Southern Oregon Archives - http://www.ridgetopfarmandgarden.com/tag/southern-oregon/ Mon, 29 May 2017 15:15:17 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.2 http://www.ridgetopfarmandgarden.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/cropped-logo-square1-32x32.jpg Southern Oregon Archives - http://www.ridgetopfarmandgarden.com/tag/southern-oregon/ 32 32 31 Days in Oregon: Crater Lake http://www.ridgetopfarmandgarden.com/31-days-in-oregon-crater-lake/ Thu, 09 Oct 2014 20:08:25 +0000 http://www.ridgetopfarmandgarden.com/?p=3833 I have lived in Oregon all my life and the first time I saw Crater Lake was about 11 years ago. Farm Kid1 was just a couple months old. It was as amazing as everyone says. Wanting my kids to see this natural wonder at a younger age than I was when I saw it …

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Ridgetop Farm and Garden | 31 Days in Oregon | Crater LakeI have lived in Oregon all my life and the first time I saw Crater Lake was about 11 years ago. Farm Kid1 was just a couple months old. It was as amazing as everyone says.

Wanting my kids to see this natural wonder at a younger age than I was when I saw it the first time, we visited it again a couple years ago.

 

The highway to Crater Lake is long & boring. There is not much else around. It reminds me of the drive to the Grand Canyon: a spectacular site in the middle of nowhere.
Ridgetop Farm and Garden | 31 Days in Oregon | Crater Lake

Ridgetop Farm and Garden | 31 Days in Oregon | Crater Lake

 

The last time we went to Crater Lake was a couple years ago, in mid July. Some areas round the lake still had a couple feet of snow, so much of the rim drive was closed. That was kind of a bummer. But, it was pretty with the snow & it was fun throwing snowballs in the middle of summer.
Ridgetop Farm and Garden | 31 Days in Oregon | Crater Lake

 

Crater Lake was formed when Mt. Mazama erupted then collapsed into itself. This created the 5 mile wide caldera. Over time snow, rain & spring water collected in the caldera.
Ridgetop Farm and Garden | 31 Days in Oregon | Crater Lake

 

Wizard Island

a volcanic cinder cone
Ridgetop Farm and Garden | 31 Days in Oregon | Crater Lake

 

Phantom Ship

The smallish rock near the back right edge of the lake is called the Phantom Ship.
Ridgetop Farm and Garden | 31 Days in Oregon | Crater Lake

 

Steel Visitor Center

We bought & sent my mom a postcard from the post office in the building.
Ridgetop Farm and Garden | 31 Days in Oregon | Crater Lake

 

We pulled off at a picnic area to eat and the kids worked on their Junior Ranger booklets
Ridgetop Farm and Garden | 31 Days in Oregon | Crater Lake

 

Left: The water is blue, really blue. It is one of the clearest fresh water lakes in the world. One day I would like to hike the trail down to the lake. We haven’t done that yet.

Right: Vidae Falls is spring fed. Crater Lake is considered a closed ecological system. There are no rivers running into or out of the lake.
Ridgetop Farm and Garden | 31 Days in Oregon | Crater Lake

 

Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the U.S. with a maximum depth of 1943 feet. Average depth is 1148 feet.

The cliffs can reach 2000 feet above the lake water.
Ridgetop Farm and Garden | 31 Days in Oregon | Crater Lake

 

The kids receiving their Junior Ranger badges.
Ridgetop Farm and Garden | 31 Days in Oregon | Crater Lake

 

The Pinnacles

The first time we visited Crater Lake we drove to what are called The Pinnacles. The second time, the road to The Pinnacles was closed due to snow.

The Pinnacles are volcanic spires of sporia and pumice formed during the eruption of Mount Mazama.
Ridgetop Farm and Garden | 31 Days in Oregon | Crater Lake

 

Diamond Lake

We have not stayed overnight in the park itself, although I would like to do that next time. The first time we camped near Paulina Lake. The second time we camped a bit closer, at Diamond Lake. It’s a beautiful lake with a nice campground.
Ridgetop Farm and Garden | 31 Days in Oregon | Crater Lake | Diamond Lake

 

Crater Lake is amazing in person. It’s definitely worth the drive. Next time I would like to explore more by hiking down to the water’s edge and also taking a boat ride to Wizard Island.

 

To see what others are sharing for the month of October check out write31days.com

 

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