Diary/Photo Journal
Week of July 20, 2003
After Lassen, we made for the Lava Beds National Monument. It is a little known wonder wherein the lava flowed under ground and created an extensive network of tunnels or "tubes" under the desert floor. As typical, the air temperature above ground was over 100 degrees, yet upon immediately entering any of the tubes, the temperature maintains a comfortable 65 degrees.
 |
Down to Darkness |
  |
Both Gerson and Louise exposed only with the light from the flash. The shine is from the water seeping through the lava rock. |
These tubes go from 300' to over 2000' in length and were used by the local Modoc Indian tribe as escape from the heat and from the U.S. Soldiers come to remove the locals to a "better" place. Having been to the Lava Beds many times, I recommend the experience to anyone. Just make sure you have sturdy shoes, a couple of dependable flashlights and no fear of the dark (or bats). Be prepared for the cool water seeping through the rocks and look for the tubes that have ice in their deeper pockets. Once inside of the tube, there is no natural light and you cannot see your hand if it is on your face. They are remarkable natural formations with quite an interesting history.
Our next destination, Crater Lake National Park - just another example of our terrific National Park system. We were able to sneak into one of the last RV spots available within the park and we took advantage of a nearby hike down to Annie Creek. This creek ran alongside of our campsite and was oh, about 700' down. Just an easy stroll according to Gerson - yeah, right! We made the round trip in about an hour and it was quite beautiful. We started amongst the tall pine trees and ended up walking along the meadows and the meandering creek.
 |
Gerson about half way down to Annie Creek |
 |
Louise trying out the latest mosquito repellent gear. The mosquitoes must have been laughing so hard they forgot to bite... the gear worked. |
Crater Lake - now this is a place that you have to remember to breathe because the lake is so, well, breathtaking. Because of a lack of pollution and sediment in the lake, the water is visible for 144' and it expresses shades of blue and turquoise not seen in the best tropical waters. Like the Lava Beds, there is a terrific history surrounding the relatively young lake (Mount Mazama erupted and collapsed into itself only approximately 7700 years ago). The volcano had several other eruptions and these added the famous Wizard's Island and the Phantom Ship to the landscape. Over about 500 years, the lake formed from rain and snow and maintains a maximum depth of almost 2000'. Just to put Crater Lake into its magnificent perspective, Mount Mazama's eruption was 150 times greater then Mt. St. Helens.
 |
View across Crater Lake |
 |
That is not the sky, that is looking down 1000' into the blue, blue water |
 |
Wizard's Island |
 |
Louise and Gerson at different views
of Crater Lake. Look into the far distance in Gerson's picture and you can see the Phantom Ship formation. Because of the wind current, the water goes around the rock formation giving it the illusion that it is moving through the water. It is almost eerie, kind of phantom like :-) |