Wednesday, October 20, 2010

CRATER LAKE NATIONAL PARK

OUR FAMILY HAS BEEN TO CRATER LAKE A NUMBER OF TIMES IN THE CENTER OF OREGON. WE HAVE BROUGHT OUR TENT AND HAVE CAMPED IN SEVERAL CAMPGROUNDS. WE HAVE HIKED THE ENTIRE RIM OF THE CRATER. AND IT IS A VERY STEEP DROP DOWN INTO THE CRATER WHERE THERE IS A BLUEISH-GREEN PURE ICE COLD LAKE. WE HAVE ALSO HIKED DOWN TO THE LAKE WHERE YOU CAN TAKE A SPEED BOAT TRIP ON THE LAKE SEVERAL TIMES. AND THE INTERPRETERS TELL YOU ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE PARK. THE LAKE IS THE DEEPEST IN THE U.S. - 2000 FEET! THEN YOU CAN EXPLORE THE SMALL ISLAND IN THE LAKE AS WELL.

THE SOILS IN THIS PARK ARE PUMICE, ASH AND CINDER AND DO NOT HOLD WATER WELL. THE HIGHEST PEAK IS ABOUT 9000 FEET HIGH. THE MOUNTAIN WHERE THE LAKE IS NOW ERUPTED 8000 YEARS AGO. THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN IN THE PARK IS 9000 FEET HIGH. THERE ARE FIERCE WINDS THERE EVEN DURING THE SUMMER. AND THE NIGHTS ARE VERY COOL. WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEM WITH BEARS WHEN WE HAVE CAMPED HERE. THE TRAILS HAVE A NUMBER OF WATERFALLS THAT ARE RUNNING DURING THE SUMMER AS WELL AS THE WINTER.

THEY HAVE A REALLY NEAT HISTORIC LODGE HERE WITH A BIG FIRE PLACE AND RESTAURANT WHERE YOU CAN GET WARM.

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