4 June – Ashland to Crater Lake

The drive up to Crater Lake was very pretty, winding through forests alongside the Rogue River. We saw people fishing in boats, seems one guy rows to keep the boat in the one spot while a couple of others fish out the back. We climbed steadily and saw the first snow just inside the park gates. We arrived at lunchtime and paid for our site. We found a good spot and had lunch. While we were eating, a very old RV struggled in to the spot next to us, coughing and spluttering. It died, then rolled into the parking spot, then unloaded about a dozen rednecks (one in denim overalls whom we called Billy Bob) and dogs. The dogs started whining and barking and the rednecks started swearing and yelling (shut yer f**in’ pie-hole godarnit!), so we packed up and moved to the other side of the campsite. Once we had selected our new site we stuck up the reserved sign and headed on to Crater Lake.

Crater Lake – seriously – must be one of the top most beautiful places on earth. We parked in the cark park, got our hiking boots on and headed toward the lake. Our first glimpse of the lake was just jaw dropping. 

 

The lake was formed when a giant volcano, Mt Mazama, erupted about 7500 years ago. The magma chamber emptied itself violently, then the chamber collapsed leaving a crater about 6 miles across. Subsequent eruptions formed a new, smaller cone in the crater (now called Wizard Island), and the lava flows from this cone sealed the bottom of the crater allowing water to collect. Over 800 years the crater filled purely from rain and snowmelt as there are no creeks in or out. The lake is the deepest in the US (and 7^th deepest in the world) and has the clearest water. 

The water is the most amazing blue colour. Like the sky, but deeper blue. It looks unreal, surely water that colour blue doesn’t exist in nature…. We just happened to be there on a perfect day, not a cloud in the sky and no wind, so the reflections were stunning. 

We walked around the rim, taking pictures (carefully because it is a 300 meter sheer drop to the water). 

Every new vantage point was breathtaking. At times we just sat looking at it and trying to take it all in. Sadly only part of the rim was open because the snow still hasn’t melted.  We dropped into the 1915 lodge for a look, but were quickly drawn back outside to look at the lake again. Wow. Just wow. 

Finally, we realised we were hungry and headed back down for dinner.