Crater Lake          Umpqua          Deschutes          Willamette          Mt. Hood

Just 24 hours earlier, it was smoke-free. It was the third trip for me this summer, the smoke cleared a week earlier, we had our boat tickets reserved, everything was going according to plan, until the day before we were suppose to be there. A weather system near the coast was forecasted to push heavy smoke in overnight. Fearing our boat tour was going to be cancelled again, we decided to shoot Milky Way into the night so we didn’t go home with nothing. I was restless the entire night, not knowing the fate of the next day, and contemplating backup plans. When dawn arose, it was as I expected, a bland white sky with the smell of smoke in the air, I was certain we were going to have to cut our trip short. Arriving at the rim of the lake, the smoke did not seem as dense as the previous month; there was a small slither of hope. We were lucky to have gotten on the last boat tour to Wizard Island before the head park ranger ordered all boats to be off the water. Even with the encompassing smoke getting thicker and thicker, the color of the water was still amazing. We spent over two hours of our three on the island pursuing an emerald pool on the western edge, painstakingly making our way through rocky volcanic geology and a seemingly infinite amount of ridge lines. As I made the long drive home, I could only think about when I was going to go back or if I will ever get to experience it on a sunny day.

The night sky was incredible, the Milky Way spanned a full 180 degrees from east to west over the lake, filled with an abundant amount of shooting stars. We arrived the night of a new moon, hiked up after sundown and waited for the stars to come out. We were in awe as we realized the light we saw were of stars of the past; a glimpse back in time.

Shades of Blue

From deep Hawaii to shallow Caribbean blues, the amount of different colors of water the lake showcases is spectacular; “thanks to our good ol’ friend ROYGBIV”, as stated by a park ranger. With a maximum depth of almost 2000ft, and underwater cliff drops, different wavelengths of light are reflected and absorbed, creating the palette. The park service continue in a prudent effort to restore the lake to its original condition and to keep it as beautiful as it is.

I couldn’t believe how lucky we were to be able to do the boat tour during the last week it was offered. With a high pressure weather system and red flag warnings moving across the state the week of, there was a chance large wildfires could have began and ruin the trip for us (again). I could not help but be stressed out the whole week before and anxiously checking the weather reports. I planned this trip and had everything booked six months before and decided to roll the dice once this year. As the weekend approached, it seemed we were in the clear, literally in terms of the sky.

Waking up with a decent night sleep this time, I was almost in disbelief as there was not a single cloud or any trace of smoke in the sky. I smiled to my friends and jokingly said that was all I wanted and we could go home now. While waiting to board the boat, a nice couple told us the boats were not running most of the week due to thunderstorms and mechanical problems, and today was the first day the boats were running again.

Forever grateful.

Clear Lake in Linn County is just minutes away from the Tamolitch Blue Pool, but much less visited (as I didn’t even know about it the first time I was in the area). We were lucky the smoke from the wildfires stayed away. Immediately walking up to the waters’ edge, I was met with a hue of teal I have never before seen. Visibility here can exceed 100ft, topping the ranks as a premier freshwater dive spot. 

Every part of the lake seemed to have its own distinct shade of blue. I was able to see straight to the bottom from the boat dock. As we paddled toward the north end of the lake, the lighter turquoise water turned into a deep sapphire, blue rays from sunlight penetrate into the depths.

Naturally filtered water through porous volcanic rock flows through The Great Spring, producing a breathtaking pool of crystal clear blue water with an average temperature of 34F. When I first jumped in, the entire front of my lens dome fogged up despite the inside stuffed with desiccant packs; I had to keep the camera submerged for several minutes for the inside to climatize.

The ice cold water does a great job at preserving trees, which some are estimated to be older than 3,000 years. Only non-motorized boats are allowed on the lake, and only $35 a day to rent a boat for a day, making it a haven for exploring on your own.

For a body of water that holds freezing cold water, there are still plenty of fauna and flora that dwell here. Several species of trout cruise the bottom of the lake and can be seen from the surface. The Cutthroat trout here are especially stunning as their colors along the top match a distinct navy blue of the lake.

After an arduous hike with all our gear, we managed to get to the Blue Pool just when the last rays of light was beaming through the trees. From above, one could see two distinct shades of blue, a bright turquoise where the sun hit the water, and a deep primary blue in the shaded area. I quickly put my wetsuit on and jumped in to the icy cold water chasing the fading light, knowing I only had minutes before the sun would set behind the trees. As I peered under the surface of the water, I felt as if I entered another world. I had to keep my lens port out of the water to prevent it from fogging up. I still cannot seem to be able to describe it in words. Floating just beneath the surface, seeing the aquamarine reflections mirrored under the surface, hearing nothing but the calmness of the water, discerning the palette of blue hues, I felt renewed, seeing something almost no one else has seen before.

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