Crater Lake or Maybe Not

Let's say that we visited Crater Lake, but we did not see it.  We did however get to use our winter coats, hats and gloves.  The temperature at the top was about 31 degrees, with snow/sleet/drizzle.  There was a heavy fog and there was a bicycle race so part of the rim road was closed.  We made the best of it and took a ride on a trolley.  A park ranger led the tour.  He did his best by showing us the flora and fauna that included some very cute golden-headed ground squirrels.  

He told us about three types of trees: whitebark pine, shasta red fir and mountain hemlock.  They each have a role in the forest.  The whitebark pine is the hardiest and found at the highest elevation.  Their pinecones are very hard and tightly closed and are opened by the very persistent work of the Clark's Nutcracker who distributes the seeds.  These trees live between 700-800 years.  The mountain hemlocks are suited to moderate altitude because they are flexible and can bend with heavy snow and wind.  They are easily distinguished by their flopped over tops.  The shasta red fir has a red bark and lives among the hemlocks.  Finally their are the logpole pines that the loggers and Native American's treasured.

Okay here are my pictures.

 It is truly breathtaking to see the beautiful blue water(lots of sarcasm noted.)  I was very disappointed, but see what I can show you?`  We are learning to make the best of a less than perfect situation.  We tried again on Sunday, but it was just as bad.  We met some other people when we were at the Timberline Log at Mount Hood who had been there when we had.  They had stayed until Monday and the conditions were much better.