Hiking Crater Lake National Park
We have spent so much of our lives focusing on the coastal adventures in Oregon that it has been hard to set our sights on anything inland. Central Oregon does have some amazing mountains and areas to explore, so it is only fitting that we shifted our attention to this area. We are only a four-and-a-half-hour drive from Oregon’s only national park. Time to pack the car with our camping gear, grab our hiking shoes, and set our sights on Crater Lake National Park. A volcano that now has a gigantic lake inside it. I visited this park once before as a young kid and don’t remember much of it. This will be Amity’s first time there. We have some hiking and camping planned. It’s definitely going to be RAD!
Mile: 96,613
Quote of the Blog: “The paradox of volcanoes is that they are symbols of destruction but also life. Once the lava slows and cools, it solidifies and then breaks down over time to become soil; rich, fertile soil.” - Matt Haig
Song of the Blog: “Meet Me In The Woods” - Lord Huron
We took advantage of Amity getting off work early on Fridays and hit the road at 2 p.m. We made a quick pit stop for some really good pizza at Kaleidoscope Pizza in Medford before finishing the drive up. Amity had found a campground near the park called Crater Lake Resort. There was nothing special about this campground, but at the same time, it was very quiet. A burn ban was in effect, so we posted up for a little bit, staring up at the stars and watching for satellites and shooting stars before heading to bed. Early the next morning, we put on our hiking shoes and headed up to the park. The drive up to the rim feels gradual, but at the same time, we gained a ton of elevation! Upon first glance, the lake is strikingly blue. We stopped for a few pictures in a couple of spots before finding a place to post up for breakfast and coffee. My work sent me some new coffee filters that allow you to make espresso-style pour-overs anywhere you have hot water. This made for a delicious little breakfast picnic in one of the most beautiful mountain zones we have visited!
We were very happy to have made the early start, as we arrived at the trailhead with only a couple of other cars there. Our plan was to hike up to Mount Scott, which is one of the highest points in the park and overlooks the lake and volcanic caldera. The hike was pretty smooth and easy. It felt great to be up in the mountain air and feel the effects of the elevation on us. Being in the mountains is amazing, and being able to hike around this amazing zone is icing on the cake! Once we made it to the top, we found a couple of other people up there, but we were able to find a little spot to sit, have a snack, and take it all in. You could see several other volcanic peaks jutting up along the horizon, both to the north and south of us. It was pretty amazing to see the power and size of Oregon’s slice of the Ring of Fire! While we were up there, a little chipmunk got curious about our stuff, so I set up the GoPro to take some pictures of the little guy. Before too long, we were ready to make our way back down the trail. On the way down, we had a full view of Crater Lake. We could see Wizard Island sticking out and the massive cliff faces that line the rim of the volcano. It is pretty wild that we can just walk around something like this as if it were nothing.
Back at the car, we made plans to head over to the lodge to see what that was all about. When we got to the visitor center, we learned that the power was out all over the area. We were okay with skipping another national park visitor center and headed over to Crater Lake Lodge. These national park lodges all have a very similar look to them: gigantic log buildings that have a certain kind of rustic appeal mixed with modern amenities. Fortunately, one of those modern amenities was a cash bar, since the power was out. We found some chairs outside overlooking the lake where we could enjoy a drink and relax after a solid day of hiking. While at the lodge, we learned that the lake is actually the deepest lake in the United States and the seventh-deepest lake in the world! The lake formed when the volcano erupted and collapsed in on itself to create the crater. Over time, the crater filled with rainwater and snowmelt. It has the lowest mineral content of any water in the country, which contributes to its purity and bright blue color. Pretty wild stuff!
With the day winding down, we made our way down the volcano and back into the valley. Near the campground, I had found a river with an access point for fishing. It turned out to be a beautiful spot for an evening fishing session. Although no fish were caught, it was a very cool area for river walking. Amity loved the fact that there were park benches lining the river where she could post up and read while watching me walk around in the river. We wrapped up the night with a little camp dinner and some more stargazing. With no way to have a campfire, the cooler temperatures that night sent us to bed a little earlier than the night before. We woke up in the morning to the first frost of the season. Our tent was covered in ice, and I was so chilly that I had to sit in the car with the heater on for a little bit before I could break down camp.
Once we could feel our fingers, we got everything packed up and headed south. We planned to stop in Medford for our standard Trader Joe’s run, and then Amity had mapped out a new driving route home that would take us through Jacksonville, Oregon. One of her patients had suggested it. We first did a little exploring around an art market that was going on in the town’s main square before continuing our walk down into the main part of town. It had a very small-town vibe. The buildings were your classic brick style and transported you back in time a little. Amity found a bookstore and HAD to get a new book. We started a new funny photo series of her getting new books. When she comes out of the bookstore, we take a photo as if she is holding a fish she just caught. Pretty funny stuff! We found a little Mexican spot to have some lunch there and then headed back to the coast to cap off the weekend. The weather was so nice when we got back into town that we walked down to the beach near our house and watched the waves crash in for a bit. What a surreal life we have found ourselves living here in Oregon! Until the next adventure, Live Rad, Everyone!
