The Homestead recently decided to spend their Saturday snowshoeing one of Klamath County’s crown jewels, Crater Lake National Park, where we took part in a ranger guided snow shoe walk. The icy trek spanned for one mile through moderately strenuous terrain and led us around the outer edge of the lake. The day was crystal clear, sunny, and the temperature remained around 60 degrees which is a rare and highly coveted occurrence for Crater Lake. Throughout the walk, the ranger pointed out the native flora & fauna that thrives on the mountain while explaining how and why they flourish in such an extreme climate. We also learned that Crater Lake is the deepest lake in America, the seventh deepest in the world, and was formed by the collapse of the volcano Mount Mazama 6,000 to 8,000 years ago.

During our walk, energy was high and many of the students and mentors tried out body sledding! Most students brought their personal cameras and snapped multiple breathtaking photos from one of the high points of the trail. By the end of the tour, everybody was happy, hungry, and tired, so we headed home.

Earlier that morning, we had started some stew in the crockpot made with beef from a steer raised on the homestead farm. Once we were home, the smell beckoned the entire group into the kitchen. With smiling faces, students and staff gathered around the dinner table and discussed the rewarding feeling and benefits of putting forth effort ahead of time while enjoying a big bowl of hardy beef stew.

L.J.