Into the blue

That’s where you’ll be when you visit Crater Lake, Oregon’s only National Park and our country’s fifth oldest, established in 1902. I took a trolley ride around the lake, which lasted for about two hours — and highly recommend it if you should ever go. Lake Crater highlights, besides its dazzling blue color? The NP ranger who accompanied us on the ride had a top 10 list. Here are a few: at a depth reaching 1,943 feet the deepest lake in the U.S.; also, perhaps, the body of water with the greatest visibility in the world — 143 feet; annual snowfall — 43 feet; and, created by a massive volcanic eruption some 7,700 years ago. Oh, and btw, it’s still considered an active volcano! Before Crater Lake, I stopped in Corvallis, home of the Oregon Beavers, passed through Sisters, a beautiful little town, and spent a night in Bend. Leaving Bend, I spent some time at the High Desert Museum, just off Rte 97. It’s outstanding, and through a display of permanent and changing exhibits, paints a wonderful picture of the area’s history, people and culture.