Oregon - Crater Lake

We left Winnemucca early Sunday morning heading for Crater Lake National Park in Oregon. We crossed into Oregon and within a few miles saw a sign for a launching pad for hang-gliders. I know these Oregonians are fond of their outdoors activities but this seemed gratuitus. We stopped and checked it out. Good views, but unfortunately we had no hang-glider. From the start, we loved everything about Oregon. Great countryside, nice people and abundant parks. We ascended into the southern cascades as we got closer to Crater Lake. On the horizon a few snow-capped mountains appeared. Close to the park entrance, we saw piles of snow, then snow banks. When we stopped at the visitor center, they explained that ½ the park and most of the trails were still closed for winter. This is on July 5^th. After spending a week in the moab dust and heat, the snow was a welcomed sight.

Crater lake is just what it sounds like. A volcano popped its top off some time ago and the remaining crater filled with water to form a lake. It is noteworthy as it is clean (no source other than rain), deep (~2,000 feet) and elevated (the lake level is above 6,000 feet). We only had a couple hours so we hiked a short trial from the rim of the crater down to the edge of the lake. I went for a swim (water was a little above 50 degrees). Once again, it is an amazing site.

We left the park before dark and followed the rogue river down the mountains toward the coast to an NFS campground (union creek). Our site was next to a creek. The water in the creek was closer to 40 degrees. I swam in it and it was genuinely painful.