Kayaking and Crater Lake

 Aug 5 - Sept 1, 2025

This is a boom year for the California Tortoiseshell butterfly. They are everywhere up in the caldera, where they migrate from the lower elevations during the summer.

 

Other wildlife is also abundant

Unfortunately, this little one didn't make it

Went for a lovely full moon paddle with local volunteer Sheryl and her friends on East Lake

Celebrating Smokey Bear's 81st birthday

Feeling that time is getting short we started paying attention to our want-to-do list. We paddled 13 1/2 miles of the Deschutes River with Emily and Steve on a gorgeous day

Ash from the Mazama volcano that blew 7600 years ago, creating Crater Lake

 (which should more accurately be called Caldera Lake)

Tragically, at the end of our paddle, I got a call from my Aunt Janet informing me that my cousin Michael had died suddenly of a massive heart attack.

Our next day off we drove to Crater Lake for the day

And hiked a mile down to take the boat tour. The water is so blue and so incredibly clear

Wizard Island, a cinder cone in the lake

The water is so clear

There was still snow on the 20th of August

The Old Man, a floating tree trunk that has been floating for over a hundred years, can be seen in front of the Phantom Ship island

Two Old Men

Stopped to cool off our feet before the tough hike back up the caldera in the heat

Snow guides for the plows

Clark's Nutcracker

Earned my Junior Ranger badge

"Our" caldera - Paulina Peak

Lost Lake now lives up to its name

After much maneuvering, and 13 hours and three planes, I was able to fly to Providence so I could drive the 6 hours down to NJ with family for Michael's funeral. It was a whirlwind drive down and back but worth it to be with family. I had a day before my flight back and had a lovely lunch and walk with Craig along the river in Providence.

Twelve hours and 3 more planes and I was back "home in the caldera"

Meanwhile Matthew was dealing with an epic rainstorm and hail

And someone found an arrowhead and brought it in. While cool, he should have left it where he found it and only taken a photo

And then I got COVID. Fortunately, Matthew was able to sleep in the living quarters of the visitor center and never came down with it