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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 18, 1940)
PAGE THREE Twenty-One Mile Launch Trip Affords Scenic Glimpses of Crater Lake MEDFORD MAIL TRIBUNE. MEDFORD. OREGON'. SUNDAY. AUGUST IS. 1940. TOWERING CUFFS ARE BEST VIEWED FROME LEVEL Naturalist Tells Geological Facts and Indian Legends On Scenic Cruise. By John E. Doir. Jr. The launch trip around Cra ter Lake, certainly the outstand Ing guided trip in Crater Lake National park, offers perhaps the finest opportunity for en joyment of the scenic values af forded to visitors to the park. Visitors who come to the Med ford Rogue Wonderland will find in this launch trip an ex perience which has been appro priately termed one of the finest opportunities for the enjoyment of scenic wonders that can be . obtained anywhere in the Uni ted States. Visitors to Crater Lake Na tional park invariably name the launch trip around Crater Lake as the richest aesthetic experi ence gained from the various fa cilities and services offered by the Park Service, and since this. perhaps the outstanding scenic trip in all of our national parks, is within close access of visitors CRATER LAK LAtWCM ,2 jcsT-' 4 rtiJ- - 'ZJzJZZ TT2 MILES & c.m.M. V. MEDFORD Crater Lake Launch Trip A. Annie Spring. 75 mile from Mtdford. B. Park Headquarters. 79 miles from Mediord. C. Rim Village. 82 miles from Mtdford. Trail to beat land l.S miles. Mileage from boat landing. D. Wisard Island. 2 miles. E. Cleat wood Cove. 10 miles. F. Phantom Ship, 18 miles. Boat land ing. 21 miles. s , the massive frame encircling the constantly changing pat- to the Medford Rogue Wonder-1 ern ot cocr below, will prove land area, the opportunities for L'u "l JUJ" " ' , a trip of rare beauty and rich 'ln int?t " , W. scientific interest are of the very best. From the west or Medford Rogue Wonderland entrance to the park, a drive of seven miles through beautiful forest coun try brings us to Annie Spring, where the visitor is welcomed Into the park by a National Park Ranger. Then, after a drive of six miles over a spaci ous highway, we arrive at the . rim of Crater Lake and gain our first view of this scenic gem which has gained the distinction of being one of the natural won ders of the world, both from the point of view of scientific excellence but also in terms of outstanding scenic value. Crater Lake as seen from the iteep angle of the rim seems un- surpassably blue, but we shall find as we begin our descent down the trail to the lake that the hues and values of color will deepen as we approach the wa ter's edge. The trail, wide and safe, is carefully built so as to eliminate steep descents, and with its 23 switchbacks which wind back and forth we descend down to the edge of the lake, hardly realizing as we go that we have left the rim area and have arrived at the boat landing in such a short length of time. Many visitors to the Medford Rogue Wonderland will o f course stop at various points on the trail where breath-taking vistas of beautiful blue seen through the frame of towering hemlocks and pines will charm the person who will take advan tage of these stops to see the lake ' from these outstanding vantage points. Arriving at the dock, the par ty will be seated comfortably in the power launch which gives ample and comfortable room for even large numbers which come to take the trip at the height of the summer season. In case of overflow crowds a second launch of equally capa cious appointments is available so that all may make the trip and enjoy its many genuine thrills, in terms of sights that cause one to marvel at nature's handiwork in this part of Med ford's Rogue Wonderland area. The National Park service as signs a naturalist guide who ac companies the launch trip around Crater Lake, explain ing both scientific and scenic values so that the maximum of information desired may be giv en in a courteous and interest ing manner. The procedure of the naturalist guide at the be ginning of the trip is usually to outline at the outset of the trip the outstanding features to be seen in terms of geology, bot any, and ornithology, because here on the launch trip is per haps the most favorable oppor tunity for bringing many of the features of Crater Lake to our attention. has made this area famous. Out standing features on the crater wall, significant formations such as glacial valleys, volcanic dikes, brilliant colorations as a result of rusting of fragmental materials on the scraggy edges of lava flows which built up the mountain all these will be seen on the 24 hour trip which awaits us. Just before embark ing to enjoy these outstanding scientific and scenic values the naturalist will see that every one is acquainted in order that a spirit of good fellowship and pleasant acquaintanceship will characterize the trip. To become acquainted, each visitor on the trip will announce in turn his name and the city where he resides. This means of "breaking the ice", so to speak, will add to the good fellowship and will make everyone feel free to chat with any other member of the party during the time the boat glides its way be neath the towering cliffs above. As the boat takes its depart ure from the landing immedi ately we see over the sides of the boat a new value of blue. one that is never seen high above in the rim area, for the ly 2000 feet from the water line. Trees on Wizard Island at tract our attention and we learn that some of them are 800 years old. The absence of favorable soil conditions on Wizard Island, and yet the amount of plant life that is able to survive in the form of trees and shrubs, is a striking feature of the plant life adaptation in some Instances the trees seem to grow right out j of the huge lava boulders that! came out as rivers of rocks in the days of the eruption of Wiz ard Island, which is estimated to be not more than 1,000 years ago. A tremendously interesting phase of the history of Crater Lake is brought to our attention in the story of the burying of the first boat used for sounding Crater Lake in 1886. a boat which was burled in one of the numerous bays which indent their way into Wizard Island. The launch then passes through the channel between Wizard Island and the main land and immediately a galaxy of colors, those from Hillman Peak, are mirrored in the blue water, and we realize that spec tacular and variegated as are the colors of the crater wall, they take on a new lustre and richness of hue when reflected amount of atmospheric Inter-1'"" b'ue W8te" of,the lak,e' ference in the 900 feet differ-1 ' .w, ... ence in elevation prevents one seeing the true color of Crater Lake, a color which can be de scribed only as Crater Lake blue. The naturalist circulates around to various groups on the trip and explains that this color is to be attributed to the purity of the water, its great depth, and the brilliant sunlight three factors which combine to produce a color which is per haps unrivaled In other lakes on this hemisphere. As the launch approaches the first stop in the cove at Wizard Island our attention is inevitably drawn to large holes looming into view In the lake floor, varying in size from lit tle more than small fissures to large depressions eighteen feet in depth. It is believed that these holes are fumeroles. caus ed by escaping gases and a part of the volcanic activity incident to the development of Wizard Island. As the boat comes to a stop In a cove, we see rising above us the picturesquely situated cin der cone known as Wizard Isl and, rising 776 feet above the lake and giving the appearance of a perfect cone. If we look closely we see indications of a depression at the top. and we learn that Wizard Island also has a crater, with a depth of 90 feet and a diameter of over 400 feet, and we thus have the phenomenon of a crater within a crater. The actual height of Wizard Island is certain to be of interest, and we learn that th Tnnlnr nsirlinn nf fhla email the gorgeous dress of mirrored reflection, are nowhere better seen than at this vantage point, directly below the highest peak on the rim of Crater Lake, ris ing 8.156 feet above sea level and nearly 2.000 feet above the lake. The launch stops for us to get pictures of this outstanding val ue in Crater Lake, reflected crater-wall color. Here, too, we see the Devil's Backbone, a sharply protruding dike which stands out in bold relief, its jagged outline also being mir rored In the deep waters below. There are at least two other outstanding values to be seen by us at this stop. Llao Rock, the first and most Impressive one. is a grand mass of lava, filling up a glacial can yon and telling in its rugged massiveness one of the most in teresting scientific stories to be witnessed in nature the story of struggle and succession of two great forces, volcanism and glaciation. Attractive and awe inspiring was this rock to the Klamath Indians who named the great rock the throne of Llao, and wove strange legends about the god of the fiery pit the god of the volcano. This legend, the naturalist relates to us in brief, the fascinating story of elemental forces as they had their place in the history of the god of the volcano. Llao Rock rises actually 1.882 feet above the lake and is 8,046 feet above sea level. It is the grandest, most impressive single feature in the massive, towering walls that gird the lake. We hear from our naturalist guide the fascinating history of this gigantic west wall of the crater, but must now move on In our voyage to the north wall where we stop in the peaceful little northerly bay called Cleet wood Cove. Here on the warmer side of the lake we find not single trees struggling for exist ence within the crater with Just a minimum of soil conditions, but a beautiful grove consisting chiefly "of Yellow Pines and hemlocks a grove nestling tn an area protected from wind. where flourishing and stately trees rise high up with a luxur iance that is remarkable for the volcanic soil in which these grow. Here also in Cleetwood Cove we see a curious body of rock known as Dillcr's Back flow, where our naturalist guide tells us the story of the building of Mt. Mazama, and the fascina ting episodes in its history, in cluding the catastrophic collapse of the peak to form the deepest crater in the world. Leaving Cleetwood Cove, the east and west Palisades chal lenge our attention. High up on these gigantic cliffs are lichen growths which cover these bold faces of rock with a yellow hue. As we glide along, the Wine glass comes into view, a natural slide which resembles a gob let with a long stem and re markably symmetrical outline. One of the most picturesque parts of our trip now awaits us. We travel through caverns U. of 0. President Likes Picture M m to the boat landing (2.63 miles) is soon covered and we discover all too soon that our trip in Medford's Rogue Wonderland has drawn to a close. It is hard to realize that the trip has been one of 21 miles in length, for some of the finest sc-enery in all the world has burst upon us in rapid succession, both in natur al hue and in the superb re flections of towering cliffs in water of eternal blue. The ascent of the trail we make in a few short stages, resting on the benches provided at the various switchbacks. Ar riving at the rim village area again, we take last view of this scenic gem nestled in the heart of the Cascades, one of the choicest spots to be seen In Medford's Rogue Wonderland. ning and Metallurgical Engin eers. Members will meet at Suth- erlin and visit Douglas county'! Bonanza cinnabar mine, describ ed as the country's largest pro ducer of mercury, which is of vastly increased Importance during war times. In the eve ning the engineers will banquet at Roseburg and spend the night there. The next day, Sunday, they will visit the Benton gold mine in Josephine county and spend the night in Grants Pass. Mon day the party will divide, soma inspecting dredging operationi for gold and some going to Cra ter lake for an explanation of its geology by Dr. Warren D. Smith. Mr. Donald M. Erb (left), president of the University of Oregon, receives from Miss Janet Goresky, a color repro duction of McKenzie river, cur rent picture of these series now being distributed here by the Standard service men. With President Erb and Miss Goresky is O. E. Carver, Standard Oil Company of California repre sentative. Several million natural color photogarph reproductions have been given away by the Stand ard Oil Company of California throughout the west, according to an announcement today by Mr. L. T. Nygaard, the com pany's representative in Med ford. Reproductions of famed west ern scenes, including the western national parks, have been dis tributed during the past few weeks by all Standard service country." men. These pictures have been mailed by western residents and tourists to friends all over the United States and even to for eign countries." Mr. Nygaard said. "This "See your West' program has been praised by those receiving the pictures and the public minded persons who consider the plan to have great advertising value for the West." Commenting on the series of pictures released to this state, Donald M. Erb, president of the University of Oregon, said, "Al though Oregon is widely known I as a land of scenic beauty, we ! must constantly publicize its j natural advantages. I am con fident that your company's con-1 tribution of such outstanding color photos has advertised the state s attractions to many tour ists from other sections of the TO SEE SOUTHERN OREGON OPERATIONS AT MEET Grants Pass, Aug. 17. M) Albert Lewis of the state assay office completed arrangements today for conferences beginning August 31 of the Oregon section of the American Institute of Ml- Victoria Cross Given London, Aug. 17. (JP King George awarded the war'i sev enth Victoria cross today to Acting Flight Lieutenant Roder ick Learoyd for "most conspicu ous bravery" In bombing Ger many's Dortmund - Ems canal from ISO feet the night of August 12 in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire. poison OAK? Try a bottle of ZEMACOL Vou mutt be eat I tiled or roar mono cheerfully refunded. Oct a bottle todaj at WESTERN THRIFT. and grottoes, an area known as Grotto Cove, where we see un usual flow lines of lava and where erosion has carved out remarkably fantastic shapes. Then, looking upward, the Pu mice Castles come into view Rusting and weathering of pu mice material have here pro duced a remarkably realistic il lusion to real castles with trees around and tent-like structures of pumice looming up along the west side of these remarkable "castles." Curious as these for mations are, they are not nearly so interesting scientifically as Red Cloud Cliff. Seven definite periods of gla ciation can be counted in the glacial striae around this great U-shaped body of lava rock which rises 1,786 feet above the water. As we pass beneath this fine, massive rock, we see small waterfalls and small rivulets is suing from the areas where snow and ice have been pro tected from the sun and they cascade down into the lake with thread-like appearance and af ford views of slender waterfalls in picturesque contrast with the massiveness of their surround ings. We now see in distinct out line Just ahead of our launch the Phantom Ship coming into view. We note that it is a rib of the old mountain, a dike ex tending out from the crater wall giving a sharp line that is definite adornment in the symmetry of the east wall of the lake. Our pilot takes us entirely around the Phantom Ship, since part of the rib or arm that pro-! trudes out into the lake has been covered by water and a shallow channel at present about 8 feet deep enables us to go between the ship and the mainland. Phantom Ship is a remark able dike both for its world famous resemblance to a ship, and because of its setting in a lake which entirely surrounds it and sets it off in a sharply defined manner. The Phantom Ship rises 175 feet in height and the top spire measures 6.33J feet above sea level. Our launch trip then begins the final stage of its journey, and the distance from the ship A SPECIAL PURCHASE OF FRAMED PICTURES We Bought These For Christmas Selling, But The Factory Shipped Them Early. So We Are Offer ing Them Mow At A VERY SPECIAL PRICE. Two Siiot To Choose From, Either 10x14 Inchea Or 16x20 Inches. A True $1.00 Val. H 0 ach Western Thrift ORIGINAL PRICE CUTTERS Here Soon! Our Annual Big Subscription Party! imoumain existing wimin a lar- The massive crater walls, cer- cer mountain is approximately tainly seen at their best from 2700 feet high since the bottom the vantage point of the launch, of the mountain is in the bot and which we may consider asltom of the crater which is near CHRONIC COUGHS Do you reallre you have been annoying your neighbor wtth youi night run hi rig? Why don't ion tome In to - O' Henry? Henry Lre herb will give you better relief. But dmt wall until ynu have failed nlth other, nur wonderful nine herb treatment will absolutely relieve hay ferer. long, goiter. Inriuenra. akin dlwa. Jaundice, throat, heart, liter, kidney, ttomarh. afhma. dlahetea. constipation, neu ralgia, dlrilne, ectema, headarhe. rheomatlm, arttirttl. cancer, urinary, tumor, drop?. nertouMiCM, proatate. female complaints, bladder and gland trouble. HENRY LEE HERD CO. ruin ft a. nv- p. m. erept unday. fl V f entral. 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