Crater Lake, Another Piece of Heaven on Earth

While traveling from Crescent City, CA to Crater Lake, OR along the Rogue River, I was able to catch up on Blog writing from the last several days. Luckily, I was able to finish just as the computer battery gave up.

There is still over 80 inches of snow on the ground at Crater Lake and only a view point on the South rim of the lake is open. I have wanted to see this 5 mile wide lake for the longest time so it should be worth the trip when we get there. This lake was created from a volcanic eruption of Mount Mazama which collapsed into itself over 7,700 years ago. That eruption was the largest in North American history for hundreds of thousands of years. The lake that formed, Crater Lake, filled with melted snow and is 1943 feet deep, the deepest lake in the US.

Look at how much snow is on the ground here in the Crater Lake National Park.  The Park Service was serious when they said the still had 80 inches plus. But it is warm and only a light jacket is needed if any at all. To see the Lake a short walk over a snow bank is required and when you crest the bank, your breath is taken away.            This magnificent, pristine lake is more beautiful than pictures can show. When we climbed Delicate Arch in Utah I saw a piece of Heaven and today I saw another. The reflections in the water were so clear at times you could turn the picture upside down and not know which was up. At other times the wind would blow, ever so slightly, that the Lake appeared to have a skim of ice on top but the lake rarely freezes.  We met Mary and Bev there. Mary, in black, is the great great grand daughter of Isacc Sketters who was the first white man to see/discover Crater Lake on June 12, 1853. Bev also has generations of family who worked in and around Crater Lake and is also on the board, along with Mary, of Friends of Crater Lake. You meet such nice and interesting people, all you have to do is smile.