Crater Lake NAtional PArk

We left Portland, a few days ago, and headed south toward Eugene.  When we got there we explored around, and tried to find a Wal-Mart to stay the night.  Well, again we ran into their city laws that no one can camp overnight.  We called a few other stores from the parking lot, and again no go.  Well it was still early into the evening so we decided to head onward.  We talked to our good friends Cristin and Buck, and he was telling us about this place he heard of called Wizard Island, and later found out it was in Crater Lake National Park.  So that's where we headed next.  We drove three hours or so, through the National Forest, winding in into the Cascade Mountain Range.  Those drives through pretty much any National Forest, or Park are just awesome.   It rained a little in the mountains.  We found a place to camp called Diamond Lake.  It's just 15 minutes or so from the North entrance of Crater Lake.  We set up camp, had some dinner, gathered firewood, and made a fire.  The next day, we had a day of reflection here at camp.  The following day, we headed to Crater Lake.  Every National Park now that we've been to, has been so amazing, and different, with so much to offer, it feels like each one we go to tries to top the one before it.  It's getting hard to pick a favorite.  Anyway, we get there and before we get to the lake, we drive through a desert.  It was kind of weird, and not what we expected.  The Park, and the surrounding National Forest, are very prone to fires during this part of the season.  We drove a bit more and we reached the lake.  It's Aw inspiring.  It's 6 miles in diameter, and the bluest water we've ever seen.  So here's a brief history on the Lake.  There was a mountain in the lake's place, called Mount Mazma, and it was the tallest in the Cascade Range.  About 7,700 years ago, the mountain had some violent eruptions, and later collapsed into itself leaving behind a massive crater.  Over many years, the crater filled with rain and snow, which is now Carter Lake.  There was a few smaller eruptions that came up through the lake.  One was the well know Wizard Island, named for it's appearance of the top of a wizard's hat.  The other is known as Phantom Ship, for it's ghostly image of a pirate ship, though most of it remains under the water.  There is a 33 mile road that goes all around the rim of the Lake.  That's what we took to explore yesterday.  We had great weather and just an awesome experience there.  The Lake in one word, "Crazy-Awesome!"  (Yeah I made it into one word.)  More pictures to come!