[pct-l] Resupply (and Crater Lake)

[spiritbear2k@hotmail.com (Ginny & Jim Owen)]

One thing to consider (but not count on) with resupply is that sometimes the 
post offices that are listed as closed on Saturday will allow you to pick up 
during the brief window of time that the postal person is sorting mail.  
Idyllwild, for example, would let thruhikers pick up mail on Saturday and an 
hour earlier than the "opening time" in the morning.  Old Station was 
another - when we rushed to get there on Friday afternoon, we were told, "Oh 
we would have given you your box between 11:00 and 12:00 Saturday."  Even 
better, the postmaster at Cascade Locks let us in on Saturday to pick up the 
box of brownies Jim's daughter sent after we called him to ask if that would 
be possible.  We had already picked up our mail the day before, and were 
planning to leave town on Saturday, but were told in a call that the box had 
been sent and ought to be waiting for us.  Since he opened up for us 
specially, we rewarded him with a few brownies, and everyone was happy.

Re Crater Lake - a lot of people miss the hike from the campground to the 
Rim -- it is a really nice hike.  Don't take the road if you can help it.  
We did a maildrop at the store, took a shower, did laundry and leisurely 
climbed up to the AYCE buffet by the lake.

Also, the day before you reach Crater Lake, the side trail to the waterfall 
is one I recommend.  For one thing, it has water, which the official route 
lacks.  Second, the waterfall is really pretty and there's good camping 
nearby.

Ginny


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