Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1895-10-11
TRIP CRATER AXE!
Description Of Remarkable Body
Of Water.
LIES IN SOUTHERN OREGON
A Broad Lake Lying in the Crater of an
Extinct yalcano---The Jour.
ney There.


gagement-to teach at the Indian school
at the klamath agency in Oregon. sent
to his parents here the following we'll
derful crater lake in that section:
klamath Agency, Oregon. Sept. lS.-
Cora and I will begin work tomorrow,
turned today and the rest will come in
tomorrow. I do not dread commencing,
but am rather glad of 1t.
1 went with the party from the agen-
cy to Crater lake Tuesday and returned
Thursday following. We had pleas
ant trip. Crater lake is about 80 miles
north and little west of here. From
here to old Fort klamath the road runs
along the foot of steep rock bluff on
the right or east. This ridge is said to
extend 120 miles with seldom a break
or pass. At a distance of two miles
we leave the bluff about half mile to
the right, crossing Crooked creek and
following prairie as level as the Spo-
kane valley. On the way to the fort we
pass two large springs either of which
affords sufficient water to run large
sawmill.
About three-fourths of a mile beyond
TIC lOIt we CFOSS WOOu river, WHICH Is
peculiar for it's low banks and unvary-
ing size. as even in the spring it does
not overflow it's banks. The floor of
the bridge is not more than foot
above the water, yet we drive up to
get on it,
For the next five miles we cross many
irrigation bitches, when we arrive at
Annie creek, stream about the size of
Hangman creek, and here begins our
magnificent scenery. We must take a
lunch here for though we follow the
creek for Is miles, this is the only place
where the water is accessible until we
get to the source where it gushes from
beneath the mountain. The banks of
this little stream get sleeper as we as
cend and though heavily wooded at
first, soon become so steep that the
shifting earth as it occasionally slips
down into the water forbids vegetation
of any kind. The scenery here reminds
one of that seen while descending the
five mile hill at Lewiston, Idaho. One
misses many grand views by travelling
in vehicle, as the road is frequently
some distance from the bank, but as 1
had my pony along and could go nearer
the bank.
From the time we strike the creek
until we reach our journeys end we
| travel through a continuous forest of
black, yellow and sugar pine, fir, hem
| lock, spruce, ETC., many specimens of
which were very large. By riding near
the edge of the precipitous bank one
| gets occasional glimpses of cataracts
| far below and is more impressed with
the distance as he hears the steady
| roar of the water like distant thunder
or the wind blowing through distant
| forest.
Suddenly we come to where the banks
| are scanned with geometric and SYM
| metrical figures which would furnish
an interesting study for an artist or a
| geologist. There are caves of various
sizes at different heights above the
water. Crevices, cracks and seams are
seen everywhere throughout this mass
| i've wall. In places part Of the way
| down, streams of water gush from the
| side in white fountain-like jets and
pour their sparkling, foaming liquid in
| to the torrent below. We notice an i'm
mense triangular prison-shaped cavity
| in the opposite wall and beneath an i'm
mense rock weighing thousands of tons
that would just fit the cavity. The
day we returned we noticed that an
other piece Of similar dimensions had
fallen out and lies against the former
stone.
The sublimity and grandeur Of the
whole scene is beyond description
There are miles of this canyon, but
the scenery is so varied that the eye
is never wearied.
After passing the head of Annie creek
we cross a divide and after crossing
three small streams that flow in the di.
rection of Rogue river valley, we camp
at the foot of Crater lake mountain
where many tourists are already camp
ed Next morning part of the com
pany start in the agency hack, the res
horseback and on foot. 1t is only ont
and one-half miles to the top Of thu
mountain, then a level sandy place
which affords a splendid view Of thu
surrounding country. Far away to tn
south we can see klamath lake ant
Mt. Shasta's snow-capped summit. T.
the west we see Union peak, with al
most vertical sides and similar in shap
; to a candle, but the object of most in
terest is not much farther, so we has
ten on.
Suddenly we come to the brink @
1 | a precipice, where two thousand fee
below we see the blue water of tn
lake hemmed in by this vast wall a
the way round. 1t appears to be abou
> two miles across, but in reality is si1
West of the center is an island whic
: is a little mountain with sides almo:
as steep as the banks of the lake an
as high. In the center of the top
:, this island is a crater, or at least
immense hole. Near the edge towar
:. us the water appears brilliant yellow
: shading off into green. then blue IA
}. Their out. 1 think this appearance
caused by the clay and sandstone b.
q ing yellow and as the water become
deeper the blue of the water minglir
, with the yellow causes the green.
le We all went down by the only pat
a by which we could reach the edge
h the water and as the path is very ma
% row and steep, one is obliged to exc
III else the greatest care to avoid falliI
"a over the precipice into the water b
Of low. We had a very pleasant time al
ne the trip is one long to be remember
DO by all of our party. While Crater la
lg is perhaps but comparatively lit
D. known or visited outside Of the sta
vet it is without doubt one of {
n. grandest pieces of mountain scenery
the country.