Friday, July 8, 2011

July 8 – Back to Crater Lake

Last night the temperature dropped around 0C after a daytime high of 31C. Today it is only 26C, a more comfortable temperature for outdoor activity. 

While most of the trails are closed, one trail up the side of a peak overlooking the lodge was partially open so away we went.

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It may not look like far but the trail was very narrow and rocky with very steep drop off on the side. It was a bit of a trial for Jennie with her problem with heights so we just took it slow. It was a bit snowy at the start.

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We just can’t get enough of that view on another cloudless perfectly calm day.

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I always have to find the high spot.

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We went as far as they recommended. Any farther and you would be walking on slippery melting snow. One misstep and you fall several hundred feet. Some people just don’t listen.

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We got some nice views of the mountains behind us as well as of the lake.

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Heading back down.

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We stopped at this great lunch spot.

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Mostly we did a lot of this.

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When staring out it was hard to remember that the far shore is 6 miles (10 kilometers) away and those cliffs are almost 1000 feet high.

We are also amazed that the altitude has not really affected us. When we were skiing at Breckenridge, where the base is at 8000 feet, it killed us to walk up stairs but we were fine skiing at 13000. We are pretty sure today’s hike got us close to 8000 but we didn’t notice anything.

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One last look up the trail.

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On the way back to the RV we stopper at the first viewpoint from the first day again.

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Takes my breath away every time.

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We also stopped again at the pumice desert. One minute you are surrounded by tree then instantly this.

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The valley is abut a mile wide and several long. They said the pumice was 100’s of feet deep in the middle.

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