Crater Lake National Park

Today our journey took us from Grandpa’s house in Klamath Falls, Oregon, to Crater Lake National Park, a mere 75ish miles away. It was a special day for all of us. We were so blessed by grandpa Don DeSelle's generosity as tour guide and host. And it was fun to have the kids asking someone else how long it would take to "get there." 

This is my first time to truly explore Oregon, and I must say that I find it a refreshing, uncrowded and elegantly ornamented state. While less lush than the northern coast of California, the Klamath region is fascinating for its volcanic features, rolling pine covered hills and open verdent valleys filled with livestock and delapidated barns weathered by years of harsh winters.

Our journey took us to the rim area of Crater Lake, where we took a short hike, refreshed ourselves at the lodge, then went back out for another short hike and then back to the lodge for a leisurely dinner overlooking the deepest of blues one can imagine.

From the rim of Crater Lake, one can see the whole Klamath Valley and Klamath Lake area to the south while also viewing the stunning waters of Crater Lake itself.

Everthing is more colorful here, with forest green set against volcanic black or grey painted against a canvas of cobalt blue.

Let some praise nature for such a place, and worship the place itself. Let others praise themselves for being clever enough to identify it as nothing more than a chance volcanic occurrence in nature. I will praise the creative genious who made it, both for its peculiar beauty and for making human beings with a capacity for aesthetic enjoyment of the awe inspiring scenery. I believe God built us for such places.

Pictures and words fail at an approximation

It is the seventh deepest lake in the world at 1949 feet

The girls decided this was Theodore of the Alvin and the Chipmunks Gang

Grandpa Don, Dad and the Munchkins

Shot taken to capture the clarity of the water, the purest in the country

The girls hearing about the volcanic history of the region

Felicity loves to hike

Felicity loves to pose

At the lodge for a lovely meal

Trinity took this shot in our little photo competition game

I liked the light contrasts on this one

Don inspecting a tree that was struck by lightening

My summer crew