Crater Lake: Taking the Plunge
Herald and News
Klamath Falls, Oregon
September 4, 2008
LEE JUILLERAT
H&N Regional Editor
I am never sure which is tougher: Standing on the edge of the rock overlook and building up the nerve to jump, or feeling the body go into shock after jumping off that 20-foot high ledge and being immersed in Crater Lake’s anything but warm water.
Swimming in the lake is an annual ritual. Part of the ritual, and the pleasure, is that it requires being at the lake, not simply observing it from the rim. Yes, the water is cold, but there’s something satisfying, and even cleansing and purifying, about been immersed and even caressed by the lake’s incredibly pure water.Crater Lake isn’t an easy place to get wet. After getting to the park, it’s a 1.1-mile downhill walk from the Cleetwood Cove parking lot to the lake. Some people swim by the boat dock, but I prefer a less public area farther up the trail past the compost outhouses and down along the shore.
Jumping or diving off the nearby rocky outcrop is often part of the ritual. And during this year’s visit, I watched and photographed as a succession of people, spurred on by a young woman who stripped to her swimming suit and launched from the rock, jumped in.
Jumping is contagious. One goes, and others, who otherwise wouldn’t even consider such foolishness, follow. During a recent visit, two young women — literally and nearly figuratively — broke the ice by jumping in.
Two youths who had been watching, including Curtis Lin, worked up the nerve to peel off their clothes to their shorts, then make a succession of jumps, which in turn spurred others to do the same.
Cold? Yep.
Worth taking the plunge? Yep, again.
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Other pages in this section
- Beetle Outbreak Threatens Park Trees: Researchers Say Global Warming to Blame – Summer/Fall 2008
- Ranger-Guided Snowshoe Walks – November 27, 2008
- New USGS Geologic Map of Mount Mazama and Crater Lake Caldera, Oregon – November 24, 2008
- Crater Lake snow total back to average level – November 5, 2008
- Crater Lake seeks volunteers – November 3, 2008
- Rim Drive at Crater Lake closes for season – November 3, 2008
- Hands and Hoofs: Horse Group helps Crater Lake Ski Patrol mark winter trails – September 18, 2008
- Ski patrol volunteers needed at Crater Lake Park – October 10, 2008
- Parts of wilderness area, Crater Lake park reopen: Cooler weather, rain help firefighters control Middle Fork Fire – October 9, 2008
- Crater Lake facilities closing down: Crater Lake Lodge to close Sunday for the season – October 7, 2008
- Meeting set on Middle Fork Fire – September 23, 2008
- Middle Fork wildfire hits 17,869 then slows down – September 23, 2008
- Weather helps Royce Butte Fire – September 20, 2008
- Fire burns into Crater Lake: Growing Middle Fork fire spreads into remote portion of the park – September 20, 2008
- William “Bill” Hopkins – September 19, 2008
- Middle Fork blaze heads toward Crater Lake – September 19, 2008
- Rattle Fire keeps highway 138 closed for weekend – September 12, 2008
- Hiking trails closed down by wildfire – September 11, 2008
- Family fun day planned at Crater Lake – September 11, 2008
- King of Jordan, ‘Lost’ actor among celebrities at Crater Lake – September 3, 2008
- Remembering Emil, the forgotten Britt: his life was spent in the shadow of his father’s fame – August 24, 2008
- Meissner, Shelton take Crater Lake run – August 10, 2008
- The road to Crater Lake – July 27, 2008
- Crater Lake swimming chilly – July 16, 2008
- Exploring the “Other Half” of Our National Parks: Stargazing Under Protected Dark Skies – June 14, 2008
- Wildfire filling sky with smoke: Fire near Crater Lake is 1,700 acres – September 10, 2008
- Garfield Peak trail guide – August 28, 2008
- Garfield Peak offers new vantage point to Crater Lake – August 28, 2008
- Crater Lake National Park: Trees, wildflowers, dazzling views on trail to Crater Peak – August 14, 2008
- Plenty of backcountry solitude – August 14, 2008
- Crater Lake boat tours to resume – August 13, 2008
- Crater Lake needs volunteers – August 11, 2008
- Locals Impress: Area runners win 2 short runs – August 10, 2008
- Meissner, Shelton win Crater Lake marathons – August 10, 2008
- Mazama Village to be back to normal – July 23, 2008
- Fire Contained at Crater Lake – July 22, 2008
- 50 spots remain for Crater Lake Rim Runs – July 20, 2008
- Crater Lake; Rim Drive opens today – July 11, 2008
- Crater Lake Rim Run spots going – June 24, 2008
- Crater Lake north entrance opened, but caution urged – June 21, 2008
- Many Crater Lake services open, despite snow – June 10, 2008
- A Tribute to Steve Robinson – Spring, 2008
- Crater Lake’s new boss fulfills a lifelong dream – May 04, 2008
- A Look back at history: Programs focus on history of Southern Oregon – April 25, 2008
- Crater lake has new superintendent: Craig Ackerman will move from the Oregon Caves National Monument – March 5, 2008
- Oregon law could nix proposed water agreement – March 5, 2008
- Crater Lake contaminated, new study suggests – February 28, 2008
- Airborne Contaminants Found in Western U.S. and Alaskan National Parks – February 28, 2008
- Airborne Contaminants Study Released Measurable Levels Detected in Twenty Western National Parks – February 26, 2008
- What to do: Crater Lake rangers guide free hikes – February 23, 2008
- Crater Lake story will air – February 9, 2008
- Park rangers undaunted by weather – February 8, 2008
- TV crew makes trek to Crater Lake’s rim – February 8, 2008
- ODOT worker hurt when tree crushes pickup truck – February 4, 2008
- TV crew headed to Crater Lake – February 6, 2008
- Park Ranger Ken Hay Retires – January 28, 2008
- Crater Lake offers 90-minute winter tours: Park rangers lead free treks in park on Saturdays – January 24, 2008
- Laurels go to retired Crater Lake official: Dinner given for former park superintendent Chuck Lundy – January 21, 2008
