I remember first hearing about Crater Lake back in earth science class during my senior year of high school. It sounded like a great place to go, but I never had the time to go and check it out then. I have looked at the website and it looks like a great place to go backpacking and exploring the unique geological feature. In case you haven't heard of Crater Lake, here are some statistics:
-Depth: 1,943 ft. deep (7th Deepest in the world, Deepest in the United States)
-There is an average of 533 inches of snow per year that keeps the lake full. (No inlet, or outlet).
-It's freshwater is some of the clearest found anywhere.
There are 100 miles of trails in Crater park, with varying levels of difficulty. I think the most important thing to remember when hiking in an area like this is to remember the elevation. The surface of crater lake is about 7000 ft. above sea level. Hiking conditions are much different here if you are used to hiking at only a couple thousand feet above sea level. Allow plenty of time for breaks to stop and drink water or rest. Once you reach the lake, you have a great supply of some of the cleanest water in North America, great for drinking after your hike up.
Because Crater Park is one of the snowiest places in North America, the weather conditions can greatly affect the backpacking conditions. Many of the campsites are open only during a few short months in the summer. It is not unusual to have about 6-8 feet of snow on the ground when spring rolls around. You can check this website to see the closures of the park, and the best times they suggest to visit. If you get a chance to head out to Oregon and see this beautiful park, take some pictures and post them back here, i'd love to hear your experiences!
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