The outstanding feature of the travels of “The Old Man”, as shown by the accompanying sketches, is that during July and August and the first half of September it traveled almost entirely within the north half of the lake. This certainly indicates that during that time there was a prevailing southerly wind which was deflected locally by the crater walls to the extent that numerous eddys and cross currents were created, thus accounting for the continuous back and forth movement of the floating stump. It is interesting to note that long the northern shore of Crater Lake there are noticeable wave terraces of gravel and debris. The terraces, not present on the southern shore, are additional evidence of prevailing southerly winds.
During the period of observation “The Old Man” traveled a total minimum of 62.1 miles, the distance between locations being measured in straight lines as indicated on the sketches. The actual distance was no doubt greater than 62.1 miles. The average daily travel was 0.67 of a mile, the maximum distance accomplished was 3.8 miles on August 6 when two observations were made, one early in the morning, the other late in the evening. The days when the greatest movement occurred were days of high wind and waves.
Time will tell how long The Old Man of the Lake can withstand wind and wave, and the battering to which its base is subjected when it approaches shore. Until it does succumb to the elements it will remain as evidence of the changing winds that stir Crater Lake. On the evening of September 30, when the last recorded observation was made, “The Old Man” was riding the waves about a half mile from the south shore, directly below Sinnott Memorial.
Note: From July 1 to September 12 observations of the location of The Old Man of the lake were recorded by Ranger Naturalist Kartchner. During the remainder of September observations were recorded by the Park Naturalist. — Editor
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Editor’s Note Regarding Volume XII Of Nature Notes
By John E. Doerr, Jr., Editor
This number of Crater Lake National Park Nature Notes completes Volume XI. Volume XII will begin with the July 1939 issue.
Web Edition Note: With the advent of World War II, Nature Notes was suspended until 1946.
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