Crater Lake

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Nature Documentary hosted by Russell Sadler and published by PBS in 2006 - English narration

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The familiar voice of local commentator Russell Sadler keeps the narrative moving, beginning with the explosion of ancient Mt. Mazama. Through myth and through scientific 3-D animation, the formation of what we now call Crater Lake comes to life, in all its volcanic glory. Was it a temper tantrum of Llao, the Modoc chief of the underworld, that caused the destruction, or was it the intolerable pressure of deep changes in the earth's core that brought molten lava bursting through thousands of feet of granite? The film presents both interpretations, painstakingly detailed.

With no written accounts from the Klamath/Modoc tribe, writer John Darling and producers Frederick and Cynthia Salbato augmented tribal oral history with letters and accounts from other European American explorers. Whether Native Americans made pilgrimages to Crater Lake or stayed away from it in fear is debatable, but they definitely regarded the area as sacred.

The first records of Europeans seeing the lake come from a somewhat comical group of would-be treasure hunters whose greed led them off the beaten path. Starving and disoriented, the leader rode out of the trees and came inches from falling down the incredibly steep bank into the lake itself. He credited his survival to his mule's stubbornness. Moments later, the group's troubles temporarily melted away as the stupendous beauty of the lake literally brought the men to their knees.

After that, the lake was secret no more to settlers pouring into the West. Word of it eventually reached the ears of an Iowa farm boy who grew up, moved to Oregon, and became the first to lead an organized party of civilians to its shores. William Gladstone Steel then spent much of the rest of his determined life haunting the offices of state and national politicians, presenting his petitions to protect Crater Lake as a National Park. Logging and mining interests successfully derailed his efforts, even as they reached closer and closer to the White House. It wasnAt until the conservationist, Theodore Roosevelt, was elected to office that a word in the right ear at the right time made all Steel's efforts succeed.

President Roosevelt signed the bill that created Crater Lake National Park though he never made it there himself. But, amazingly, people from all over the world have flocked to the sealed volcanic crater just to gaze upon the incredible beauty of the place. Before the creation of a good road in the 1950s turned the trip into an easier outing, reaching the lake was nothing less than arduous, involving mile after mile of rutted, steep trails and hair-raising descents. Now we invite all to make the relatively easy trip to the shores and cliffs of Crater Lake to see for themselves the breathtaking beauty that still brings visitors to their knees in awe.