Full (Pink) Moon at the Crater Lake rim, 4.5 miles, 616' e.g., 1 night
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For many of us who've been here before, it's hard to describe to someone who hasn't, just how blue the blue is. Am I right? Come wintertime the national park and the surrounding area is magical. At the lake, the contrast of the blue water against the white of the snow is absolutely breathtaking. Imagine what it'll be like during a full moon?
Of note: the actual date of the full moon is Thursday, the 2nd. But it's Passover, and for a few of our members that understandably presents a conflict. We could....leave on Saturday morning, the 4th, returning on the 5th. Surely, there will be a waining moon, but I imagine more than enough moon glow to illuminate the rim.
As park admin has closed the rim drive indefinitely, the rim is only accessible via the Raven Trail (2.5 miles, 616' e.g.). That presents us with two options for travel: sled/pulk or hoof it. As we get closer I will call the ranger on duty and ask for the trail conditions. Too much snow and it's extremely difficult pulling a sled.
Last time I spoke with a ranger, he said we must camp near or beyond Discovery Point. That is approximately 1 mile more when we arrive at the rim.
General itinerary:
Friday, 2nd
8:00 am Depart Oblivion Pour House Grill
10:30 Arrive southern entrance to Crater Lake NP: park/lake.
We must get a wilderness permit from the Steel Visitor center.
01:30pm arrive Discovery Point, make camp
Saturday, 3rd
10:00am depart campground.
11:00am, breakfast at Beckie's (its known for homemade fruit pies).
We should be back up in Bend -or- drive back to Bend.
It takes 2.5 hours via the southern route (RT62 via Chiloquin), and 3 hours via Diamond Peak and south.
What to bring? ALL YOUR COLD WEATHER GEAR. DO bring extra guy lines and snow pegs. Microspikes just in case.
Monitor the conditions here. Here too.
I'll need a couple of drivers with "America the Beautiful" or similar passes to volunteer their 4WD, or AWD vehicles. We all pitch in $15 for gas. *I have an "America the Beautiful" Pass that will waive the park entry fee for at least four of us in one vehicle.
PLAN B, should we be thwarted once again, if we'd like to continue the Full Moon theme: June 29th, and July 28th. So we wait and see. Again, fingers crossed.
The end time is approximate.