Up early and off to Crater Lake. I took US 97 south to Bend, Oregon. Made a quick stop at the Walmart to pick up a few supplies.

Let me bust on Oregon for a minute, Michael and Cutter will know where I’m going with this. First, you can’t pump your own gas. When you get out and start to work the pump like you do in every other State in the Union (except NJ, or so I’ve been told) you will be told you can’t do that. Why? Something about safety and jobs. I guess the rest of us are paupers and run with scissors. I hate to ask what else you can’t do in this state. The other item of contention is: the 55 mph speed limit. You can be on a highway in Washington doing 70 and then cross the line and the speed limit drops to 55. This is in the middle of nowhere. Same road, no changes other than the state line. At those speeds I’m surprised that they don’t make everyone wear a helmet and 3 point harness. Rant off.

As soon as I got to Crater Lake I headed to the only open campground in the park, Mazama Village. July 4th and there is still snow in the campground. Claimed my spot and headed for the rim.

Apparently they had a butt load of snow this year. This is the drive up.

This is the view from Rim Village. There were a lot of people here so I decided to take the trail up to Garfield Peak.

Got up to where I was huffing and puffing and found out that the trail is blocked by snow.

It was still worth the hike.

This is the view from the trail.

The hike back down. Doesn’t look steep at all at this angle.

After the hike back down I wanted to take a trip over to Cleetwood Cove Trail. It is the only access down to the lake. You can also take a trip out to Wizard Island. A buddy of mine suggested a trip out to the island. (Len) Unfortunately it was mobbed; did I mention it was the 4th of July? Anyway, it was reservations only, no walk-on’s. So I drove on around the East rim as far as I could go. A sign said the road was closed 9 miles ahead.

That is a big ass snow blower. After getting all of the touristy stuff done I headed back to the camp site.

My 4th of July dinner. Yes, that is a Budweiser. I thought it an appropriate addition. After dinner, I settled down with a good book, but it was very buggy. This was the first time this trip I needed to break out the bug spray: Repel sportsman max with 40% deet. It worked pretty well. What’s a little bug spray cologne after four days in the woods without a shower? Tomorrow is a drive day with a hotel stay in the cards. It’s pretty bad when you offend yourself.

 

Following are a few shots along the trail. Enjoy.