Canyons, Creeks and Vents

We took an easy little nature trail hike near our CG at Crater Lake.  What a surprise!  The trail bordered a canyon cut by a little creek in a mudslide area of the volcanic activity of Mt. Mazama, the source of the explosion.  The creek is down there somewhere!

  When Mt. Mazama exploded the mountain top sank into the crater to create the lake floor and some of the purest, clearest water in the world has been collecting there since.  Gas was forced to escape through side vents in the mud.  Over time the vents have separated from the canyon walls to form Pinnacles.  A most interesting rock form!

The mud flow was even more obvious as we continued to the other side of the trail.  Look at that little bit of a creek at the very bottom.  We did remember that in snow melt season the creeks around must really roar.  There was a picture of May 2. 2011at the Visitor Center with a road cut through 45 feet of snow and a 6 foot Ranger standing against it!  Absolutely amazing!

Crater Lake NP just seems like another world set down in the south west of Oregon.  We'd love to return to spend more time on the trails and volcanoes in the Park.  Our introduction made us so aware it is so much more than a big blue, blue lake!