Crater Lake

Published May 19, 2011

After a few hours sleep I was back in my car for the half hour drive up to Crater Lake.  I wanted to get there before sunrise.

I had taken the long way around to get to the Aspen Inn because the north road in was closed.  So I knew there was some snow.  But I was not prepared for the 12 foot high snow banks I soon encountered on my way up.  I drove through mile after mile in a two sided snow tunnel.  When I got to the parking lot I wasn’t sure where to go because I couldn’t see anything but snow and treetops!  There were two cutouts leading in the right direction, but I had to guess which one led to the lake viewpoint. I walked down one opening and was confused by the orange rope and danger signs, but I pressed on; it was almost sunrise — this had to be it.  I scrambled up a 3 foot wall of snow and ice in my sneakers.  Hadn’t thought to wear proper shoes, but using my tripod as a trekking pole, I worked my way to the edge.

The air was crisp and quiet as I watched the sky fill with color, breathless with wonder.

Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the US, and something like one of the top four clearest lakes. I’ll have to go back another time to see the deep blue clear water that CL is so famous for.