Wednesday, June 17, 2009

A Diamond by the Crater...

Grandma and Grandpa's last full day of visiting, Sunday, June 7, we went on one more big adventure. We took them on a trip to visit Crater Lake National Park. On our way, we passed through Glide, Oregon, where you can stop and see "Colliding Rivers" - a unique geologic phenomenon that causes the North Umpqua River and the Little River to meet head on. Some sources say that this is the only place in the world where this happens, others say the only place in the United States. I haven't done quite enough traveling to discern which source is accurate!
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Which ever it is, it doesn't really matter! It is really interesting to stop and see it and read many of the signs about the rivers and the Umpqua people who inhabited this area long before it was "settled."
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We brought along a picnic lunch and enjoyed it at Diamond Lake. This is Mt. Bailey and in the winter months, some people are crazy enough to take a snowcat up the mountain and do some back country downhill skiing. But, you are not going to find me there. Don't even go searching for me there... I will NOT even be considering it!
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We stopped for a photo at the viewpoint for Mt. Thielsen. It was a gorgeous day with not a cloud in sight!
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We made our way into Crater Lake National Park and made our first stop at the Pumice Desert. Bud had to run out and have a look at some of those rocks. He's been bulking up just so he could toss a boulder or two! Oh, the fun of a lump of pumice!
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We pulled into a parking area to view the lake... there was still a bit of snow cover up there in JUNE!  Just a weeeee bit, though!
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Apparently, SOME ONE wasn't expecting there to be much in the way of snow and wore her their best walking shoes! Yes, their tootsies were a tiny bit numb as we piled back into the van!
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Oh, but the view... The view at Crater Lake, the color, the surroundings, the sounds - everything makes it an enjoyable trip even if you were wearing sandals in 12 feet of snow!
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That BLUE. It just makes my heart sing. I just could sit and stare at the color - how is it possible for it to be soooooooo blue?!?!
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If you haven't been... and you live NEARBY - GO GO GO GO!!! It will be worth your while to go have a peek! I promise. And if you are headed to Southwestern Oregon on a trip, make sure to put it on your to do/see list!

6 comments:

  1. WOW! You all kept BUSY with your company!! Beautiful pictures!!

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  2. wish we would have been able to see the lake better. when we went there was still way too much snow (in May).
    r

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  3. Holy cow! I'm so glad you posted those pictures! I enjoyed them, especially the BLUE!

    When we went from Seattle to Leavenworth, there was that much snow piled up on the side of the highway. I could hardly believe it, especially since it was 70 degrees!

    What beautiful, beautiful pictures!

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  4. What a beautiful mother-in-law you have - did you know she was my mother's classmate in the little Catholic elementary in Shelby? Small world (again)! How funny that she wore sandals in all that snow!!

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  5. Last time we went to CL in June... yeah... we did the same thing! Totally regretted the clothing choices! But it was so worth it! We are hoping to go up there again next month with my brother and his family.

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  6. Oh and I forgot to mention about Glide! Rose went to a camp up there last year and we saw it for the first time, it is really cool! We did see some real.... ummm... interesting people actually jump in! Talk about scary!

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Thanks for jumping in and leaving your thoughts!!

I sure like to know who enjoys playing around the treehouse!