The PCT stretch near Crater Lake went from dreamy to dangerous in 3 seasons

I hiked that section 2 years ago and it was gorgeous with clear water sources and solid trail markers. Came back last month and half the trail was washed out from those big storms, plus two creeks I counted on were totally dry. Seems like the 2022 wildfires changed the drainage up there and nobody updated the guides. Has anyone else seen a popular route degrade this fast where the maps just don't match reality anymore?

2 comments

2 Comments

jamiesingh15d ago

Half the trail washed out and creeks totally dry"? Dude that is wild. I remember checking FarOut for that section in 2021 and everyone was raving about the reliable water sources. It's crazy how fast things can change up there. I was looking at doing a reroute through that area next spring but now I'm second guessing it if the trail markers are gone too. Did you see any signs of the Park Service actually working on repairs or is it just straight up abandoned right now?

james66115d agoMost Upvoted

You ever notice how fast things can fall apart once nobody's keeping an eye on them? I see the same thing with houses I work on - a place that's solid for years can get wrecked in one bad winter if nobody catches the small problems early. Sounds like the trail system up there is dealing with the same lack of regular maintenance, just at a way bigger scale.