Crater Lake & More

Tuesday, 8 May 2018
Valley of the Rogue State Park — Gold Hill, Oregon
Temps: 80F (27C) / 52F (11C)

Woke up at 6:00a … feeling refreshed after a good night’s sleep that recharged our batteries.  Despite the proximity of the park and campground to I-5, we didn’t hear any traffic noise … it was very quiet indeed.  Today was one of the two days of sightseeing Sue had planned for us.  Mo was unable to join us as she had a prior commitment, so it was just the three of us that went off gallivanting at 9:30a.

We had a truly lovely day for our sightseeing — especially in the morning when it counted the most. We did a loop drive that took us from the rough and tumble Rogue River at Natural Bridge … to snow-frosted Crater Lake National Park … through the valley to the headwaters of Wood River, where we bemoaned the drizzle and the overcast that hid the brilliant colors of the spring waters … to Rocky Point where Sue and Mo lived before they built Sunset House and moved to Grants Pass … and back to Valley of the Rogue SP where we parted ways with many wonderful memories added to our collection.  Thanks to the results of Sue’s candid photo skills — which she has generously shared with us — we added some lovely photos to our stash as well.

One of the many candid photos Sue took of us today …
Here Mui is offering to pick me up so I can get a vertical pano of the river!

We really enjoyed our entire day, but I am going to focus this post on two of the sites where I took photos … starting with the Rogue River.  The waters live up to their name as they rush through the gorge where we stopped to check it out.  Here we learned how the river enters a lava tube through which a river of fire once flowed … leading to the creation of the Natural Bridge.  To be frank, I’m not sure if we saw the bridge itself, but we did see a cave that is part of a lava tube.  The river percolates through it and then rejoins the main stream.  The nearby sign stated that this is an indication that “the lava tube has collapsed some distance beyond the opening.”

Mui’s getting proficient at taking selfies without a stick.

On the far bank of the river is a cave that is part of a lava tube.  The Rogue River
percolates through it, but doesn’t go too far in as the lava tube has collapsed.

Looking upriver (left) and downriver from the bridge.

The highlight of the day for me was Crater Lake … I’ve been wanting to see it for ages.  This is a caldera lake that was formed over 7,700 years ago when a violent eruption caused Mount Mazama to collapse.  It is fed only by rain and snowfall, and the water is the most amazing blue when the light is just so … as it was today.  I understand it is the deepest lake in the US … and incredibly pristine.

Impatient to see the lake, Mui climbs on to one of the snowbanks …

… to take this panorama of a springtime winter wonderland scene.

I didn’t even mind that the road that circumnavigates the rim wasn’t open all the way around … we’ll return another time to explore the park and perhaps do some hiking.  Blue skies with ribbons of clouds seemingly streaming above us … a brilliant sapphire blue lake … green trees … purple-gray mountains … and snow — a winter wonderland scene … except that it is mid-spring.  It all added up to make for a wondrous and dramatic landscape that was revealed to us like a gift once we got to a point along the rim where the snowbanks did not hinder the view!  Breathtaking.

Here’s my panorama just a bit ways down the trail … no snowbank-climbing required.

The two photographers in action.

Sue takes a candid shot of our selfie-taking moment.
Gotta have a memory-shot to share with friends and family via social media.

Mui turned 62 in January and has been chomping at the bit to buy the lifetime America the Beautiful pass that will allow us free entry to national parks here on out.  He took the opportunity to purchase the pass today.  He missed the cutoff for when the pass cost just $10, though, and had to pay $80 for it.  No matter … still a bargain.  I’ve always said the price for this lifetime pass should be higher … the NPS can use the revenue.  Too bad I didn’t remember to get a shot of Mui at Crater Lake with his brand spankin’ new pass.

Reflections galore … The Watchman (left) & Wizard Island, which is a cinder cone.

After we wandered around and took some photos, we decided to have lunch.  We had food and drinks … Sue had brought snacks … which Mui supplemented with his stash.  What we didn’t have was a table … the picnic facilities were still buried under the snowbanks.

At first we were going to carry the food to the far end of the rim wall behind the historic lodge.  Here, we figured, we could eat sitting on the wall or standing up … and have an amazing view to accompany our meal.  Alas, a stiff breeze came up just as we were walking back to the car to get the food.  Even with the temp around 76F, it was suddenly too chilly to implement that plan.

It’s all about the angle … I’m actually standing on the wall here, not in the snow.
This is where we would have eaten lunch … except for the wind.

So, we switched to plan B … returned to the vehicle parked near the historic lodge, lifted the hatch, set out the lunch fixings in the trunk, and ate our snacks à la cocktail if you will!  Passersby hinted at joining us … too late!  It wasn’t the most relaxing way of snacking perhaps, but we had fun anyway.

The historic lodge originally opened in 1915, 13 years after President Roosevelt signed the bill that made Crater Lake the nation’s sixth national park.  It will open for the season on 18 May.

After lunch, we got in the car and drove over to Discovery Point for more amazing panoramic views of Crater Lake.  No words can truly describe what our eyes beheld.  I could have easily spent all day here, but we had other places to see.  So, as the clouds started to move in and the forecasted rain began to threaten, we left to finish our loop drive through the valley.

I debate walking through the snow to the point, but chicken out ;-)

We had some rain the rest of the day … on and off … nothing too serious.  I left the camera behind when we stopped to check out the Wood River Headwaters.  The dull light muted the colors of the crystal clear spring water.  I clicked off a shot or two with the phone just for remembrance.

Not a brilliant day to photograph the spring, but the color is still visible.

If you want to see the true beauty of what the water looks like in the sunshine, click here and scroll down for a photo that Sue took on an earlier visit.

We were back home by 5:00p.  It was 72F (22C), with a good balance of sun and shade on the patio that made it comfortable to sit outdoors and read for a while.  A nice way to wrap up a delightful day in Sue’s company.

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