Varied Skies

A smoky haze greeted us as we moved into the Rogue River valley and set up camp at Joseph H. Stewart State Park.

Wildfires raged on the northwest corner of Crater Lake National Park, closing the north entrance of the park and roads skirting the west and north side of the park. Fortunately, the main visitor center on the south side and the road around the rim of the crater remained opened.

A snapped hitch bolt securing our bike rack delayed our first trip to Crater Lake. While not required for local travel, I needed to fix it before we could move to our next destination, Bend, OR. Given that we were way in the boonies with limited resources, just how long it would take to secure the needed part and make the fix was a big unknown, especially since part of the snapped bolt remained embedded in the rack. Fortunately, a small local hardware store stocked an acceptable replacement bolt and I was eventually able to drill out, tap, and unscrew the embedded bolt. I mention this only because the delay shortened our first day at Crater Lake and that day would prove the best day for viewing the lake.

The smoke enshrouded Crater Lake and surrounding peaks inspired rangers to welcome guests to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. But on this day, the winds and weather combined to reduce the haze. While some smoke lingered, the indescribably blue lake, formed from a collapsing volcano, wowed us.

With limited time, we stayed at the visitor center and the kids completed the junior ranger program.

We planned to do the rim drive and hike to the lake on another day. When that day came, the smoke and haze virtually obscured the lake. We drove around the rim and hiked down the caldera to Cleetwood Cove, the only lake access. The trail dropped 700 feet over the span of 1.1 miles. We covered that no sweat while anticipating a cool swim and some fishing at the bottom.

The return trip proved more taxing. We eventually all made it to the top, spreading good cheer and bearing smiles, but no fish.

Spectacular vistas lined the rim drive. Unfortunately, our smoke obscured pictures won’t win any awards.

Fishing added to our enjoyment of the Rogue River valley. On the way to dinner one evening, we stopped at McGregor Park to wet a line in the Rogue. Very large salmon periodically leapt from the water and crashed back into the river, peaking our interest each time. While the salmon performed, M3 scored a small steelhead with a spinner fly.

That catch spurred a return trip the following evening with M3 and L both armed with spinners recommended by a local bait shop. L tallied two catches (her first ever) and M3 lost count of all the fish he reeled in.

School work, bike rides, and more Junior Beaver programs kept us busy at home, as did keeping an eye on the local fires and road conditions. Luckily, the roads opened around the north side of Crater Lake, significantly shortening our planned trip to Bend. With fond memories of Crater Lake and the Rogue River, we packed up and hit the road.