Historians Track Crater Lake

Crater Lake has inspired reports of mysterious sightings, ranging from streaking lights over the caldera to dragon-like shadows gliding through its deep, blue waters. A chronological history of the park compiled by two former rangers, brothers Larry and Lloyd Smith, includes several strange reports at the lake, with Sasquatch sightings predominating. In June 1976, the park’s chief naturalist, George Morrison, said he saw a Big Foot, or Sasquatch, creature cross a road at dusk and head into Annie Creek Canyon. Morrison said the upright creature took only four steps to cross the road. Morrison, an experienced nature observer, said he couldn’t find any footprints, but he was shaken by the sighting. Five years later, park visitor Roger Wade reported seeing an upright Sasquatch cross 50 yards in front of his car three miles west of Annie Spring. Wade’s written statement described the creature as six feet tall, with light brown and cinnamon hair. Wade claimed to have found large footprints. Park rangers have reported seeing campfires on the lake’s Wizard Island, but by the time they arrived to investigate, they couldn’t find any evidence of fire. The cinder cone is shaped like a pointed wizard’s hat. Sources: "Smith Brothers' Chronological History of Crater Lake National Park." Crater Lake Institute. Web. 19 Sept. 2013. http://www.craterlakeinstitute.com/cultural-history/smith-brothers-chron... and at http://www.craterlakeinstitute.com/cultural-history/smith-brothers-chron... and Ghost Stories: Collection of Stories about Paranormal Phenomena. Web. 19 Sept. 2013. http://paranormalstories.blogspot.com/2009/10/crater-lake.html.