Crater Lake

April 10, 2015

Day 2

On the road about 9 headed to Crater Lake. Punched into the GPS Crater Lake National Park which brought up the north entrance. Having not done our homework, we did not realize this entrance is closed in winter. Luckily it was only a few miles out of the way after the GPS led us in the completely wrong direction to Diamond Lake. Thank goodness for good old fashioned maps. We eventually found the west entrance to Crater Lake and Jodi can finally say she has been there! Had to stamp to the National Park passport book. Crater Lake is simply beautiful. When you finally step up to see it, it kind of takes your breath away.

Hard to believe it, but Jack really can take a picture.  Mostly people wonder if Jodi is ever on our trips

 Crater Lake was formed when Mount Mazama blew it's top in a massive explosion, 7700 years ago. Scientists have derived that Mount Mazama would have been the tallest peak in Oregon. When it exploded it also imploded and formed a massive crater. Eventually snow and rainwater filled Crater Lake. It is considered to be the cleanest and clearest body of water on earth, cleaner than tap water. The world record for clarity was set there at 148 feet on one particular day. It is also one of the snowiest inhabited places in America. It receives an annual average of 43.5 feet of snow at Park Headquarters. That is the same as if 1.43 inches fell there every single day. Keeping the road to Crater Lake open year round is a huge task. It takes 2 shifts of workers from 4 am to 8 pm to clear and sand the roads. The amount of snow moved each winter by the park's crew is astonishing. You could create a ski trail 3 feet wide, 6 inches deep and long enough to circle the equator. It was difficult to capture the true blueness of the water with photos, but that did not stop Jodi from trying!

After Crater Lake we took the beautiful highway 62 toward Grants Pass where we were scheduled to stay with another ATC couple. The Rogue river runs near the highway and it cuts through rock in places, has rapids and fast water and smooth flowing sections. Our country has so many beautiful places to see, we are so grateful to be out here seeing it!

We stayed in the lovely home of Fritz and Gisela in Grants Pass. We had a great nights sleep after a pizza and beer (Fresh Squeezed by Deschutes – try it!) at a cute little restaurant. We had the nicest thing happen when we were there. There was an elderly gentleman who came in alone and had 2 bowls of soup and a pint of beer. When he tried to pay, the waitress told him his bill had been paid. I found out later that the young couple sitting behind us with 3 young children had paid his bill. Way to go! There are really great people in this world, really fun to witness this random act of kindness.

AND, most importantly Tom and Lisa stepped up to the plate tonight and sponsored Felix, the representative of the Mariner's Felix Hernandez. Way to go Tom and Lisa! 4 sponsored, 26 to go!