The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-08-27
THE RETURN OF
THE MAZAMAS
Astoria Members Of the Excursion
Delighted With Their Trip
This Season.
CRATER LAKE IS A WONDER
Half Way Between Mount Hood and
Mount Shasta II One Of the
Grandest Sights of Nature.
Indian Legends.

Indian Legends.
Mr.. VIII Sherman, who returned yes.
terday from his trip 10 Crater Lake
with the Mazamas. when asked by an
Astorlan reporter about his trip. said:
Crater Lake. lying upon the summit
OF the Cascade Range. at AN elevation
Of COOO feet. and half way between Mt
Shasta. IN California. and Mt. Hood,
In oregon, IL remarkable FOR It's beanty,
grandeur. and the mystery which sur
rounds Il. Not until recent years has
II been much known. except In the le-
gends OF the Indians. who clothed Il
with much mystery and told many
fanciful stories about the wonderful be-
ings which peopled IL. 1t Is reported
10 be one Of the deepest fresh water
lakes In the world. having a depth Of
1000 feet. while around II, the rim Of
the crater rises TO almost an equal
height above the blue waters The
average diameter Of the lake is about
ave and one-half miles.
Near the western end Of the lake
an extinct volcanic cone rises from the
water to a height OF 500 feet, which
is known as Wizard Island. The In
dians affirm that this island used
to change It's position IN the lake.
THE ascent or incline 10 the top OF
the lake is very gradual, teams being
able to reach the very edge OF the
crater. while towards the lake 1t is
v'rr rrecipitous. being on an average
OF IS degrees.
ITO reach the lake We had the
choice OF two routes, one from Med
ford. and the other from Ashland. We
chose the former and found 1t to be
most excellent road II is a very pic
iuresque route. and for fifty miles fol-
lows the famous Rogue River-the
scene OF 50 many early-day Indian
wars in Southern Oregon-the Rogue
River rapids, where the turbulent wa
ters are churned into foam as they
come roaring through the high rocky
canyons; Mill Greek falls. and the Nat
ural Bridge are all very interesting
bits OF scenery. along this route.
I'VE had an excellent team and driv-
er, and being fully equipped with
camping outht and provisions, easily
covered the distance Of So miles in three
days. Establishing our camp beside a
cool mountain stream about a mile
from the lake. we made daily eNcur-
sions TO different points about the lake.
the most interesting being a climb to
the top Of Watchman Peak 5000 feet
high, and a visit to Wizard Island. To
accomplish the latter It was necessary
to descend the crater ty narrow,
zig-zag trail along the face OF the
clifrs, a distance Of 1900 feet where
a boat was in waiting. Embarking,
We We're rowed across the quiet wa
ters-blue as indigo and as clear as
crystal, and rejecting on its unrufled
surface the outlines Of the surround
ing crater and the island. A climb OF
500 feet brought us to the top of the
island; descending the opposite side,
we found at the base a large field of
lava, and patches of snow Of a pink
ish tint Re-crossing the lake, some
what rough by reason Of the after
noon wind. We ascended the steep
bluffs, taking almost an hour to make
the ascent We had the pleasure of
several government officials of
the agricultural department, as well as
many Of the Mazamas. After four
days stay we returned by way Of the
great klamath Basin. Lake of the
Woods, and the famous Dead Indian
road to Ashland. The return trip con-
sumed four days, including stops at
Seven Mile Creek, Pelican Bay and
Lake of the Woods, where we stopped
for fishing.
In addition to having most excellent
We were so very fortunate as
20 have Mr., A. ]. johnson as our COM
panion, who willingly contributed all
he information possible in regard to
he many different shrubs plants and
lowers found in our travels.
while waiting at Ashland Sunday
or the northbound train, we witnessed
he arrival and departure of Fore
'augh & Sells circus of 9S cars and
line powerful locomotives. We We're
presented through Mr.. johnson, with
box of Mr., Bracht's fine peaches
rom his famous Peachblow Paradise
'rchards-which orchard furnished the
,rize peaches at the Worlds Fair We
'lso visited the great soda springs at
'oletine, just beyond the Siskiyous last
'Ionday, from which point we boarded
he train for Portland"