July Cicular Trip

We visited several national parks during the independence holiday week, making a big circular trip.

1. Crater Lake, Oregon



It has deep blue color and amazing water clarity. The lake partly fills a nearly 4,000 feet (1,220 m) deep caldera that was formed around 5,677 (± 150) BC[1] by the collapse of the volcano Mount Mazama.

2. Vista House of Columbia River Gorge ( Crown Point ), Oregon



The Crown Point Vista House was built in 1916. It is located in eastern Multnomah County, approximately 15 mi (24 km) east of Portland. Crown Point is the best known of the scenic lookouts along the Columbia River Highway, providing a panoramic view of the Columbia River.

3. Glacier, Montana




Little snow left, it might be completely gone soon, under the current global warming weather. It is better to call it " Melting Glacier National Park", but the View in the Logan pass is still spectacular. Anyone wants to see it get to be hurry.

4. Scenic Highway 89, Montana



Many Indian Reserve Places are there. Unlimited grasslands. I think US could accomodate all the existing immigrants, legals or illegals, by just viewing at those lands :-) Also all the upcoming immigrants should be welcomed. Population creates fortune, not poverty.

Imagine how people is scarce in the big country state: Montana has almost the same area as California, but there is only one congrassman from Montana ( 53 from CA).
We visited its biggest shopping mall in Helena, the capital city, on July 4th, Oh, my! Feels like a ghost place with very few shoppers come-and-go. That is unimaginable by us from California, which is usually hard to find a parking spot even during weekdays in the malls.

5. Yellow Stone National park, Wyoming



This is a beautiful park with many unique features. Huge. Its wild animals would worth a separate blog description, let alone those geysers and hot srings.

6. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming



Feels like it is part of Yellow stone. Its mountains and lakes gives a "Gui-Lin" familarity.

7. Salt Lake city, Utah

Sorry. No pictures. But the intersting thing is a Walmart supercenter in the salt lake city. it is the most crowded Walmart I have ever seen, at 11pm! It is about 93F degress at that time, so I imagine it must be about 120 degrees during the day time, and people have to get out during the night to get their needs. I believe it is another indicent caused by global warming. That walmart also has a huge two stories parking lot.

I like Walmart Supercenters --- you can get all the daily goods from only one store. California usually vetoed a super center version of the walmart as residents are afraid of attractions of lower class people to the neighborhood. What a pity.

8. Highway I-80, near Winnemucca, Nevada

We saw the wind-whipped blaze near the city UPCLOSE, smokes and burning dust, when we drove home from West I-80. The highway is closed today. It is lucky that we decided to get home earlier than planned.