Crater Lake provided the backdrop on the first day of August for our hike to Garfield Peak, a stone’s throw above 8,000 feet and 2,000 feet higher than the surface of the deepest fresh water lake in the USA. Sue and I found the altitude a bit challenging for our lungs at first, but after a stop for snacks, made it to the top in less than an hour. We are fortunate that our home in Ashland, Oregon, is just a two-hour drive from the national park.

Matt and Karen Smith wrote my favorite national parks book, Dear Bob and Sue, in which they describe their visits to every American national park. Their presentation is unique and entertaining; check it out by clicking on the cover. They have just published book three in the Dear Bob and Sue series. Sue and I also enjoyed the Smiths’ book about their Grand Canyon dory trip, Dories Ho!