Day 6 - Snowmass Lake to Crater Lake

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7 miles, 1580 feet up and 2386 feet down. Most of the morning is spent drying out gear. Once packed up, we head for Buckskin Pass and Crater Lake. Some sun, some showers up until a mile below the pass when it begins to rain steadily. Thunder in the distance. We get good views of Snowmass Mountain, Capitol Peak (both at left below) and Pyramid Peak (at right) before everything closes in.

Over the pass in the rain. Even now the views are great from the pass. I'm wearing both my Gore-Tex parka and my Gore-Tex pants, pack is covered with a rain cover. I'm feeling comfortably warm and dry until we reach treeline again at which point the long downhill has resulted in my getting chilled. Time for more clothes.

Arriving at Crater Lake, the rain stops and we get campsite #1. Campsites here are all marked and are well separated. Views from the lake of the surrounding area are beautiful.

Pikas abound in the area across from the campsite but are camera shy. Snowshoe hares, frolicking golden mantled ground squirrels and mule deer are also common here.

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