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Wednesday, August 25, 2010

The Big Obsidian Flow Tour, Newberry Caldera in Central Oregon:


Monday, August 23, 2010


Here is a view of the Big Obsidian Flow from Paulina Lake:

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews


On Saturday morning, I joined forces with the hiking ladies next door.  We went on a guided tour of the Big Obsidian flow, which is only about 1/2 mile down the road from our camp.  It was so interesting and a lot of fun.


Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews
Me, getting ready for the tour.


Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews
Amanda, ready to hit the trail.

Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews
Up the hill we go.  Only 3/4 of a mile and no dogs are allowed.


 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews
Wow.  That is only a small portion of the obsidian.   
 

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

The above three photos are of  Lost Lake, which is located at the base of the flow.  It is filled with snow-melt, and during very hot summers it disappears and becomes lost, hence its name.  In late August, frogs hatch in the lake and they climb up and live on the Obsidian Flow.  We did not see any frogs, so they probably have not hatched yet.  We have had a cool summer and it got here late.


 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews
 These non-slip metal stairs take us up the trail.


 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews
This is Ilana, our tour guide.  Ilana is an intern for the U.S. Forest Service.  She is a biology and geology major from Santa Rosa, California.  Ilana knows her stuff and did a great job showing us around.  Our group consisted of the hiking ladies, a couple from Eugene and me.

Stop #1: 

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

Ilana told us that we were at the fifth largest obsidian flow in the world.  There are around 20 of them all together.  Ilana began her talk by telling us about the Native Americans who used to populate this part of Central Oregon; mainly the Shoshone and Northern Paiutes.  We learned that the first house ever found in America was found in the Newberry Caldera.  It was a preserved 10,000 year old wickiup, made from lodgepole pine and covered with woven grass and reeds.  There were tools and food still inside.  The original was taken to a museum somewhere, and the spot was paved over, but there is a replica of the wickiup at the visitors center.

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

Obsidian is much better to work with than flint when making tools, and it is much more rare.  You can more or less control the way that obsidian will break, and therefore it is preferred for making tools, arrowheads, spear-tips, and other items.  It is breaks in ripples and is very, very sharp. 

The Northern Paiutes became a wealthy tribe due to their access to this obsidian flow.  They were seasonal visitors, coming when the snow melted and hunting elk and rabbits. The Northern Paiutes gathering up obsidian at this flow and the six other flows in this area around the ring of fire.  They would trade the obsidian at festivals, and some of the obsidian from this flow has been found in Montana and other states.  

Stop #2:

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews



Obsidian is actually made of the same elements of glass, and believe it or not, so is pumice.  The difference between obsidian and pumice is their density.  When these types of volcano's erupt (shield volcanos), the pumice comes out first because it is lighter and then the obsidian comes out next.  This happens in waves and they jumble together.  As this mixture comes out, it is thicker than toothpaste and as it flows, it cools and breaks.


The Newberry shield volcano is very broad but is not very tall.  The other kind of volcanoes, like Mt. St. Helens, are composites.

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

Ilana told us that this obsidian flow is the 5th largest in the world and came to be only 1300 years ago, the last time this volcano erupted.  It is 1.1 square miles and 150' deep.  There is enough obsidian here to make a 24' wide highway that would go 3 1/2 times around the world! 

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews
Ellen asks Ilana a question, while Marilyn and Jan watch.


 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews
Amanda, Ruth and Jan continue on with the hike.

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews
Looking down at Lost Lake.

Stop #3:

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews
We learned more about Native American tool making.


 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews
The red in this piece of obsidian is actually rust.  Obsidian contains iron, and will rust just like anything else made out of iron, under the right conditions.

There is another obsidian flow in Oregon near Silver Lake/Christmas Valley called Glass Butte Glass Butte, Oregon.  The obsidian there has all different colors running through it, according to Ilana, red, yellow, blue, etc.

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews


 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

Stop #4:

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews
Obsidian is also used for jewelry and surgical tools.  Dr. Donald Crabtree invented obsidian scalpels that work well for eye and lung surgery. 

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

Stop #5:

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews


 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews
Some of the few trees that live there are very old.  They remind me of Bonsai trees; all twisted and small.  Not only are they nutrient deprived, they have hot summers and are covered with deep snow in the winters.

Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

Stop #6:

Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews
Not too much lives in this obsidian flow, but some things do.  A few trees, frogs, lichen, birds and some insects.

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews
View of Paulina Lake, with Mt. Bachelor and the South Sister

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews
View of Paulina Peak

Monday, July 26, 2010

North Twin Lake, Twin Lakes Resort and Crane Prairie Resort



Yesterday, before the thunderstorm, Cary, Darlene and I went on a drive up to visit three of the local lakes.  We were only gone 2 1/2 hours from start to finish, and had a really nice time together.  We went south on HWY 97 to Wickiup Junction, turned right on Burgess and drove about 20 miles until we got to the sign that said North Twin Lake.

North Twin Lake:

North Twin Lake is really nice.  It is not a resort, but a rustic campground without hookups.  The lake is small, warm, has a boat ramp and a large sandy beach.  I felt like it was a relaxed place to hang out.  A nice little campground where people police themselves.  I dipped my toes in the water and thought, hey, I would actually swim here.  I don't like cold water anymore.

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews


 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews


 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews


 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

South Twin Lake Resort and Campground:

We left North Twin, got back on the road and turned left.  A half mile up the road we turned left again, heading toward South Twin.  We passed Sheep's Bridge Campground on the right, and kept going until we got to the resort.  There are a lot of places to camp or stay at South Twin.  There is a campground on the right, a campground next to the resort, and and RV park that backs up to Wickiup Lake.

South Twin is a great place to go to take the kids on a picnic and swimming.  The beach is great, and the water is warm.  South Twin is also a small lake, but I think it is bigger than North Twin.

Darlene shared her memories of all the times that she has spent at South Twin.  When the grandkids were little she went there almost daily during the summer with Julia, and then with Susan when they were in town.

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews
There is a store, cafe, boat rentals and cabins.


 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews


 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews
The resort offers boat and raft rentals.  
These things are huge!


Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews


 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews


 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews
The swimming area by the campground.


 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews
The boat rental dock.  
No motors allowed on this lake.


 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews
Darlene and Cary head into the store and cafe.


 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews


Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews
There is inside seating ...


 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews
.... and a big patio for outside dining.


 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews
Cary and Darlene waiting for our 
Prime Rib sandwiches to arrive.
The food and service were great!


 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews
Dogs are welcome on the patio.


Back inside the store, there are gifts, food and fishing tackle:

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews


 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews


 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

After leaving South Twin, we turned left and headed toward Crane Prairie Lake and Resort.  On the long road off of the highway on the way to this lake, a huge red tailed hawk swooped down right in front of our windshield, facing ahead.  Wow!  I wish that I had a picture of that, but I can still see it in my mind.  That thing was big, with a wing span of three feet or so.


Crane Prairie Resort has a very nice RV park with full hook-ups.  The spaces are huge and are not packed in tightly. There is a play area for the kids with Little Tykes play structures and a basketball court.  The offer fuel for your boat and a nice dock/marina.  They even have a laundromat.
 
 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews
The Crane Prairie Resort store where 
Cary bought each of us an ice cream bar.


Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews


 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews
The marina has a beautiful view of Mt. Bachelor, 
The Three Sisters and Broken Top.


 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews
I think that this is Davis Butte in the background.


 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews
The Matthews have camped and fished here for years.
Our visit brought back a lot of memories. 

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews


 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

There was a lot of algae in the lake, but I didn't notice any warning signs about it being toxic.  There is a big Forest Service campground immediately before you get to the resort, which sports a very nice swimming area.  Once, when Shanna and John were here camping with the family, a leech attached itself to Collin!  Yuck.  I don't know if that is still the case around there now; that was 10 years ago.


We headed back home after we left Crane Prairie because the storm was rolling in, and we didn't want to be in the middle of it.  I noticed as we came to the end of the resort driveway that we could have turned left and went to Elk Lake.  We turned right instead, and went back the way we came.  


It was a very nice afternoon excursion with my best friend husband and my other mom, Darlene.  I love the fact that all of this, and much more is within a half mile drive from our home.  Are we lucky, or what?


Here are links for more information on the places we visited yesterday:


North Twin Lake Info 
Twin Lakes Resort
Crane Prairie Resort
Crane Prairie Campground