Crater Lake: Attempt #2

Alright, after a much too long blogging hiatus (silly second year of grad school), here are the promised ramblings and photos from my second attempt at visiting Crater Lake National Park. 

You can revisit the dismal account, here.

Just for fun, here’s a comparison of attempt #1 vs. attempt #2. These photos were taken exactly a week apart.

Week One

Week Two

                                      

                                      

A result of Mount Mazama imploding in on itself, Crater Lake boasts some of the clearest water in the world and is the deepest lake in the United States at 1,943 feet.

I can most definitely confirm the water is absolutely breathtaking. Before visiting Crater Lake, I didn’t think such a color could occur naturally.

 We hiked up to a vista point:

…and down to the water. 

The climb back up is the equivalent of 125 flights of stairs to the top of the 75^th floor of a skyscraper. 

Pretty. Awesome.

I promise this was my last post about a National Park...at least for now!

The Silver Lining

It's been a productive day here in Rainy City, U.S.A. One of those where you look at the clock and wonder where the last 3 hours have gone. To be honest, it has been a long time since I've had one of those days and it felt pretty darn awesome. Marking a bunch of things off my to-do list really makes my inner Type-A personality smile.

I digress.

This post is actually about a photo I took while on my way to Crater Lake last weekend.

This was taken with a point and shoot, so please excuse the less-than-stellar quality, but if you squint and look into the background of the photo it looks like the highway climbs right into the clouds! 

Maybe this is only exciting to someone who has lived in Oregon for over a year now and looks for the silver lining when it's rainy and gray, but regardless, pretty cool right?

...and now I'm off to appease my Type-B tendencies. Relaxing with a glass of wine and Season 3 of Dexter. 

What I've Been Listening to Lately

I happened to catch Florence And The Machine's performance on this year's VMAs and fell in love with the song Dog Days Are Over. The music video is a bit out there, but I love Florence Welch's voice and the fact that the video is definitely original.



Trust me this song with the volume up + mindless dancing = instant mood lifter.

One thing I love about music and its lyrics is that there are countless ways to interpret their meaning. For me this song is empowering, encouraging me to move forward in life, for myself and for those closest to my heart.

(Insert sappy blush here).

Coast Weekend/Nirvana

To say the least, school has owned my life the past two weeks. I'm not the only one whose life has been taken over by literature reviews and presentations, so a group of us were beyond excited for our trip to the coast this past weekend.

My good friend R.D.B. spearheaded a plan to rent a beach house on the coast way back in Winter and the much anticipated weekend finally arrived! We left Rainy City, U.S.A. Friday afternoon after the 2nd year graduate students finished their final research presentations and embarked on a near three-hour drive to the coast.

After weaving through the dense forests, we finally saw ocean and turned north on the 101. With the sun hovering over the Pacific and the fact that I left my computer and all books school related back at my house, I was at peace with the world. No conceptual frameworks to mull over, no readings, no work. Heaven.

In total, twelve of us went to the coast, with a few more who joined us for the day on Saturday. We made family-style dinners, drown our stress in the sounds of the Pacific, relaxed in the hottub, played catch on the beach, read FOR FUN(!) and drank a choice adult beverage or two.

Needless to say, we're already planning next year's trip! I'll leave you with a few photos from the weekend:

(the house)

(the view)

(the coastline)

([some of] the group)

(playing catch)

(S.A.M. and Shilo)

(bliss)

Spencer's Butte Hike

It's been a long, gray winter out here in the Pacific Northwest; full-spectrum lightbulbs can only do so much for the spirit. That said, when it was a beautiful 65 degree day a few weekends ago, my good friends and I jumped on the opportunity to get outside.

We couldn't have asked for a better day for a hike! I'll let the photos speak for themselves:

(Cascade range in the distance)

Washington Visit

A few weeks ago, I visited g.s.r. in the great state of Washington. Don't get me wrong, Oregon is absolutely beautiful, but (I'd argue) Washington has a better mix of urban and outdoor beauty. Can we tell I'm sick of {rainy city, USA} where I live currently? Alas, I'll let the photos speak for themselves:

my first sand dollar excursion!

...also my first excursion driving on a beach

Washington Coast

Space Needle as seen from the highway

Fremont Troll

the infamous gum wall (you could smell it before you could see it)!

relaxing on a hike near Snoqualmie Pass

Hello, Mt. Rainier

PUPPIES!

I grew up in a household of dog lovers. The eighteen years I lived with my parents, there was always a dog (if not two) to love. Hence my current problem: I'm in a severe bout of dog-absence, withdrawls if you will. These past five years of living without a dog is starting to get to me.

Don't worry Mom and Dad, I didn't get a dog, but I'm getting antsy. I know I don't have the money for vaccines and dog food every month, but it doesn't mean I won't soon...1.5 years and counting!

So, until then I get my dog fix when I can. This weekend, it happened to be with a group of Bassett Hound pups!