Crater Lake Oregon September 2nd 2010.
The words spoken by Scott the Geologist(M.S.)/Ski Bum from Billings Montana on his arrival on Garfield Peak a thousand feet above Crater Lake....But frankly, words cannot describe the vistas here.
Picture yourself as an ancient Klamath tribesman here in Southern Oregon about 7,500 years ago. The ground below you begins to rumble. You look out into the distance and 12,000ft. Mount Mazama begins to erupt along with several other nearby volcanoes. If you are far enough away to survive and you look back at the mountain, it has disappeared, never to return. The magma chamber under Mazama has emptied and the mountain has literally collapsed into the empty chamber. What is left is a caldera nearly five miles wide and a few thousand feet deep.
Over time the lake fills with snow melt and rain water to a depth of almost 2000 feet deep. The lake, Crater Lake , is the deepest in North America and its water the purest you will find anywhere.
Thanks to the persistence of William Steel, an adventurer, entrepreneur, and self-appointed promoter of Crater Lake, and a lot of help from my favorite Pres. Teddy Roosevelt, Crater Lake became a National Park in1902.Steel was a member of the Portland Alpine Club, the first known alpine club in the West, and then a member of the Mazamas after the Portland Alpine Club folded.Steel not only spent time guiding influential people around the area and leading nature hikes, but he also gave campfire lectures about Crater Lake's flora, fauna and geography, much like a contemporary interpretive park ranger. Steel more than anyone else shaped the early public perception of Crater Lake. For example, he garnered a great deal of publicity for Crater Lake by hosting the Mazamas' convention and mountain climbing tour in 1896. Hundreds of people, including politicians, scientists and climbers, spent three weeks in the area. At the close of the convention, fireworks were lit on wizard Island and the group ceremoniously christened the volcano that once stood where the lake is, calling it Mount Mazama.
Today we drove two hours or so through the heavily wooded Cascades northeast of Ashland and arrived at the park. A quick lunch in the historic lodge (dedicated by T.R.) and then Deb, Larry, P and I are ready to tackle the 3 mile climb up to Garfield Peak, 8000 feet above sea level and a thousand feet above the lake. This climb is "strenuous" by park standards but I think they are over exaggerating its difficulty. Nevertheless, it took us a couple of hours to reach the summit and along the way we passed but a few hikers either ascending or descending. I am always amazed by how many people visit these parks but hardly hike anymore than a few yards from their cars or the lodge! At Crater Lake, to miss the view way above the lake is to miss a something very special.
At the top we just stopped and looked, and looked and looked. I can seriously say this was one of the most beautiful views I have ever seen in my life, even as good as the Grand Canyon. The color of the lake was as blue as blue can be and then some. Paula called it "Titian Blue" after the Italian Master of the 15th century, but i doubt if he ever saw the lake.
At the summit we snacked, fed some squirrels, and looked some more. The view was addicting. Eventually we were joined by our new friend Scott the geologist/ski bum and a few other hikers, most of them foreign of course. Put the view of Crater Lake from Garfield Peak on your bucket list, it's on mine now!
The hike down was easy but by the end my bionic ankle was throbbing. Two Advil did the trick.
The way home passed through Medford and a stop at Kaleidoscope Pizza.The K Pizza Place is a "relative" of the "Moose's Tooth Pizza" in Anchorage, a favorite of Larry and Deb. The pizza was terrific!
All in all this was quite a day. On a scale of one to ten, I would give it an eleven! Funny how some of the simplest things in life, like being in close touch with the beauty of Mother Nature, can bring so much enjoyment and peace to the soul.
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