Smoke and Solitude on Black Crater

My partner and I started this hike relatively early in the day, knowing we were in for a lot of sun and smoke. Given the heat, we took it a little slower than our usual pace, and hydrated and snacked our way up the trail. I didn’t find the grade to be too challenging, but the ashy, sandy terrain made for slower progress in the last mile. It’s been a few years since I hiked through a burn as big as this one, and the eerie quiet really stood out to me. The purple wildflowers contrast really beautifully with the blackened trees. Smoke shifted throughout our hike, and views of Mt. Washington were clear when we started. At the top, our views were limited to a very hazy Mt. Washington, Mt. Jefferson, and North Sister. Despite hiking on a Sunday, we were pleasantly surprised to have the entire trail to ourselves, both ways.