Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Crater Lake N.P./Lassen N.P./Lake Tahoe/Yosemite N.P.

Below are pictures from our latest trip. Last Wednesday the 13th we drove from Palm Springs to Oregon, and camped near Crater Lake National Park. The 14th we drove around the park and then drove south to Lassen Volcanic National Park, and stayed in the national forest outside the park. The 15th we drove through Lassen and then went down to Yosemite National Park, where we stayed at a KOA for the next two nights. We finally returned home on the 17th. Enjoy the pics!

Stewart State Park in Oregon - we stayed here the first night.

The view from our campsite in Stewart park.

Looking into our campsite at Stewart park.

Shawn & Sarah in the shadows.

Sunset at Stewart park.

Leaving the park on the 16th.

Arriving at Crater Lake NP.

Crater Lake - deepest point is 1,932 feet.

Crater Lake.

Sign showing the volcano that formed the lake.

Mac playing in the snow - only half the roads were open because of the snow - the Crater Lake gets 500 inches of precipitation each year.

Arriving at Lassen Volcanic NP.

Mac diving for a stick at our campsite in Lassen Nat'l Forest.

Mt. Lassen - the snow follows the pathe of an avalanche in 1915 that left the ash we are standing on.

From here you can hike to the top of Mt. Lassen - no dogs allowed...

Mt. Shasta - the 2nd highest point in California. We had great views of the mountain for about half our drive.

Emerald Bay in Lake Tahoe - Shawn was in the little house on the island on a prior trip.

On Pebble Hill overlooking a pretty lake - this used to be a popular ski area.

Sunset on Hwy 49 - the windiest road ever made - and we're still driving!

Our KOA campsite - kind of like camping in a hole.

Bridalveil Falls in Yosemite NP.

Yosemite Falls.

El Capitan.

Above - Yosemite Falls, Below - Yosemite Creek. Note the clear water!

Half Dome.

The Grizzly Giant Sequoia - named for it's huge arms. Can you see the people?


Sarah below the roots of a fallen Sequoia.

Leaving Half Dome behind on our way out of Yosemite NP.

Amazingly clear lake at about 9,000 feet.

You don't want to get in the way of dog pictures!

Tioga Pass - our way out of the park.

Thursday, June 07, 2007

Lake Hemet & Idyllwild Tour

This past weekend we took a little trip into the mountains overlooking Palm Springs. We stopped at Lake Hemet first and let the dog go for a swim - you could tell he was bred to be a bird-hunter because he wanted to eat every duck he saw.

Then we drove the 5 miles to Idyllwild, a strangely spelled town about 5,000 feet above the desert. We checked out various cabins and campsites for the next time we're looking to escape the heat....

Mac chasing ducks


Lake Hemet

Overlooking the Banning Pass where there was a fire this spring