Thursday, June 14, 2012

Crater Lake National Park, Oregon…

Crater Lake 010

Logging Museum and Crater Lake 047Logging Museum and Crater Lake 045The drive from Collier State Park to the south entrance of Crater Lake National Park was a scenic drive in itself. Once we headed north on state road 62 we were surrounded by a vibrant green grassy valley dotted with cattle and horses grazing. The snow capped mountains of the Cascades towered in the background. Nesting Ospreys, trout streams and rustic barns were all present along this drive.

Logging Museum and Crater Lake 031Then as we entered the south entrance of the park almost immediately the Ponderosa Pine, Lodgepole Pine and Fir trees doubled in size as compared to those seen prior to the entrance. Stellar’s Jays were zipping on all sides of us and as we began to see patches of snow on the ground we even spotted a Pine Fisher ambling across the road. Along the drive up to the crater’s edge it was as if we traveled back in time. As we ascended the mountain we noticed a change  from the greens of June backward into a scene more like the spring months of March, May and April.  Further up we encountered many feet of snow giving the appearance more like in February as the temperatures dropped from the 70’s to the 50’s.

Logging Museum and Crater Lake 039

Crater Lake 034Crater Lake 028Crater Lake 029However the main event awaited us at the top of the crater and as we crested we got our first glimpse of Crater Lake……… we were left speechless… We picked the perfect day as temperatures were moderate and the wind was non-existent resulting in a lake with nary a ripple reflecting all in its path like a mirror on a tabletop. To see this six mile wide crater filled with the deepest blue colored water we had ever seen, well it was breathtaking.... I will just have to let the photos tell the rest of the story…

22 comments:

  1. wish we were there...sigh.......mid nineties from here on out down here in Texas...

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  2. Wow...now that our daughter and son-in-law are living in Oregon, we can't wait to visit beautiful places like this. Thanks for sharing!

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  3. Beautiful pictures. We are hoping to go to Oregon next summer. Crater Lake is on our bucket list.

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  4. So glad you two got to go. I love the photo with the reflection of the clouds on the water. GORGEOUS!

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  5. Your photos really do tell the rest of the story...absolutely stunning!

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  6. Absolutely beautiful! I've heard so much about this lake and I never tire of seeing the photos of it, can't wait to see it in person.

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  7. What a good preview! This is a place everyone should get to see.

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  8. Those shots are fantastic!!! Better than a magazine even, knowing you were actually there taking them yourself. Wowzer....

    ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
    Karen and Steve
    (Our Blog) RVing: Small House... BIG Backyard
    http://kareninthewoods-kareninthewoods.blogspot.com

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  9. Beautiful photos of a beautiful place. One of Oregon's gems to be sure.

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  10. Just happened on your Blog and Crater Lake caught my attention. I worked and lived at Crater Lake for 2.5 years during the 70's. This assignment was definitely the highlight of my career! Your photos are stunning! Bev Deem

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    1. Thanks Bev, coming from someone who worked there I take that as high praise...

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  11. When we lived in Oregon, we went as often as we could during the summer.

    If you ever get the opportunity, make sure you take the boat ride ON the lake. You have to be able to hike the trail from the rim to the lake and you can only go in summer (read late July or August) when the lake isn't clouded in or overly windy. In fact, it would be a good bucket list item. The views from the lake are spectacular and the geology is fascinating.

    Susan
    http://travelbug-susan.blogspot.com

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  12. Sharon looks like a Swiss adventurer in the Alps rather than the Cascades. I haven't been there since my boys were young teenagers. It would be fun to see with new eyes. I have some close friends who biked around the rim last summer and others who cross-country skied it in the winter. Both seem daunting to me now, but I would second the boat trip and a visit to the lodge.

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  13. I can just sense the wonder in your post. These pictures look like something in a professional photography book. And I know from experience that as gorgeous as they are, they can't match what you actually saw. Crossing my fingers I too can get to see it. Not sure I can hope for as nice a day as you had. Really fine timing on your part.

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  14. Your photos are indeed incredible, way better than friends of our who were there a couple years ago. Now time to update your states visited!

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  15. I love the contrast of the snow in this June scene. Makes the scene feel so much crisper.

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  16. Wow!!! Spectacular, amazing shots you have there!! Love them!! We are totally hoping to go to Crater Lake this year and your shots have just make it all that more attractive!
    Nina

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  17. Fantastic pictures- Thanks for taking us along.

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  18. Thanks everyone for the amazing comments!

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