Crater Lake

Thank you Mount Mazama for becoming a volcano some 7,000 years ago and collapsing into a caldera that now holds Crater Lake. Your waters are the deepest blue I have ever seen. Jen and I had a grand old time ohhhing and awwwing at your blueness. We even danced and sang to a "blue" playlist while driving around your boundaries.

Yes, I was stunned by Crater Lake's beauty. But do you want to know what else tickled my feathers? Well, a chance encounter, of course. Crater Lake is part of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). And if you know me, you know that I am fascinated by the PCT. I was telling Jen on our drive that I hope we can meet some true PCT hikers.

After a short run on trails surrounding Mazama Campground, I took a quick, cold, totally-not-worth-the-75-cents shower. On my way out I looked up. "Hey, I know you," I think I said that, yet maybe we just starred at each other for a bit. After fumbling on a few words, we figured it out. We met at a yin yoga class at People's Yoga in Portland, OR. We maybe said two sentences to each other after class. That was in February. And here we were on August 3rd of the same year. Matt is truly a "through" hiker that started hiking from the border of Mexico and California in March and is en route to Canada. His blog is inspiring. It's reality sprinkled with trail humor and gorgeous photos. I suggest checking it out: Forever In Noise. I mean, who would have known that I would talk to a PCT hiker that I met once at yoga? Like Matt said, two minutes on either side and we would've missed each other. So. Fucking. Cool. Cheers to Matt as he continues onward to Canada and cheers to the beautiful color of deep blue.

I'm honored to call this woman my friend.

Smoky skies and a checkered red and black flannel have their own element of beauty.