I always find it difficult to get out and photograph during the winter. The days are short and cold. The sky is often an unappealing gray and the weather is hard to predict. However, I find that when I do go out I’m usually pleased with what I find.

Recently I loaded up my VW Eurovan camper and headed to Crater Lake National Park which is about 80 miles from my home. Crater Lake always makes for a great outdoor experience, but in the winter it is especially stunning and sees very few visitors. Sometimes I like to make a full backcountry adventure and ski or snowshoe around the rim of the lake. On two occasions I have attempted to complete the entire 35-mile circumnavigation. The first time ended up being a seven-day epic in a multi-day blizzard. The second time I took a different approach and skied the entire distance in a single day in good weather. On this most recent and less ambitious trip I planned to camp overnight in my van and photograph the sunset and sunrise and do a little snowshoeing not far from the parking area.

The rim of Crater Lake is over 7,000 feet in elevation in the Cascade mountain range and is subject to severe winter conditions. Driving can be hazardous and the roads are often closed by snow. It is not unusual for there to be a snow pack of 10 or 15 feet. During stormy weather the lake is often hidden in a cap of clouds. There are also many good weather days each winter, so it is worth trying to time a visit with a clear spell.

I like to shoot at dusk and dawn. Even during good weather the temperatures at these times are usually below freezing and there is often a stiff breeze. I wear normal winter layers, warm boots and a hat. My three most critical layers are my gaiters, down jacket and Windstopper gloves. The gaiters keep snow out of my boots while wandering around in the snow. My down jacket provides good insulation for my core even while I stand still behind my tripod for long stretches. My windstopper gloves are made of thin fleece and have enough dexterity to operate my camera. The Windstopper layer blocks the wind and makes the gloves very warm for how thin they are. I also bring my snowshoes so I can venture off a bit into the untracked snow.

During this visit I was treated to a fantastic sunset and interesting ice patterns on the partially frozen surface of the lake. Before dawn I hiked out to a point overlooking Wizard Island and Lao Rock and photographed the changing light as the sun came up. To view some images from this trip click HERE.