Explorations of Jackie & Joe: Crater Lake

July 2-4, 2013

As we left California on our 4 hour plus drive from Redwoods to Crater Lake, we decided to take a detour to Oregon Caves National Monument. It was a 30 minute curvy mountain drive from Hwy 199 along Caves Hwy. It is one of the world’s few marble caves formed as rainwater from the ancient forest above dissolved. We really wanted to explore on the underground cave tours, but one slight hiccup we forgot as assimilated Pacific Northwesterners, it’s HOT in the summer. Way too hot to leave your dog for an hour while we explore cool dark caves underground. Our “kid” foils our plans!

We did get out and view the Historic Oregon Caves Chateau built in the 1930s.

An hour extra driving out of the way for nothing.

We make it to Mazama Campground, checked in just beyond the south park entrance at Mazama Village. After circling the grounds a few times, we landed on a superb secluded with few neighbors.

First we stopped at the Park Headquarters Steel Visitor Center for some more brochures and information. We watched the park video and got extremely syked to see the mesmerizing blue waters for the first time.

Crater Lake was formed when Mount Mazama erupted some 7,700 years ago and caused the mountain to collapse, leaving a steaming caldera. Centuries of rain and snow filled the caldera to create Crater Lake. Crater Lake is Oregon’s only National Park and the USA’s deepest lake at 1943ft deep.

We finally got our first view just after 6pm in low light.

Wizard Island

Yep it’s July 2^nd and there is still patches of snow here!

The buildings at the Rim Village: Community House

Rim Visitor Center

Panoramic view from Rim Visitor Center

In the shallow waters of the lake edge, you can see the bright bright blue color

Crater Lake Lodge

We made reservations for dinner at the Lodge and then went over to Watchman Peak for sunset.

The view from the base of Watchman Peak just after 7pm.

Climbing the .7 miles up the partially snow covered Watchman Peak

The view is starting to get better and better.

Watchman Peak historic fire lookout

Watchman Peak view of Wizard Island and Crater Lake

The beautiful caldera walls

We ate snacks as we waited for the optimum time for pictures at sunset

Crater Lake panorama from Watchman Peak

Jackie on windy cold Watchman Peak awaiting sunset

“what you’re really still taking my picture” look

Watchman Peak view of Crater Lake with Wizard Island in complete shadow now and pink hues reflected on the caldera walls

Sun beginning to set over the Rogue River valley from Watchman Peak fire lookout

Watchman Peak fire lookout at 8:16pm sunset over the Rogue Valley

Pink sunset from Watchman Peak looking north to Lmao Rock

Beautiful wife enjoying a beautiful sunset on a now even colder and winder Watchman Peak

You never know who you will run into while traveling. There was a guy from Alaska enjoying his time on land while not at sea during the off season in the Dutch Harbor out in the Bering Sea. There was an older couple from Green Bay, Wisconsin. It really is a small world.

Sunset reflections on Crater Lake caldera

Tips of pink on Mt Scott and other caldera peaks

Pink clouds ring Crater Lake

9:04pm as sunsets over Rogue River valley and Crater Lake

9:09pm sunset panorama over Crater Lake

Watchman Peak fire lookout at 9:14pm sunset over the Rogue Valley

9:15pm after sunsets over horizon of Rogue River valley and Crater Lake

Going…

Gone.

Here is a video of the sunset over the mountains and the Crater Lake panorama

We climbed back down the peak in the snow to the parking lot.

Watchman Peak Trail .7 miles sign. Yes we made it down in the dark!

That night we discussed how the water of Crater Lake just wasn’t as vibrant blue as we had imagined and seen in pictures.

That all changed when we caught that first glimpse the next morning with the waters in full sunlight.

Today we began the Rim Drive going clockwise from the Rim Village. Rim Drive is 33 miles long and only open from around June to mid October due to snow. There are over 30 viewpoints.

Crater Lake is mesmerizing at our first pull-off on the northwest side of the caldera

Our next stop was Cleetwood Cove Trail, a popular steep mile long path at north end of the crater which provides the only water edge access at the cove.

Boat tours depart from here making a very popular among many visitors.

The view of the blue waters on the hike down the trail

At Crater Lake’s water edge

Crater Lake shoreline panorama

There were a group of people jumping into the 40 degree waters.

Beginning the climb back up which thankfully had plenty of locations to take breaks on the steep climb backup.

We made it out of the cove before 11am before it got too hot for Chance. Unfortunately we didn’t get to spend as much time on the shoreline as we really wanted.

Our next pullout was on the northeast edge of the lake.

Our next pullout was Cloudcap Overlook, almost 2000 feet above the lake.

Crater Lake from Cloudcap Overlook panorama

Jackie and Chance at Cloudcap Overlook, Crater Lake

Family photo at Cloudcap Overlook, Crater Lake

Expansive beauty of Crater Lake

Phantom Ship from Cloudcap Overlook

Wizard Island from Cloudcap Overlook

We enjoyed our time at this spot taking it all in for over an hour. We ate sandwiches with a little special drink for lunch.

It doesn’t get much better than this. Crater Lake National Park, Oregon

Our next stop was Pumice Castle, formed from air fall pumice deposits, partially welded from climatic eruptions of Mount Mazama prior to its collapse. These pinkish-brown “turrets” catch your eye from this vantage point looking at the caldera. They were buried and compacted by other lavas but exposed after Mt Mazama collapsed.

The blue waters just seem to get brighter and brighter as the day progressed.

Phantom Ship from Pumice Castle

Phantom Ship at first glance looks like a ghostly ship with tall masts and drooping sails. The cluster of dark, jagged rocks is actually a remnant of an ancient volcano called the Phantom Cone.

Wizard Island cinders erupted within the last few thousand years, but the dense lavas of Phantom Ship may be more than 400,000 years old, making it the oldest rocks in the Crater Lake caldera. This volcano preceded Mount Mazama. After Mount Mazama collapsed, Phantom Shop was exposed. Most of the ridge which protrudes from the caldera wall is submerged, making Phantom Ship appear to be stranded off at sea.

Phantom Ship

Jackie admiring Phantom Ship

Our next detour was down side road off Rim Drive that leads about 7mi SE to Pinnacles, a valley of pumice & ash formations carved by erosion into 100ft spires called hoodoos. When Mt. Mazama was erupting red-hot, gas-charged pumice, it poured down the slopes at speeds up to 100 mph! It was then covered by a flow of heavier rocks called scoria. Temperatures in the deposits may have exceeded 750°F. Plumes of vapor appeared as gasses escaped from the settling rocks through vents called fumaroles. Minerals in the gasses combined with the extreme heat, welded to the sides of the fumaroles in the shape of slender cones. Over time since then, streams have eroded a canyon, making new valleys, exposing the cones. Many of the fossil fumaroles are hollow.

The Pinnacles hoodoos

Back on the Rim Drive, we stopped at Vidae Falls.

Jackie at Vidae Falls

We completed the Rim Drive by early afternoon. We hung out at the Rim Village for awhile after that.

Is it possible Crater Lake is even bluer now?

Jackie and Chance walking by the Visitor Center at Rim Village

Rim Village café

Crater Lake Lodge interior

Crater Lake Lodge has deep window sills at the thick base walls.

We utilized some electrical outlets in the lodge and enjoyed some time relaxing in the rocking chairs on the Lodge porch on the edge of Crater Lake.

We each took coin operated showers back at Mazama Village before heading to dinner.

We had a nice upscale dinner at Crater Lake Lodge dining room. We had Baked Crab and Artichoke Dip for an appetizer, Northwest Citrus Duck, Bison Meatloaf, and a bottle of Crater Lake Lodge wine.

Happy night splitting dessert with my love