now there is an orangish rock that forms a shallow rim one to two feet below the surface, then it just drops off, but through the clear, light blue water, you can easily see the bottom. Its hard to tell exactly how deep it is, perhaps 20 feet at its deepest point. I just sat on a bench gazing into its depths, admiring the glassy reflection of the trees on the opposite side and watching the squirrels playing tag on the wooden walkways, all while having breakfast. It's little stolen moments like this along the trail that are truly priceless. Met the first true Nobos a bit later, most with hiker beards, a very determined look they've gained from being trail hardened, and a pace that will easily net them 30+ miles per day. They pass quickly with a hello, a smile, and a comment such as, "Isn't this glorious!"--- and then gone. I must say that I'm starting to take on the look as well, although sooner or later the beard has to go along with the itchiness. Thirty- five miles today. I had twenty by 1 o'clock. I'm camped on the shores of Jude Lake in a nice little campsite. Went to wash up in its waters, but the bottom was all wood debris and mud that was stirred up as soon as I waded in. Still found enough clean water to throw over me to call it a bath. Tried to do a little laundry too. Probably just enough to wash out the dust and salt sweat from a day on the trail, but hey, that'll do.

Trail to Mt. Jefferson

Little Crater Lake

Plants, Grasses, Flowers

35 Miles