Sarah Visits the Northwest (Part 3)

 On the fourth day of our trip we drove from Lassen Volcanic National Park and made a stop on the way to Portland at Crater Lake National Park. At the time, there was still up 9 or 10 feet of snow covering the ground so all the trails were closed but we were still able to drive around the lake and take advantage of the lookouts to get some incredible views. Above, clouds shroud the outer rim of the lake.
  

 Just incredible. The sheer magnitude of the lake, the color of the water and the clouds overhead made for a spectacular view. I don't know what else there is to write...just look.

 Wizard Island, a volcano inside the crater of another volcano.

 Sarah and I at the edge of the world.

 It is hard to imagine that this lake is where a gigantic volcano once existed and knowing that the base of the mountain was as big as the lake is around, the mountain must have been a sight to behold.

 Driving down from Crater Lake it wasn't long before the scenery changed drastically from snow covered crags to a perfectly flat pumice desert. As the sign above says, this barren landscape is the result of falling debris from the explosion that caused the lake to form in the caldera of the old mountain.

 Heading back towards Eugene I realized we would drive right past where Patrick and I camped near a hot spring. I pulled over so Sarah could get the chance to touch the hot water, very cool.

 Driving toward Eugene I realized that instead of continuing towards Portland non-stop we could take a break in Eugene. Then I also remembered that Coach Taylor was in town with a group for the Olympic Trials. I gave him a call and he graciously let us stop by the house they were renting for the week (above). Sarah and I went for our runs on the famous network of wood chip trails, "Pre's Trails", on islands in the middle of the Willamette River. After our runs we got back to the house and Coach Taylor had a surprise for us. Two tickets to the trials that day. We headed straight for the stadium and made it in time to catch the finals of both the Women's 400, and the Men's 100. It was an amazing experience!

 Women's 400m Finals.

Men's 100m Finals.