Lake Crescent

My BFFL at our site

The lake from our site

...and again

If you didn't know...you'd think you were looking ar the sky

The lake water is pool clear and extrememly blue

The two most essential pieces of camping equipment on EARTH




The old North Shore Road (now called Camp David Jr Road )





some art I have yet to finish




The suns last kisses of the day







Until next year....

The lake is about 27 miles west of Port Angeles on the north side of the Olympic National Park. We stayed at the Fairholm Campground at the far west end of the lake.

Apparently it was once named Lake Everett by a Canadian explorer, but has since been renamed for it's shape. The lake has a low level of nitrogen, which algae needs to thrive, hence the lake's blue clarity. The lake is 12 miles long and about 634 feet at it's deepest point.

When I was young my parents had some friends who owned a recreational lot on the north shore of the lake and we had open camping priveldges. The lot had a tent platform, a fire pit and at one time even a small dock and a row boat. I can't find the lot anymore...I'm sure that most signs of it have rotted away or been buried by deadfall. Of course, that was 35 years ago or so...

I have fond memories of the lake, and some frightening ones. A screech owl perched on top of our tent one night and screamed it's bloody head off in the wee hours of the morning. I remember my poor little 8 year old eyes popping almost clean out of my head. I don't think my pulse has been the same since. There was a burned down cabin at the end of the road we used to pillage, we found all sorts of fun things there. We took walks along an old abandon railroad track and my dad used to carve us animals from branches. The lake hasn't changed much since then, though I believe the National Park Service has bought up most of the recreational lots. There are some people who live along the old North Shore Road, though ...how I envy those bastards.

We had a wonderful time, great weather and some much needed peace and quiet. We swam a little, walked a little, read a little and I even painted a little. I hope I can talk D into going back at least once a year. =)