Photo Story: The Calm Before the Storm, Crater Lake NP
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Wizard Island glows in the mid-winter sun. February 7, 2019 (Image by, Brian Gailey / Klamath Falls News)
Capturing Crater Lake
Rim Village parking lot at Crater Lake National Park. February 7, 2019 (Image by, Brian Gailey / Klamath Falls News)
Over the weekend it is forecasted that Crater Lake National Park can receive up to 18 inches of new snow during the upcoming storm. The extended forecast from the National Weather Service Office in Medford, Ore. also shows that today may be the last day for sunshine for some time. With that info, I took advantage of an opportunity to get out of the newsroom and use my snowshoes.
A Winter Storm Warning has been issued for areas of the Cascades including Crater Lake National Park starting 4:15 PM this afternoon through 4:00 AM Monday.
Today was a beautiful day at the park, certainly the calm before the storm.
On the drive up, the clouds were parting, and the sun shined bright. While up on the rim, winds were brisk and my cars thermometer read 22 degrees - but visibility of the lake was spectacular.
Officially, there are 79 inches of snow at park headquarters, located at 6,470 feet. Park officials have also tallied 184 inches total since October 1, 2018. However, 1,500 feet higher, there is much more on the rim - I would estimate closer to 120 inches (10 feet) on the rim.
As it is said, one photo is worth a thousand words. Below are some photos from today’s adventure.
Click an image for a larger version.
