Not sure if there will be a visible sunrise tomorrow. Hoping it'll clear.
However, when I wake around 2am, it's clear and there are millions of stars in the sky. Amazing!
I wake at 5am and it's still clear. Time to watch sunrise for the 3rd and final time at Crater Lake.
Around 5:30 I head down to watch to first oranges appear.
And a bat that was zipping around eating the mosquito that got me on the shoulder at yesterday sunrise.
And then the progress to a nice orange ring around the rim.
Then it's back to pack, breakfast and start the drive for a hike at the town of Union Peak along the Rogue River.
Although it was sunny up at Crater Lake, it's still cloudy down here but there are peeks of sunlight.
We park near Becky's Restaurant which may be our lunch spot today and walk a bit to a viewpoint of the river.
Then we follow the river south.
It's thru forest in spots and then thru lots of vegetation (fern, brushes) all wet from the rain.
Trees are starting to change.
and then it's uphill a couple hundred feet thru the woods only to go immediately back down. Not sure why the trail climbed, seemed like a waste.
When we get to the bottom we're back in civilation as we near the Natural Bridge viewpoint. It's where the river drops into a lava tube (disappearing) and popping up a bit down river.
The river enters an old volcano tube.
And pops out downstream.
Now it's time to walk our way back to the trail head.
And then over to Becky's where there's a 1/2 hour wait. One guide, a guest and me head over to the BBQ truck for instant gratification of lunch (pulled pork for me) while the others where looking at us from across the street.
Good day - good trip.
