Allie and Danella live in a fifth-wheel RV on a mountain near Brightwood, Oregon. As if that wasn’t cool enough, they are also working their way around the Western states, boondocking in a camper van. One of their recent adventures took them to Crater Lake, Oregon. While there, they took the boat tour of the lake and were introduced to the “Old Man of Crater Lake.”
Videos by InspireMore
Crater Lake was formed 7,700 years ago when a volcanic eruption caused the collapse of a mountain. The waters are from rain and snow, making the water’s purity level unmatched. It holds significance as the deepest lake in the United States. The blue waters are a favorite sightseeing stop with visitors to the Cascade Mountain Range.
The Old Man of Crater Lake is a floating log. Specifically, a 30-foot mountain hemlock log. The curiosity is that the log floats upright, with three feet exposed above the surface of the lake. Carbon dating puts the age of the Old Man at 450 years. Geologist Joseph Diller first documented the log in 1896, noting that it travels around the lake randomly. A study of its travels in 1938 had surprising results.
Surprising Lore Surrounds The Old Man Of Crater Lake
Native lore of the area suggests that the Old Man controls the weather of the lake. This seems to have confirmation from a 1988 study. Researchers tied the Old Man up to prevent interference during submersible use. During the study, storms kept them from launching the underwater vehicle, and then it snowed in August. Once the tethers were cut, releasing the Old Man, the weather returned to normal in short order.
There are times when the Old Man of Crater Lake disappears, only to reappear later. The lake is relatively small, measuring only 20 square miles, with the widest diameter being only 6 miles. Allie and Danella were fortunate to see it during their visit. If you would like to learn more about their adventures in the Pacific Northwest, follow the travelers on TikTok. They seem to find all the best free camping in the area!
Please share.
You can find the source of this story’s featured image here.
Want to be happier in just 5 minutes a day? Sign up for Morning Smile and join over 455,000+ people who start each day with good news.
