Tree Studies at Crater Lake

Crater Lake National Park, Oregon, USA

Every time we visit Crater Lake National Park I itch to draw the snags. Day before yesterday we got up early and drove there for a day trip. It's only about 100 miles from here, but slow driving.

I think this is a Whitebark Pine snag, but I'm not sure. In the backbground are Mountain Hemlock (note the tipped over tops of the hemlocks). 70% of the Whitebark Pines at Crater Lake are affected or recently killed by blister rust, a problem that was inadvertently introduced to this country in 1904.

Here is another snag, actually two snags, perched on the rim of Crater Lake. Part of what makes the snags here so intreguing is their slow growth at the high elevation. The trees take an unusually long time to make progress, resulting in a trunk that tapers much more quickly than those grown is milder sites. The strong winds further add to their character by giving them knarly branches.

I didn't appreciate how intertwined these two snags are until I sketched the second piece of art in this post. I like how the one in the back reached around to the front, seeking the light.