8 miles of hiking • 2500' elevation gain • 1 night
Lavapalooza, Day One! Started and finished the day at the Scott Lake Campground, just a few miles west of Dee Wright Observatory. It was to be our basecamp for five nights, as we wandered around the Three Sisters and Mount Washington Wilderness Areas by day.
Black Crater offers one of the most spectacular views of the Cascade volcanoes I believe I have ever seen. I easily counted 15 or 16 composite cones, and a great many more cinder cones, from this vantage point. The trail is relatively easy, gaining 600-800' per mile, mostly in the forest. The last mile or so rises above the trees, and the views really start opening up.
Awesome day, with some really wonderful new trail friends!
