Trip Report
This was designed to be complimentary to last year’s trip to Timberline Lodge: an overnight to see the renewed Crater Lake Lodge (at $18 million). First sight disappointing: a large brown barn. It was an exact replica of the original, with 10-percent of the old structure retained. Contrary to original, all rooms have complete bathroom facilities. Third and fourth floor rooms had lots of roof for ceiling, no telephones, television or radio. Dining room was very attractive. Furniture throughout was solid and simple. Food was excellent. The setting, as before, was beautiful - "the original". Looking down into the lake high from the fourth floor room was an exhilarating sight. The motor boat on the lake looked minute. The ride around the 30-mile Rim Drive with a Park Service guide was revealing. Unfortunately, one day was overcast, so the spectacular blue of the lake was subdued.
From Eugene we went directly to Crater Lake via Hwy. 58, the Willamette Pass, the east side of U.S. 97, and the straight line 15-mile road in. Lunch at a picnic spot on way in. Went to the Activity Center, 7 miles downhill from the Lodge for a short movie and pick up guide; followed by Rim Trip. Checked in at Hotel at 4:30 p.m. Had earlier made reservations in dining room (by cellular phone from bus underway) for 5, 6 and 7-hour period requested by members. We were all too tired to take part in evening activities.
All hands ready to go at bus at 8:45 a.m. next morning. Stopped at Activity Center to visit a wildflower garden. Out South entry to the community of Union Creek to see a geological structure not on Oregon’s Highway Map: the Rogue Gorge. A thousand-foot stretch of the Rogue being forced through a crack in the rock not over 4 feet wide at spots. (On Oregon Hwy. 62 at Highway 230). Stopped in Federal picnic area on Diamond Lake for lunch; a cool and breezy event in a shelter. There followed the trip down the North Umpqua (Oregon Hwy. 138) stopping to look at some waterfalls, with falling rain. The eight hydro plants of Pacific Power were not visible to us. From Glide, Ewart Baldwin took us by a back road to I-5 at Wilbur; seeing beautiful rural country typical of the Roseburg area with evergreen forests or oak tree stands on rolling, browning hills. The usual stop at Rice Hill.
Participants were Ethel Allen, Ewart & Margaret Baldwin, Rita Baxter, Lloyd Bissell, John & Marian Borchardt, Mary Lee Cheadle, Ingrid Carmichael, Clair Cooley, Betty Dolan, Margaret Fea, Elizabeth Haralson, Dora Harris, Phyllis Hulse, Cecily Joost, Virginia Kapsa, Helen Knowlton, Dody Leppmann, Marie Looms, John & Lenore McManigal, Barbara & Walter Miller, Frances Newsom, Edna Robertson, Myrtle Sagen, June Smith, Joyce Swan, Al Thiesen and Paula Vehrs. Trip leader, William Eaton; trip guide, Liz Reanier; trip scribe, Rosella Jones.
