PCT 2018 Day 84, July 15, Sunday
Start mile 1966.5, tentsite
End mile 1996.5, pond
Miles walked: 30
North Sister comes into view in the morning.
An Obsidian Limited Entry Area requires a permit for non-PCT hikers for a two mile segment of trail. Bits of obsidian are in the trail, and larger fist-size specimens are nearby.
The trail goes over an area of lava rock. Unlike lava flows in New Mexico, where rock is melted together, these are separate lava rocks. Was the lava broken up by a glacier? Several named glaciers are nearby, not visible from the trail. Or did the lava get deposited by an explosion similar to Mount St Helens, instead of a liquid flow? Or was there some other mechanism?
Later I do see some lava melted together, not separate rocks.
Looking back, one can see the Three Sisters together.
You might think you are done walking across lava fields, then the trail routes you over some more. Near Highway 242, to Sisters, the route does a fun twisty maze with many turns.
Across the highway we climb Belknap Crater, all lava, a long section of several miles.
The day is hot, and walking on lava is hotter, and walking 12 miles between water sources is hottest.
Some trees try to grow on the lava fields, so it is especially sad to see a burned area here. I run into a hiker who says the burn and closure happened last year, and that she is back now to complete her trail.
I detour to a youth camp for water, and stay an hour or so to download podcasts on their wifi. They have a hiker welcome center, with kitchen, laundry, showers, and hiker box.
Hikers Josh, Ran (Israel), and Cache 22 are there, staying for a dinner. I skip dinner, and leave a donation for water and wifi on my way out.
I stop at a large pond to camp, the last water for thirteen miles.
Fog rises from the surface of some lakes in early morning. 
Elk Lake Resort has many visitors today. 
A hamburger selfie… 
The resort does not offer wifi, so there is no reason to linger. I grab an ice cream cone on my way out and return to the trail. The next two photos go together. 
In the Three Sisters Wilderness, some peaks rise suddenly above mountain meadow. Le Conte Crater is an old volcano. 
Then comes the Three Sisters, starting with South Sister.
Behold Middle Sister. 
North Sister must wait until tomorrow.
Mosquitos were so relentless that I needed to wear a headnet nearly all day. 
A flotilla of ducklings go out on a lake.
A nordic ski hut gives temporary refuge from skeeters.
A burn area with new growth makes patterns for the eyes with snags and downed trees.
For the last several miles of the day, I passed several lakes and ponds, with mosquitos getting aggressive. Eventually I need to put on a windbreaker for extra bite protection, and did end the day a little early just to retreat inside a tent with good insect netting.