The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-08-18
TRAVELLER THRILLS
AS CRATER LAKE IS
DISCLOSED TO VIEW
Body Of Water in Mountain Top
Is Precious Gem in Ma
tional Park Crown
BY GEORGE d. MANN

ny UEONGE d. MANN
Medford, Ore, Aug. 13.-Crater
Lake National Park may not be %
well known as Glacier, Yellowstowne
or Yosemite, but 1t has beauty all
Its own. One Of the smaller gems
In our crown Of national parks, 1t is
none the less most precious one.
One who has gazed upon this sea Of
sapphire will not soon forget the
thrill. Joaquin Miller, the poet, once
wrote Of it:
"The lake? The Sea Of Silence2
All, yes, had forgotten-so much
else besides. should like to let 1t
alone, say nothing. 1t took such a
hold on my heart, so unlike Yosemite,
Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, when
first seen that I loved it almost like
one Of my own family. But fancy q
sea of sapphire set around by a COM
pact circle of the great grizzly rock
OF Yosemite. 1t does not seem 30
sublime at first but the mote is in
your own eye"
It Is reached from Medford after
scenic drive along the Rogue river,
past Union creek and detour where
you can see the natural bridge OF
lava rock. And don't forget Casey's,
where is chained up a great burly
black bear of 500 pounds. This deni-
zen OF the pines drinks pop for diver
sion. One Sunday he consumed ~
bottles which means quite revenue
Tor his owner, Casey. This may be
drop from the sublime to the ri
diculous but in some ways the tour
lists enjoy the bear and other wild
life as a relief from the titanic seen
cry.
Effect Is Stunning
After winding climb, the crest of
this mountain in the Cascade range
OF southern Oregon is reached and
the vision Of this sea of sapphire hits
you between the eyes. You are stun
ned. There has been no preparation
to break this thing of beauty to you
gradually. Like magic it rises before
your eyes-there was no mote in
mine. - caught its glory at first
sight.
Around the lake is a rim road from
which the water can be seen In al
its shades. There is Wizard islanC
reaching to the sky in volcanic shape
Near this crater ceremonies are per-
formed. Down below you is a great
rock referred to as the phantom shir
and over against the cliff in the fal
distance is the perfect outline of 9
wine glass. Nature has sculpturec
many fantastic shapes on rocks anc
mountain faces.
Probably nowhere in the world 4
there a better specimen of volcani,
geology. Students come from tn.
four corners of the world to study
this formation at Crater Lake. Grea
caravans accompanied by guides trel
about the rim road and their reflec.
tons are cast in the blue sea below.
The Crater Lake National Park i
small in area but what it lacks i,
size it more than compensates for il
scenery. 1t has an area of less thar
ESQ square miles and comprises som,
$4,000 acres. Thirty years ago con
gress set the area aside as a nationa
park.
Is Puzzle to Science
Science has not determined tn,
origin of the great caldera in which
Crater Lake is located. The water
OF the lake are about 2,OOO feet dee,
and the lava cliffs that rise from it
banks are more than 1000 feet high,
This interesting phenomena is a BAT
fling challenge to the geologist. Vol
canic eruptions doubtless are respon
sible in part for the unique forma
ton about Crater Lake.
The water in the lake is about A
degrees, too cold for bathing but full
of fish. Five are allowed each tour
ist and there Is no license to buy.
Trout as long as SO inches hav,
been caught but the average catcl
is around two pounds each. Their,
are rainbow and steel-head trout, al
we'll as silversides and German brown
and speckled trout. This lake wa,
first stocked In 1883. How to feee