The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1915-09-09
MEMORIES OF PYTHIAN
CRATER LAKE TRIP
lRY ]. 2. Lucasl

Waucoma Lodge No. 80, of Hood River,
decided to attend and to go by auto.
So. on the afternoon of August IL,
genial Bert Stranahan hitched up his
big nine passenger White auto stage
and with Jasper Wickham, T. F. John
son. c. c. Cuddeford, Arthur Howell,
W. II. Taft. W. B. North, w. Monroe
and J. p. Lucas and a camping outfit.
rolled off down the Columbia highway,
description of which is unnecessary.
Leaving the highway at Latourelle
by way of the old grade. thence over
the most beautiful of hills and country,
past Dabney park and the Portland
Auto club on the Sandy, over to and
past Gresham toward Oregon City.
Camping by the road, Chef Wickham
soon had an appetizing supper, then in
to the blankets for the night.
Early next morning we were on the
road, passing the many old Willamette
valley towns, through Salem, then to
Albany where we enjoyed good chick
en- dinner, after which we were shown
through the new and most perfectly
apportioned lodge building that we had
ever visited.
Then away via Corvallis, Eugene,
Cottage Grove and other points, always
through fields of grain and corn, sur
prise to most of the boys and a treat
to all to behold.
Camping at nightfall at fine ranch,
where we were treated most royalty by
the pioneer owners, we slept in stack
yard and were soon in the land of
dreams, after a ride of lS5 miles for
the day.
Next morning we started early for
run of IT'S miles to Medford, over the
splendid mountain grades. through the
good towns and fertile valleys of south
ern Oregon, arriving at Medford at Z
p. m.
Near Grants Pass we passed a stretch
of country that had been burned over a
few days before, where fine homes had
stood and where nothing but ashes and
ghostly chimneys remained; but in
front of one place there was bit of
sentiment that we could not overlook,
for there was a little child's rocking
horse, apparently the only thing re-
covered from the flames.
We stopped at Riddles for dinner and
with numerous cards saying eff you
get lost return to Riddles on the 18th
for big venison barbecue" and we
almost wished to be lost there.
The beautiful Medford was full of
Knights. all eager to be off for the
lake. and all wishing to get away first
in the morning to give the dust to the
other fellow.
We had the novelty of sleeping in
real beds at hotel here, and at )
o'clock next morning were off for the
Crater, and had almost no dust during
| the day.
| A more pleasant ride would be hard
to imagine, amongst the orchards.
ranches and along the most beautiful
of mountain streams, finding pretty lit
| tie ranches away up on the mountains,
and it was here that Bert became in.
terested in fine pigs. Stopping at the
power plant, several of the party, as
well as many others, rode down to the
river on the electric tramway.
We arrived at the lake about p. m,
where we found the K. of z. boys from
Medford had cooks galore, tables set il
the form of large triangle, with the
streamers of lodge colors. suspended
from trees, and the tables loaded.
How we enjoyed the lake, and we
could not help feeling of awe as We
first gazed across its waters. wondering
how it all came about. One could moi
resist the impulse to return again anC
again at dawn and evening to gaze
across the lake and see the various
shades creeping across the waters
which are SO blue in the full light.
On the first evening the MedforC
lodge gave the play of Damon ant
Pythias in most creditable manner
being assisted by the Medford band
the first band to play at the lake.
On our arrival we found erected fol
our use government tents, and blank
cts and ponchos for the asking, and tn,
boys ever ready to add to our comfort
In the morning we were, aftel
breakfast, each given prepared luncl
to carry to the island. and on arriving
at the landing at the edge of the wa
ter, and after giving the lodge pas
worlds, were taken over to WHARF
Island.
After climb of 1000 feet to the toI
of the crater on the island, and de
scent of about 100 feet, we found tn
lodge room, fitted up by nature, assste'
by some of the willing hands frot
Medford.
Then the lodge officers appeared il
their many colored robes. and proceed
ed to the ceremony of initiating % can
didates, representative men from al
parts of the state, the first being VII
: G. Steele, the splendid superintendent
of the Crater Lake forest reserve.
This unusual event was one long to b
remembered, mainly from the novelt
of the setting. Recrossing in the lat
afternoon, and leaving that wonderfU
indigo blue body of water, we made th
zig.zag climb of one mile to the rim
where we we're quite willing to take
bit of rest.
After hearty supper, a serenad
; and baseball game INDUCED in by th
band, we had the concluding ceremor
les, consisting of speeches by the Gran
, officers and prominent Knights froi
various parts of the state.
F, There were present representative
= from eight lodges in California.
GOuS VI Tue amusing stuUtS III Cdtll
we're the barber exercises, one bein
= Gus Moser, of Portland, stretched OF
t on the ground with his head over a 10
e and the barber doing his best-anotht
! being Jay Lucas balanced on the er
e of his suit case with Stanton perform
ing with his safety. The camera Wa
+ busy meanwhile.
e Tom johnson and Art Howell d
7 make the jack rabbits suffer: near
: scared them to death.
: At the lake we found Billy Graham
who had gone in his car from Portlar
e with Frank Stanton, Carl and Kirb
t Ross.
On the following moning we relu
tantly glided down the mountain
= miles, over one of the most interestir
of all our roads, to Fort klamath
where we laid in some supplies, al
r Lucas visited with some of his hume
Gus relatives strung along the entiI
e route. Just before reaching the latt,
place, a halt was called to inspect
:, milking plant, where a rancher WI
e milking 40 cows with gasoline engir
s and milking machine. North and Vic
|; bopo uot husv with their camaras hal