(*Not the Crater Lake in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness…)

Backpacking Crater Lake in the Gore Range – A couple years ago, my buddy found a hike to the unofficially-named Crater Lake in the Gore Range at the base of the Spider (12,692′) and the Fly, two also unofficially-named twelvers residing on a rugged spur ridge west of the main spine of the central Gores. It was an easy, mostly trail-less hike with low mileage and minimal vertical (rare for the Gores…) and we were able to head out on a Tuesday after work and be back to our desks the next morning.

Crater Lake, shot in 2015

Since we had spent that night back in 2015 well-above Crater Lake at a small tarn on top of what I’m now calling ‘Crater Pass,’ it gave me some motivation to revisit and make my way down to camp at the lake. Other than coming face-to-face with a small little Black Bear on an 11p.m. pee-break from my tent (didn’t sleep a wink after that one…), I didn’t see another soul the whole time. I had wanted a reflection shot of the Spider on the lake – the colorful sunset was definitely icing on the cake…

The Spider & the Fly reflected in Crater Lake

Sunset over the Gore Range

Camp below the Spider

The Spider & the Fly reflected in Crater Lake