April 21, 2016: National Parks Week: Spotlight: Crater Lake NP, Mount Rainier NP & Olympic NP

​This week, from April 16-24, is National Parks Week and we will be featuring tons of information as well as fun memories about past trips we have taken.  

This year, 2016, also happens to mark the 100 Year Anniversary of The National Parks Service.

There are 58 national parks in the United States waiting to be explored. 

To celebrate its centennial anniversary, the National Park Service is offering 16 days of free admission to 127 parks which usually charge entrance fees.  

These "free admission" parks including the Everglades, Yellowstone, Crater Lake, Alaska's Denali National Park and Joshua Tree National Park in California.
 
In 2016, the 100-year-old service will add seven additional free days (to the nine from 2015), including National Park Week, this week!
​
Here's to a Wonderful National Parks Week!!!

Tanya's Daily Scoop
NEXT TRIP DEPARTS IN: 28 DAYS

The Beauty of the Pacific Northwest

GREETINGS from...
wait for it, wait for it - Home.

Yup, I'm home for the next 27 days, and counting down to day 28 when we are off once again!!!

Not much to report from yesterday, I had a few fights with the internet at home - it was being rather jerky!
​I took Cosette to the stables, and Dominic to his class. I had a bunch of online "shopping" to do, and to register us for the Tour de Tahoe...

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Well there was a problem folks - after I registered, I went back on to register for Dave (you are required to register separately) and guess what..

The ride had SOLD OUT! Ugh

I tried to give them a call and see if anything can be done. I'm still waiting to hear back from them. We are keeping our fingers crossed. I'll keep you posted.

As for today Elisa and I are focusing on National Parks in the very Beautiful Pacific Northwest.
Namely Crater Lake, Mount Rainier, and Olympic.

Each one so unique and so different from the others. Graciously, I've had the ability to visit all 3 on a couple of different occasions. 

The first time I visited Crater Lake was back in September of 2009 with my hiking/skiing/backpacking buddy and dear friend Jeff (who has since been injured and can no longer participate in these activities).

I remember Crater Lake having the most brilliant blue water that I had ever seen!
So much so that it almost seemed artificial - which of course it isn't. lol

On this trip, we had taken a boat ride around the lake and then over to Wizard Island for a itty bit of hiking up to the top. 
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*Wizard Island is a volcanic cinder cone which forms an island at the west end of Crater Lake in Crater Lake National Park, Oregon. The top of the island reaches 6,933 feet above sea level, about 755 feet above the average surface of the lake.

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The next time that I visited Crater Lake was just last year.
It was with the kids, as we made our way to meet up with Elisa in Jackson Hole, Wyoming to begin our Cousins Yellowstone Road Trip!

It was April and there was still plenty of snow on the ground, and the Rim Drive was still closed for the winter. So we opted to take a fun little walk in the snow in attempts to capture new angles to see the lake from.

*Rim Drive is a scenic highway in Crater Lake National Park in southern Oregon. It is a 33-mile loop that follows the caldera rim around Crater Lake. Because of its unique engineering and the surrounding park landscape, the drive was listed as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.

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Going up a bit further north and having gone to Olympic National Park for the first time in 2007. I remember hiking through the beautiful a lush rainforest and just how gorgeous it was.

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​It also happened to be during my 2009 National Park Road Trip, that I had also gone backpacking along the coast of Olympic National Park.

*Olympic National Park protects over 73 miles of the some of the most primitive natural coastline in the 48 contiguous United States. The views of ocean, cliffs, headlands, islands and seastacks, coupled with the dramatic changing sea, provide a unique wilderness experience.

It was my second visit to Olympic National Park, it was quite an amazing memorable trip, and one that I'll never forget as well as one that I'd love to do again!
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It also happened to be my first time trekking along the rugged coast of the Pacific Northwest.

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As for Mount Rainier, it is quite lovely, although you are lucky if you actually get to see the peak...

*Mt. Rainier is so big, it makes its own weather. At an elevation of 14,410 feet, the mountain lies only 100 miles east of the Pacific Ocean in the heart of a mild, maritime climate. But the clouds that often collect around the mountain, forming a cap on the summit, clearly indicate a change in weather.

My first visit to Mount Rainier and to Olympic National Parks actually took place in 2007 when I was first enthralled by the beauty of the Pacific Northwest.

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​Since then, having gone there a few more times, the last was back on 2014 with Dave and we were very fortunate to have clear blue skies and finally see the peak!

However - this was also on the same trip where our car had been broken onto and my Brand New Camera with all of the pictures from the trip had been stolen (insert me crying here). ​

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There were definitely a few hiccups on those trips - Read more: 
Victoria BC or BUST?
&
9 Packing Do's & Don'ts

Also be sure to bop on over to Elisa's column and find out all of the TOP 16 Interesting Facts about each of these very diverse parks of the Pacific Northwest.

We'll be back to bring you more SCOOP tomorrow!

Hope to see you then,
​-T 

Elisa's Daily Scoop
NEXT VISIT IN: 3 DAYS

16 Interesting Facts about 3 Pacific Northwest National Parks

Well, howdy!  
The days are just flying by!  I can hardly believe it's Thursday already.

With our coverage of the National Parks this week, I feel as if we have been traveling all around the United States.

Today, Tanya and I are going to get into some detail about those beautiful national parks in the pacific northwest!

Before I do, allow me to explain my absence yesterday...it was one of those world wind days!!  I had personal appointments from the moment i dropped the girls off at school, straight through till 9:00 pm last night.

Normally, I would complete my blog the night before under such circumstances, but, I was only advised of the crack of dawn meeting yesterday, in the evening AND it required preparation Tuesday evening, so needless to say, I let my dear cuz hold down the fort here at Travelin' Cousins for our blog yesterday.

And might I say, Tanya did a FABULOUS JOB featuring 4 of our nation's most gorgeous national parks: Glacier, Yellowstone, Yosemite and Arches.  
​CLICK HERE if you missed it!!

Venice, Italy August, 2014 (c)travelincousins.co

Had to pause for a little Throwback Moment to 2014 when me and my girls were in Venice, Italy - what does that have to do with National Parks Week? Absolutely nothing lol - but I came across these wonderful memories today and had to share them!

Piazza San Marco, Venice, Italy (August, 2014) (c)travelincousins.com

Ok - so let's get to today's feature - National Parks in the Pacific Northwest!
​
Tanya is going to be sharing some of her adventures throughout these natural wonders, with great Throwback Thursday Trip memories.

I've got a special treat for you today - -
I'll be focusing on "the facts" featuring of each of the four parks spotlighted in our Daily, with a 16 for 2016 for each park respectively, to celebrate National Parks Week AND the 100th Anniversary of the National Parks's Service.

​ Crater Lake National Park
             (Oregon) 
     16 Interesting Facts

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1. Crater Lake National Park is a United States National Park located in southern Oregon.

​2. Established on May 22, 1902, Crater Lake National Park is the fifth oldest national park in the United States and the only national park in Oregon.

​3. In around 5700 BC, a tremendous volcanic eruption occurred forming a large caldera that, depending on the prevailing climate, was filled in about 740 years, forming a beautiful lake with a deep blue hue, known today as Crater Lake.

4. Named for its resemblance to a sorcerer's hat, Wizard Island rises out of Crater Lake.

5. Known for its uniqueness as the only place on earth that combines a deep pure lake, so blue in color; sheer surrounding cliffs, almost 2,000 feet high; a picturesque island and a violent volcanic past.

6. Wildlife found  in this national park are Canadian lynxes, bobcats, beavers, chipmunks, pikas, foxes, cougars, squirrels, porcupines, black bears, brown bears, coyotes, wolves, badgers, deer, elk, muskrats, and martens.

7. Crater Lake is 1,949 feet deep at its deepest point, making it the deepest lake in the United States.

8. It is also the deepest lake in the Western Hemisphere and the third deepest in the world.

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9. The lake's water has a distinct blue hue.  
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10. The soils in Crater Lake National Park are brown, dark brown or dark grayish brown sandy loams or loamy sands which have plentiful cobbles, gravel and stones. 

11. Winter, typically begins at the park in September and runs through June, which includes an average of 98 days with measurable snowfall.

12. Most of the park's roads remain closed through late spring, and snow is still around into the summer.

13. The average annual snowfall in Crater Lake National Park is 533 inches.

14. The highest reported snowfall in a single day is 37 inches, which occurred in 1937, 1951, and 1971.

15. Union Peak is an extinct volcano in the southwest corner of the park. 
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16. ​The highest point in Crater Lake National Park is Mount Scott at 8,929 feet.


  Mount Rainier National
     Park (Washington)
   16 Interesting Facts

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1. Mount Rainier National Park, is located in Washington, southeast of Seattle.

​2. This national park was established March 2, 1899 as the fifth national park in the United States.

3. An active volcano, Mount Rainier is the most glaciated peak in the contiguous U.S.A., spawning six major rivers. 

3. The park encompasses 236,381 acres (369.35 sq miles) including all of Mount Rainier, a 14,411-foot stratovolcano.

4. The highest point in the Cascade Range, around it are valleys, waterfalls, subalpine meadows, old-growth forest and more than 25 glaciers. 

​5.  Carbon Glacier is the largest glacier by volume in the contiguous United States, while Emmons Glacier is the largest glacier by area.

6. In 1988, ninety-seven percent of the park was preserved as wilderness under the National Wilderness Preservation System and this includes Clearwater Wilderness and Mount Rainier Wilderness. 

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7. Rainier is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as an Historic Landmark district.

8. The earliest evidence of human activity in the area which is now Mount Rainier National Park has been traced back as early as  4,000-5,800 BC  found along Bench Lake Trail.

9. Mammals that inhabit this national park include beavers, black bears, bobcats, cougars, coyotes, deer, elk, hares, moles, mountain goats, pikas, raccoons, red foxes, shrews, skunks, snowshoe, pikas,  and weasels.

10. The common birds of this park including raptors are bald eagles, chickadees, Clark's nutcrackers, finches, golden eagles, gray jays, grosbeaks, grouses, harlequin ducks, kinglets, northern goshawks, peregrine falcons, ptarmigans, spotted owls, stealer's jays, thrushes and willow flycatchers. 

11. Mount Rainier is featured as one of 16 commemorative Forever Stamps in the National Park Service’s 100th anniversary collection in 2016.

12. About 1.8 million people visit Mount Rainier National Park each year.

13. In November, 2006, Mount Rainier National Park closed because of extensive flooding during the Pineapple Express rainstorm, which resulted in 18 inches of rainfall in a 36-hour period. 

14. Paradise is the most popular destination for those who visit the park.  It is the area located at approximately 5,400 feet on the south slope of Mount Rainier.

15. Longmire is the second most popular place visited and it is located 6.5 miles east of the Nisqually Entrance.  There is a visitor center, The Longmire Museum, the Mount Rainier's National Park Inn (open year round) and the 1928 National Park Service Administration Building which is now a Wilderness Information Center.

16. The Emmons Glacier dominates the northeast face of Mount Rainier



  Olympic National Park    
             (California)
    16 Interesting Facts

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1. Olympic National Park is on Washington's Olympic Peninsula in the Pacific Northwest.

2. This park was established June 29, 1938​.

3. The summit of glacier-clad Mt. Olympus is popular with climbers, and numerous hiking and backpacking trails cut through the park's rainforests and along its Pacific coastline.

4. The park has four basic regions: the Pacific coastline, alpine areas, the west side temperate rainforest and the forests of the drier east side.

5. Olympic National Park also boasts of having three distinct ecosystems - Sub-alpine forest and wildflower meadow; Temperate forest, and the rugged Pacific Shore.

6. In 1976, Olympic National Park became an International Biosphere Reserve, and in 1981 it was designated a World Heritage Site.

7. Within the center of the park are the Olympic Mountains which are topped with massive, ancient glaciers.

8. The western side of the Olympic is where the temperate rain forests can be found, including the Hoh Rainforest and Quinault Rainforest.

9. Annual precipitation in the temperate rainforests are about 150 inches, making it the wettest area in the continental United States.

10 The park contains much wildlife including a sizable population of black bears and Black-tailed deer, as well as cougars and Mountain goats

11. Some of the most breathtaking views of the Olympic National Park can be seen from the Hurricane Ridge viewpoint. 

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​12. The most popular piece of the coastal strip in this park is the 9-mile Ozette Loop.

13. Olympic National Park as close to 3 million visitors annually.

14. Filled with water falls, some of the more popular ones include Donahue Creek Falls, Royal Basin Falls, Sol Duc Falls Marymere Falls, Murhut Falls and the The Valley of 10,000 Waterfalls.

15. Kalaloch beach is one long stretch of beach and considered a must-see at Olympic.

16.  Crescent Lake, is at the base of the Olympic Mountains, and runs almost 60 feet deep. It is the only place where rare Beardslee “blueback” trout live. 


Hope you've enjoyed taking a little trip to the pacific Northwest!  Share with us your memories of the National Parks!!

More coming tomorrow including a look at all 16 commemorative stamps issued this year in celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the National Parks Service!

-E
xoxo