Tuesday, September 4, 2012

September 2, Crater Lake

Today we drove up to Crater Lake where we spent 6 hours, plus 3 hours driving to and from, plus hiking/walking. We were tired puppies! We were also the minorities 90% of the time. We saw people from and heard the languages of Japan, India, Pakistan, Germany, Mexico and probably others. What hit me on the drive home was that we did not see one African American.

Crater Lake is worth the out-of-the-way drive to get to. How and when it was formed, the forces of nature even today and the pristine beauty of phenomenal! The roads around most of the lake close in October or November because of snow and the entire loop doesn't open until June or July. They get 44 feet of snow each year (528"). The winds blow terribly all winter at the top and the trees are terribly malformed.


This is just how wooded our about 40 mile drive up to the lake was.












This is Wizard Island which is volcanic rock and is one of only 2. There is no spring to feed the lake. It is filled only by rainfall and melting snow. The amount that enters it each year equals the amount evaporated each year.










All around the lake the reflection off things is wonderful because there are no boats or ducks or geese or anything on it. There are some fish in it.










Mount McGlothin on the left.














Surprised that I don't have my Blackhawks shirt on? I really do have other clothes. :)

There are several places where there are still snow drifts.










This is called Phantom Ship. It is just a little island.













Just a pretty picture.













Another view of Wizard Island. Look at the still lake water.










These are the Pinnacles which are "fossil fumaroles" where volcanic gases rose up through a layer of volcanic ash, cementing the ash into solid rock.












These are Vidae Falls which originates from a spring fed creek and goes down 100 feet over a series of ledges.














There were not that many people in the park so there were times that we were the only ones in an area and it was incredibly quiet. Even the birds didn't chirp all the time. It was really peaceful.

No comments:

Post a Comment