Crater Lake National Park

July 10-12, 2002

Crater Lake National Park was formed by the collapse of a volcano (Mt. Mazama) about 7700 years ago. The caldera filled in from rain and snowfall, forming an incredibly beautiful lake surrounded by the 2000 foot high caldera walls. The lake is very deep, 1943 feet at the deepest point point. It has no inlet or outlet, but the water is amazingly clear. The water level is stable, being a balance between accumulation from rain and snow and loss by evaporation and seepage.

Crater Lake. Wizard Island, seen here, is a volcanic cone formed inside the caldera after the collapse of Mt. Mazama. There are other volcanic cones inside the caldera, but they are covered by the lake.

The caldera walls are very steep so the shoreline is essentially inaccessible, except at one point where the caldera wall is lower and a trail down to the lake has been built. It is a one-mile walk with a 700 ft descent and is the only way to get down to the dock to take the boat tour of the lake. My leg had healed enough that I managed to hobble down to the lake and back.

The lake surface was calm, forming a mirror surface, while we were there. The rangers said they have seen rough water, with as much as 5 ft waves during storms.

A rock outcropping known as the "Phantom Ship". It has the appearance of a ship that, depending on the observation point, can blend in with the caldera walls and appear to disappear. Hence the "phantom" name.