We are getting used to the Oregon wilderness lifestyle, I think. Remember the fan motor that broke on the motor home just before we arrived here June 4? Well, Tom ordered a replacement motor, and it finally arrived August 8! We went to Klamath Falls to retrieve it, and while we were there, we bought paper towels, and other items we had been out of for a couple of weeks. Did you know that cloth dish towels are a great substitute for paper towels?

On a day off, Tom borrowed a couple of wrenches from Mike, down the row, and set to the task of replacing the fan motor. But it was another beautiful day in the low 70s, so Lynn went hiking.

The Pinnacles Trail takes some driving to get to (16 miles away); it is an easy flat path along the gorge, with some exciting views. These tall, delicate spires were formed during the volcanic activity thousands of years ago. Next I walked to Sun Notch, a trail through a sloping meadow ending above Phantom Ship, but the trees were obscuring the view of it. So I drove up to Rim Village and wandered around, observing people, who were observing the lake.

Today, there were several “contemplaters” just sitting on the wall, taking in the view. Ranger Brian and Ranger Mike were at the information center smiling, answering questions, and helping kids with their Junior Ranger activities.

The path along the rim up at Rim Village is another good exercise route, except if the views don’t break your stride, the people-watching will. First-timers are the most fun to watch. Families pile out of their car and walk the 20-yards or so to their first view of the lake. Expressions of awe fall into two categories: the verbal response (“Wow, “ “Oh My,” “Look how blue it is”), and the silent response, because they don’t have words to describe what they are seeing. Kids, and teenagers usually say, “Whoa,” “do they have jet skiis?”

Then the cameras start clicking, and families are posed in front of the magnificent backdrop. I’ve taken many pics of couples who are grateful to be photo graphed together. Most interesting was the Japanese family who asked me to photograph them together; the father spoke rapid Japanese to his wife and 3 children as he arranged them “just right” on the stone wall, got in his proper place (still giving instructions in Japanese), and as if on cue, they all smiled broadly, and I clicked away.

Tom tends to get the same questions over and over from his passengers: Where are the bathrooms? How do they get the boats down here? How deep is the lake? How cold is it? Why is it so blue?

One family got all the way down Cleetwood Trail and asked, “Do you have boat rides?” Another family stood in front of the “SOLD OUT” sign on the ticket shack (at the top of the trail) and asked, “Do you have any more tickets?” (They really tried to get on a boat – they said it was their last day, and anyway, little Johnny here really wanted to go for a boat ride. Little Johnny looked like it was the last thing he wanted to do.)

Mirror-image of Phantom Ship

Tom has noticed some major lack in parental control. He’s seen more than one tantrum staged by a child who wanted his/her own way – not wanting to wear a life jacket, wanting a cookie, wanting to stand up, lean out over the edge of the boat, etc. It took ten minutes to get one reluctant junior hiker off the boat at Wizard Island.

In contrast, we have both seen kids eager to learn all about Crater Lake. They are the ones asking questions, and answering the ranger’s questions correctly, and pursuing the activities to earn their Junior Ranger Badge.
Thankfully, the vast majority of visitors are very appreciative of the beauty surrounding them, and enjoy the experience with their families and friends. It’s been an interesting study of human behavior.