Crater Lake Again

Today we took off in the mini-musemobile from Casey's Riverside RV Park to take the Rim Drive at Crater Lake. We hated to leave the musemobile all alone but it saves on the gasoline bill.

First some facts about Crater lake from the US Geological Survey Website

Facts about Crater Lake

Feature	Metric unit	Imperial unit
maximum depth (July 2000)	594 m	1,949 ft
maximum depth (Year 1959)	589 m	1,932 ft
minimum depth (near Phantom Ship)	5-8 m	15-25 ft
average depth	350 m	1,148 ft
max diameter of caldera at the rim	9.7 km (east-west)	6.02 mi (east-west)
min diameter of caldera at the rim	7.3 km (north-south)	4.54 mi (north-south)
surface area	52.9 km2	20.42 mi2, 13,069 acres
highest peak in the park (Mount Scott)	2,721.6 m	8,929 ft
highest peak on the rim (Hillman Peak)	2,484.4 m	8,151 ft
average height of the caldera rim	2,188 m above sea level (305 m above lake surface)	7,178 ft above sea level (1,000 ft above lake surface)
record clarity depth (August 1994)	40.8 m	134 ft
average clarity depth	27.4-30.5 m	90-100 ft

Crater Lake is filled with rain and melted snow that fell within the caldera basin. Crater Lake is isolated from surrounding streams and rivers, thus there is no inlet or outlet to the lake. Its primary input is from annual precipitation in the region. Average annual precipitation is 168 cm (66 in); average annual snowfall is 13 m (44 ft). It took approximately 250 years for the lake to fill to today's level (~1,883 m or ~6,178 ft above sea level). The lake maintains its current level because the amount of rain and snowfall equals the evaporation and seepage rate. Lake level has varied only over a range of 5 m (16 ft) in the past 100 years.

Crater Lake is known to be the deepest lake in the United States and the seventh deepest in the world. A maximum lake depth of 608 m (1,996 ft) was recorded by a group of USGS representatives in 1886 using piano wire and lead weight. The maximum depth of 589 m (1,932 ft) was established in 1959 by the USGS using sonar measurement. This depth is referenced at the surface elevation of 1,882 m (6,176 ft). But since its primary input source is dependent upon the climate, lake level is subject to abrupt changes. Crater Lake partially fills the collapsed caldera of the ancient Mount Mazama Volcano. The caldera is a bowl-shape depression of about 1,219 m (4,000 ft) deep.

The maximum depth of Crater Lake recorded at the time of the July 2000 multibeam survey was 594 m ( 1,949 ft). The lake level had an elevation of 1,883 m (6,178 ft) above sea level at the time of the survey. The lake level of Crater Lake fluctuates according to the climate.

The record clarity of Crater Lake was measured at a depth of 41 m (134 ft) in August 1994. The lake clarity is measured with a secchi disk, a black and white disk lowered into the water with a cable. Its exceptional clarity is mainly due to its isolation from streams and rivers. There is no incoming stream to bring any organic materials, sediments, or chemicals to pollute the lake, although natural plankton in the lake and wind-borne pollen have seasonal effects on water clarity. Particulate materials and chemicals are mainly introduced into the lake through precipitation and run-off of the calderal walls. The caldera wall is composed of volcanic rocks that do not react with or dissolve easily in cold water, although warm water escaping from the caldera floor adds a small amount of dissolved solids.

We stopped on the way in a town called Chemult, Oregon. Chemult is on Highway 97 between Highway 58 where we were camping and Highway 138 that took us into the park. Next to the cafe we found was this interesting fence.


The cafe was the "Big Mountain" Cafe though I'm not sure which mountain it was referring to since there were many around.


They did have this cool chainsaw art eagle just outside the door. The breakfast was good but not Brennan's and it hit the spot.


One of the "Big" mountains around was the 9,182 foot Mt Thielsen which we could see just after taking the Rim Drive around Crater Lake.


Our first view of the lake was pretty awesome. There was a haze today from a fire to the south of the park that made it really difficult to take pictures but I got a few good ones. Remember to click on the pictures for a larger view then use your browser's back button to return to the blog. What you are seeing is the rim of the crater with Wizard Island in the center of the picture.


Another picture of Wizard Island with a raven flying by to get attention and handouts from the tourists at the overlook.


There are beautiful coves all around the lake and here you can get an idea of how high the crater rim is from the lake.


I found the rock walls around the lake fascinating and probably an geology semester 's worth of study. From this black and brown rock....


...to this grayish brown pinnacle..


Scrabble Queen really liked this twisty tree growing out of this out outcropping.


Then there was this reddish/orange/tan rock that had very smooth surfaces.


I like this view back down the Rim Drive with the lone pine and the highest area of the rim in the background.




There were also some really nice fall colors to blend with the deep blue lake and green pines.

Just spectacular.............


.. and guess what - the nice folks that run P&J Disposal Services in Creswell were there as well. We ran into them at this lookout and I got them to give me a group photo. Wonderful people even if dad had the camera I'd die for *lol*. It's a Cannon DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex)


Pumice Castle is the name of the bright orange rock in the middle of this rock face.


Later we came upon the "Phantom Ship" a small island in the lake.


You have to give it to the forest service for trying to protect those oblivious to what should be obvious. Duh! - after seeing the height of the rim walls would you get close enough to fall? If so heed this sign.


It's no wonder Crater lake was one of the first National Parks and has been for almost 100 years.


Wizard Island from the South Rim.


I hope this person is listening to their I-Pod and not out for the count. Sitting on the veranda of the Crater Lake lodge with the wonderful view surely must have overwhelmed him.


A Clark's Nuthatch perched in a pine begging for crackers and peanuts from the tourists.


I think this chipmunk is trying to get into the action as well.


Gnarled old dead trees are interspersed with their younger counterparts all along the rim.


Sometimes it's hard to tell which are the most impressive.


One last view of the rim and lake before we head back to Casey's.


Out of the park on the long straight stretch of highway 138 looking east and only 2 hours to see our Musemobile and rest.

Eugene Fly Fest

Today we took the mini-musemobile and "Big" Ed to the Eugene Fly Fest, The first plane was an old Canadian RCAF, bright yellow-orange fighter. As you can see the day was beautiful.


This is an emergency rescue helicopter that was on display.


I'm not sure what this Air Force plane was but it was definetly not an F-16.


Scrabble Queen and Ed talked to this young man about a flying lesson. He flies out of Hobby Airport in Creswell. It was pretty crowded at times and sometimes people walked in front of the camera. Her pants reminded me of the 70's wild colors and patterns so I left this picture in the blog.


Two of the snazzy experimentals put together by avid flying enthusiasts.


I liked this open cockpit plane that sat several people one behind the other.


This was my favorite experimental home grown plane.


I hate that I missed this bi-plane in a clear shot it was beautifully painted and had many very nice touches like the wooden propeller.


This was the crowd pleaser of the show an Idaho Coast Guard plane - again it was another open cockpit - very nice.


Cool shot od the one jet I saw there with wings folded.


Click on this picture for the larger version. The writing above the words "Sting Sport" tells about the Ballistic Chute in the rear of this plane that floats this baby down to earth in an emergency.


Well this and other experimental planes carry a Passenger Warning ~ "amateur built and does not comply with Federal Safety Regulations for Standard Aircraft."


This was a cool blue plane capable of landing on water.


They also has some nive Motor Coaches like this one on sale for just under $700,000. It was nice but we do live our Musemobile.


In the middle of all the hug motor homes was this excellently preserved Studebaker Lark.

I liked this picture's composition with both doors up in a gull-wing configuraton


As we were leaving the Reach helicopter in my second picture was called out for a rescue and taxied out to the runway and away from the crowd.


... and off it went.


Going out of the parking lot I spotted this hot rod and took a quick picture.


On the way back to Ed's place we spotted these two folks. Eugene is a place where hippies and roamers still exist. They were at a bust street corner. The woman was asleep (I hope still breathing) on the sidewalk and the guy was eating. I will have to one day stop and get the story on the circumstance of the street corner people prevlent in Eugene and Downtown Portland.

My Oregon Tradition - Jung's and Baseball

There are some things that always seem perfect in that they never fail to satisfy. Yesterday I finished my latest Dean Koontz book called Velocity and it was compelling and fast paced as all of his books have been for me. Now please understand the books Koontz writes are often based on a pretty grisly premise and not for the faint of heart or those who take their books literally and that's a caution. The other thing that always is satisfying (for me) is eating at Jung's Mongolian Grill in Eugene off of West 11th next to the Target.


The Mongolian grill features a huge circular grill where you go after picking your ingredients and sauces. The grill master then cooks for up to 8 people by constantly turning, spatulating and otherwise mixing your food on the very hot grill.


He usually puts the meats selections on the bottom and the veggies in the middle with the noodles on top.


When all the ingredients are ready he slides them onto a plate for you and you chow down to a great meal you picked out to make a unique mixture.


Well I was lucky enough to go to Jungs's because Isaac had a slow pitch softball game tonight. The evening sky was great and fall is in the air now.


There were three fields so we searched for the one Isaac was playing on tonight.


We found it and got there just in time to see Isaac playing first base, my old position. Here he is standing behind the knuckles of the batter


Again there is Isaac at the first base position. (remember you can click on the picture for a larger view)


I just love the Oregon sky in the fall - simply great.


Finally the game was over and I took one more picture.


Scrabble Score - Scrabble Queen 289 ~ The Contender 326 Yahoo (not to be mistaken for the copywritten Yahoo)

Quote of the Day ~ "There are three types of baseball players: those who make it happen, those who watch it happen, and those who wonder what happened." ~ Tommy Lasorda quotes (American Baseball Player and Coach, b.1927)