The 4.5 trip from the Redwoods was rather uneventful and felt long after a not-so-restful night's sleep. We did manage to find a beautiful spot to have lunch in Grants Pass, OR just over halfway to Crater Lake, The Tap Rock Northwest Grill offered us good food and a wonderful outdoor balcony overlooking the Rogue River.
The Tap Rock Northwest Grill in Grants Pass, OR
The Dungeness Crab BLT Chopped Salad
Colin's Dungeness Crab BLT Chopped Salad was delicious and my BLTA (bacon, lettuce, tomato and avocado) was also very good. I'm not sure why, but the picture of my meal somehow disappeared from our camera.
We finally arrived at the Mazama Campground near Crater Lake around mid-late afternoon and secured our campsite shortly thereafter. We quickly set up our tent, hoping the slightly warm air and sun would dry the dampness from the morning, and I managed to get a nice, long, warm shower in the "upscale" campground shower facilities. It was refreshing to be clean and I was ready to check out the lake.
Our campsite at Mazama Campground near Crater Lake
Our first view of Crater Lake
Circumnavigating the lake near sunset
The "ship" formation in the lake
In the hour it took us to circumnavigate (one of Colin's favorite words from the trip) the lake, it got chilly as the sun dipped into the horizon. The forecast predicted overnight temperatures in the upper 30's, so we dressed in several layers and zipped our sleeping bags together when we went to bed in the tent. I was very grateful for our warm sleeping bags and even more grateful that we have ones that can be zipped together. The only thing I lacked was a hat! The dry, cold air was actually a better experience than the damp warmer weather in the Redwoods. For some reason, I usually feel colder when it's damp than when it's cold and dry. It also helped that we were better prepared for it to be cold.
We woke to beautiful, clear blue skies on Wednesday morning, the 4th day of our trip. Our early morning rising in the campground allowed us to spend a long morning exploring the lake. The first stop we made was to Crater Lake Lodge where we enjoyed some breakfast, coffee, and
The lodge's lobby
Beautiful reflections during the morning sun
The lodge has quite a view! Glad we got to enjoy it!
Once we were sufficiently warm and full, we made our way to the northeastern side of the lake to hike down the the boat launch and swimming area. The 700 foot descent down the crater's edge was very steep and there were many warnings at the trail's start. The switchbacks made it easier on the knees, and going down is always easier than going up. Each time we looked down into the water, we were awarded with views into the clear blue-green water. Sometimes I felt like I was back in New Zealand hiking in Abel Tasman National Park.
Once we arrived at the water's edge, we threw off our socks and sneakers and got our feet in the water. Some people near us swam in the water, indicating is was very cool, but it felt really nice with our feet in the water. The air temperature quickly reached the upper 70's/low 80's, providing us with the most dramatic temperature change of our trip.
Cooling down
Enjoying the warm air and cool water
Not far from where we enjoyed the shallow water, we found a group of people cliff jumping into much deeper water. It was fun to watch these people of all ages have the courage to participate in such an exhilarating activity. We watched as a mother and her son counted to three before jumping in together.
The "cliff" from which people jumped into the refreshing water
By late morning, we were ready to start our journey to Portland. Stay tuned for those details!!
What is the most impressive place you've been? Were you able to take photos that did the view justice?
Where was the coldest place you've ever camped (and what was the temp)? How did you stay warm?
