Our first stop was at Cougar Hot Springs, officially known as Terwilliger Hot Springs, which are geothermal pools located in the Willamette National Forest in the U.S. state of Oregon, 53 miles east of Eugene. The springs drain into Rider Creek, which in turn drains into Cougar Reservoir. They are located about a quarter mile in from Forest Service Road 19, also known as Aufderheide Memorial Drive. They are managed by Hoodoo Recreation Services. Visitors over the years built up four pools out of river stones. The pools' size ranged from three to twelve feet across and two to three feet deep, that cascade down a hillside. The source is above the topmost pool, where the spring flows out of a rock face at approximately 112 degrees Fahrenheit. Although the pool floors are mostly bedrock, some gravel, sand and debris are at the bottom if the pools haven't been cleaned recently. The springs are often frequented by the residents of nearby Eugene and Bend. The pools were renovated in 2009. A group of volunteers, led by a Eugene-based stonemason, removed concrete and built pools using a natural mortar. The new walls will be more stable and easier for volunteers to clean. The renovated pools, the construction of which cost an estimated $40,000, are expected to last for generations.
Jason qualified as a full member of the Confederation of Reformed and Presbyterian Soakers (CoRPS).
The 2nd and 3rd pools.
Next stop, we cooled off at Hidden Lake.
We did some swimming and sunning here. This log is a neat feature, as it allows you to enjoy the water without having to navigate the muddy banks.
Next stop was to find a camp site and set up for the night. Jason got very adept and unloading and setting up our camp.
Home for the night.
Next day, we break camp and head on over to Crater Lake National Park.
Crater Lake is a caldera lake located in the south-central region of the U.S. state of Oregon. It is the main feature of Crater Lake National Park and famous for its deep blue color and water clarity. The lake partly fills a nearly 2,148 foot (655 m) deep caldera that was formed around 7,700 (± 150) years ago by the collapse of the volcano Mount Mazama.
On June 12, 1853, John Wesley Hillman was reportedly the first White to see what he named "Deep Blue Lake" in Oregon. The lake was renamed at least three times, as Blue Lake, Lake Majesty, and finally Crater Lake. While having no indigenous fish population, the lake was stocked from 1888 to 1941 with a variety of fish. Several species have formed self sustaining populations.
Since 2002, one of the state's regular-issue license plate designs has featured Crater Lake. The commemorative Oregon State Quarter, which was released by the United States Mint in 2005, features an image of Crater Lake on its reverse.
The lake is 5 by 6 miles (8 by 10 km) across with an average depth of 1,148 feet (350 m). Its maximum depth has been measured at 1,949 feet (594 m), which fluctuates slightly as the weather changes. This makes Crater Lake the deepest lake that is completely in the United States, the second deepest lake in North America, and the ninth deepest lake in the world.
Being a fan of mountain lodges, this is high on my list. Crater Lake Lodge was built in 1915 to provide overnight accommodations for visitors to Crater Lake National Park in southern Oregon, USA. The lodge is located on the southwest rim of the Crater Lake caldera overlooking the lake 1,000 feet (300 m) below. The lodge is owned by the National Park Service, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In 1909, Steel finally convinced a Portland developer, Alfred Parkhurst, to build a lodge on the rim above Crater Lake. The average winter snowfall at Crater Lake is 533 inches (13.5 m). As a result, the lodge structure was required to carry an extremely heavy snow load for up to eight months every year. Neither Parkhurst or the project’s architects R. L. Hockenberry & Company had experience building structures in a demanding environment like the Crater Lake rim site. In addition, building materials had to be trucked to the site over very poor park roads, and the construction season was limited to only three summer months. These factors combined to slow construction and drive up project costs. To compensate, Parkhurst kept the structure very simple. For example, the exterior was covered in tar-paper and the interior walls were finished with a thin cardboard-like wallboard called “beaver board.” The lodge had no private bathrooms and the only electricity came from a small generator.
In 1967, the National Park Service acquired the Crater Lake Lodge. The lodge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. However, the building continued to deteriorate due to lack of funds. Despite being listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the National Park Service felt restoring the old building was too costly so it was scheduled to be demolished. The decision was later reversed due to public opposition. In 1988, the National Park Service approved a plan to rebuild the lodge as part of the comprehensive Rim Village redevelopment program. In the spring of 1989, just before the lodge was to open for its summer season, structural engineers advised the National Park Service that the Great Hall was unsafe. It was so unstable they feared it might collapse from its own weight, bringing down the rest of the lodge with it. This forced the National Park Service to close the lodge pending renovation. After two years of planning, construction began in 1991. Some original materials were salvaged for reuse, but most of the original building had deteriorated to the point it could not be saved or reused. However, the Great Hall was carefully dismantled. The rest of the building was gutted and a steel support structure, modern utilities and fire suppression system were installed, and guest rooms were upgraded to modern hotel standards.
The renovation was completed in the fall of 1994 at a cost of $15 million. On 20 May 1995, Crater Lake Lodge reopened to the public. Today, visitors to Crater Lake Lodge enjoy modern accommodations in a rustic atmosphere reminiscent of the original 1920 era lodge. The lodge has 71 rooms. Each room provides modern comfort and privacy. The Great Hall has been completely restored. The dining room overlooks the lake and serves northwest regional cuisine. An exhibit room just off the lobby provides information about the history of the lodge, Crater Lake, and the park. The lodge is open from late-May to mid-October.
Of the many colorful volcanic formations in the walls surrounding Crater Lake, The Pumice Castle, on the east wall, attracts the attention of all visitors making the launch trip around the lake, and of many visitors viewing the crater walls from the rim, particularly when the afternoon sunlight emphasizes the pattern of color on the east wall.
Our explorations of Crater Lake come to an end, and it time for a little hot water and a camp site.
Our camp site, located on the bank of the Umpqua River.
It wasn't funny at the time, but after grilling some steaks, we cracked up the camp fire. Shortly after that we were paid a visit by the local Sheriff who informed us of the fire ban and the $5,000 fine, if we didn't get that fire out fast. We got that fire extinguished in a flash.
Several years ago, the bridge across the Umpqua River was determined by the Forest Service as being unsafe, so it was taken down. Before the new bridge was installed in late summer 2010, this log bridge is how you got across the river to the hot springs. Situated on a clifftop perch, Umpqua Hot Springs' view of the North Umpqua River below is one of Oregon hot springs' most memorable. It certainly adds to the soothing pleasure of soaking in this spring.
The Umpqua Hot Springs are geothermal pools located along the Umpqua River in the U.S. state of Oregon at 2,640 feet (800 m) elevation. The main pool is five by eight feet and 110 °F (43 °C), and is covered by a wooden enclosure.
This the covered pool, as it refills.
There are two to three oval pools for soaking above and behind the main, covered pool. The larger pool is tub-like due to the minerals from the spring creating a travertine mound over the centuries that caps the cliffside. The main pool exists sunken into this travertine stone with the view opening like an amphitheater to soakers. The upper, smaller pool is 4 by 5 feet and 112 degrees F; the lower, larger pool is 5 by 8 feet and 110 degrees F. Both pools are 2-3 feet deep and floored with coarse sand.
There are a series of cascading pools that are fed through canals in the travertine.
Use caution when walking around the pools in this area as the wet travertine can be incredibly slippery.
Jason is a very talented soaker.
Our camping done, we break camp and head toward Bend to regroup and plan our next adventure.
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