Cernek.org Blog

It is Monday, October 3, as we head for Prospect, Oregon. That appears to be the closest campground to Crater Lake. The forecast is for rain for the rest of the week. I am hoping that by moving south we just might catch a break. Today the clouds have settled in for an all-day wetting.

This is the Oregon that I am not sure I could live with. Having this weather for the entire winter would not make me a happy person. It is time to head south.

Tuesday morning we do catch a break. When I opened the door of the RV to see what the weather was doing, these branches of evergreen were sparkling in the sunlight. The water is still clinging to the needles from last night’s rain.

Our plan for the day is to drive up to Crater Lake with stops along the way to see the Rogue River. We watched the lava flow through the lava tubes when we were in Hawaii. Today we will see what happens when the lava flow is done and water has taken its place.

The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 named the Rogue River in the original eight rivers. It is known for its wilderness setting, and that is what we are experiencing today. Watching the water tumble over the rocks and listening to the churn of the whitewater is hypnotic. This is a spot for meditation.

When hot lava flows from a volcano, the top of the flow may cool but the hot lava continues to flow beneath the crust, forming tubes of hot lava. When the eruption ceases, the lava empties out of the tubes, leaving a path for water to flow through.

“At peak flows approximately 335,000 gallons of water rush from this outlet each minute at a speed of 6 feet per second.” That is a lot of water!

This is where the water is pouring out of the tube exit.

Looking across the water that is flowing around the lava tube, we can see the top of the tunnel where the river is flowing underground.

This is a great example of how perfectly round the small rocks can carve out a pothole. The swirling action is at work even as we watch.

This rock has smooth edges where the river has worked its magic.

We are seeing more and more evidence that fall is coming soon. In another week, this area will be in full fall colors. It is definitely time to head south.

The roots of these trees have grown together. In doing so they each tree is able to get nourishment from the other. When the tree on the right was cut down, the stump continued to live. Notice how the bark has healed over the raw cut.

The opening in the rock surface on the far side of the river is a lava tube that has been opened up.

The trees cling to the rock and the moss grows lush and green.

We have left the Rogue behind us and worked our way up the mountain. The cafe by Crater Lake has some really, really good chicken enchilada soup. It is especially good to have a hot lunch since the outside air temperature at 7,100 feet is somewhere in the low 40′s with a stiff wind blowing. Why weren’t we thinking about the altitude when we planned our outer wear for this trip? I need my heavy coat, and Ed has on one less layer than I do!

After being fortified with a bite of lunch, we brave the elements and hurry over to the rim for a look. The lake is beautiful, and our timing is impeccable. We are seeing sun on the right side of the lake. The water is a beautiful deep blue.

Some of the rim is as high as 8,000 feet while the lake itself is at 6,173 feet.

There are many signs around cautioning not to go on the other side of the guard wall. The sides of the crater are steep and slippery. It is easy to see that it would be a difficult and dangerous, if not impossible, hike down to the water.

As we look around to the left side of the lake, we are watching a snow storm move in. It is starting to snow, and the lady in the cafe told us they are expecting 6 inches. Yikes! It is so-o-o time to head south!

It is so incredibly cold that we are not sticking around for a long look. This is not a day to sit and contemplate the beauty of this place. As we run back to the car, it occurs to me that we could die out in this weather. Once inside the Jeep the heater is turned on full blast. Life is good when you are warm.