June 14, 2007

June 14, 2007

In the late morning, we left Ashland, OR and drove north to Crater Lake National Park. On passing thru the south entrance, the ranger tells us that the eastern rim drive is closed and won’t be open for another week or so. Oh No, I am thinking this is another Lassen and it is too early in the summer to visit. The ranger does mention that back outside the gate just to the east are some pinnacles we should see first. We do that and find some strange conical rock formations that are the fossilized remains of fumaroles, volcanic steam vents.

Back inside the park we stop at the Information Center next and watch their 20-minute film. It has a short intro clip about why part of the park road is still closed. It says the park gets over 40 feet of snow annually and it takes four months for them to plow the roads. I am a little shocked since the entire park is only open for maybe two months. Seems to either be a big waste of time or they work very slowly. I am also a little skeptical because while the park still has some snow on the ground it would only take a good Chicagoland snowplow about a day to clear this road. The rest of the movie talks about how 7700 years ago this was the site of a monster volcanic eruption. So much magma was released that the volcano sunk forming a huge crater. Since then water has filled the crater forming the US’s deepest lake.

After the movie we have lunch and drive up to the rim to see the lake. WOW!! The water is an intense, vibrant shade of blue. And it really looks like a crater with steep sides on the inside and outside. The lake has no access for boats or swimming so it is very serene. It has a small volcanic island off to the side for accent. Now I know why Oregon made this the centerpiece of their state quarter. It is truly stunning. There is no way a single photo is going to adequately show this. I am hoping I can put a panorama shot together. Aimee and I spend the next hour or two walking along the south rim looking for the ideal spot and taking multiple pictures hoping to stitch them together into a panorama suitable for putting on the wall of our house (when we get one!).

After staring at the lake longer than we planned we drive the only open road along the west shore. We stop a few more times. Finally we leave the park, head north and stay at a private camp outside of Crescent, OR. Even though half the park was closed, I am so glad we made the trip to Crater Lake. This is another spot I would like to come back to, maybe even in the winter. I think a visit here and to Yosemite in the winter would provide some spectacular views and photographs.