Day 33

So much to share I can't do it in words.  Pictures will have to tell the story.

We are currently in Bend, Oregon at an RV park.  Only drove 100 miles today after leaving Crater Lake but we only needed to get somewhere out of the "rough" and do laundry, buy groceries, clean the RV & car & dog & ourselves after 6 straight days in Lassen and Crater combined.  Cell and Internet was spotty at best but mostly non-existent at both parks so we are way behind.

We were blessed with great weather at Crater Lake and made the most of it driving the rim and hiking the trails.  Nothing but sunshine our entire stay.  The weather is usually colder at this time and the park was closing the campgrounds after today - Sunday.  So we caught it at the right time.

We hiked to the lake shore (a 1,000 ft steep decent), and to the highest point in the park (Mt. Scott - a dormant volcano - 1,300 ft ascent), and several more in between.

Enjoy the pictures!

Note:  Pictures are posted as of Sunday night.  Took a long time - too long to add "verbage" about each picture.  Please, if you see these pictures before we add the commentary tomorrow morning (Monday), look later in the day Monday for full explanations.

Oroville to Lassen--------------------------

Our first glimpse of Lassen Peak from the highway

At the entrance: In case you didn't know, Lassen is in Norhern California 

Another view of Lassen Peak on the drive through the park to our campsite.
 This peak is 10,457 feet, the highest in the park and visible all around.

Another view of road on the way to campsite

Start of the Lassen Peak trailhead on the next day hike for Ellen. I stayed back with Isabelle; for some reason when I awoke this day my knee was swollen and I could hardly bend it. (I think she beat my kneecap when I was asleep)

 View at start of trail looking back at parking lot.The park is currently doing repairs towards the top of the trail to make it safer so EJ could hike only half way up; trail is 5 miles round trip. Had to stop at 1.3 miles for it is blocked off. It is steep and a 2,000 ft elevation gain to top 

Views along the trail

Looking back at Lake Helen on the way up

As far as allowed at this time. Half way up and 1,000 ft. elevation gain

Another view of Lake Helen on the way down. We like the name "Helen" for we were thinking of Mama

Views from our drive thru the park

EJH at shore of Lake Helen

Love how green and lush the meadow is with its' winding mountain stream

Lassen to Crater--------------------------

Left Lassen headed for Crater Lake and were very overwhelmed by the imposing Mt. Shasta (14,162ft.) second highest peak in California.  Can be seen 100 miles away in any direction

At Crater-------------------

Sorry for so many pictures, but it was hard to limit the ones to share.  Each different view point offered a change in scene.  We have opted to "overkill" rather than leave something out.

Always like to take a picture of the park entrance

First views of Crater Lake. The water is so blue it almost seems unreal. The weather was perfect for our first "Rim Drive" around the entire lake. Incredible Scenery!

There is a volanic island in the lake named Wizard Island which is visible from almost all the way around the lake.
(look to the left) Boat tours are available in the summer but was already shut down for the season. Damn! We would have loved a boat ride and a hike around the island

Wildfires from 3 lightning strikes that is being monitored by US Forest Service Rangers. The quality of the pic is not that good
as the fires were way out there away from the lake

At Pinnacle Point; a side road that we took to get a look at volanic pipes (volanic fumaroles)

Back at camp after our first day drive to get familiar with the park

Start of the trail "Watchman Peak" to get a panoramic view of the park and surrounding area. We could still Mt. Shasta
at the top but too far away to get a good picture. Thought that was pretty cool being that we were in Oregon and the
mountain is in California!

At the top looking down and around. Parking lot is to the left

EJH looking into Fire watch tower at the top

On the trail to bottom of Crater Lake, the only place in the park that one can get to the shoreline where the boat tours leave from. It is steep going down and really steep coming back up!

Shoreline of Crater Lake

Getting ready to put "our feet" in the lake

Shit! Its cold

Climbed from shore over to a rock. Pants are wet up to the knees

Not to be outdone by Jim I had to get to the rock too. Got lucky and found someone to take our pic together 

"Phantom Ship" on the other side of the lake. Another volcanic island

Went to "Rim" for some evening pics. Unfortunately we were on the wrong side to capture the sunset. Didn't feel like driving all the way around again 

Momma getting prep done for dinner before our last hike late afternoon up Mt. Scott

Our campsite (with electricity).  No matter where we put our mats, Isabelle finds the dirt to lay down in

Wood for our campfire is free for the taking of dead and down trees and limbs here at Crater.  Usually it costs me more for nightly firewood than it does to camp with my "senior" National Park Access Card so I was always "scrounging" around for material.

The sign says it all.  Our plan was to hike it late afternoon so we could get "money shots" of the sunset we missed the night before.  However, as you can see, it clouded up before we started out.  It looked so bad for awhile we almost did not go, but the rangers looked at the radar and said no rain or lighting in the forecast.  5 miles roundtrip.  About 30 minutes into the hike we stopped and questioned going all the way up.  But we continued on and made it to the top.  Very windy and cold up there.  Mt. Scott is actually a dormant volcano.
Did not get any sunset pictures, but still are happy with what we got.

Had to hold onto my hat to keep it on

Ellen is almost to the watch tower at the top

Getting closer

Made it!

Panorama at the top.  We are so high up the lake looks small.

Baby it's cold up here!

Looking back at the trail up as we are headed down.

Ellen holding onto her hat too as she heads down.  Mt. Scott is behind.  The peak ahead is a smaller one we had to go over before reaching the top and back over going down.

Looking back at the top

This gives you a "feel" for the Mt. Scott trail

Nothing but smiles as the end is near

Mt. Scott peak and watchtower is barely visable about 1.5 inches from the left edge of the picture.  The lower peak we had to go over is more pronounced in the middle.

Chincia and Mike - this could have been you!