Some thoughts....
First; Drince is right about all of the corrections. I've been on the Blueback several times and knew it was a diesel sub...but I guess that fact escaped me in my excitement
..........I had always thought that --Wild as the Wind in Oregon-- was the Official song; I guess I was wrong.
Second; Crater Lake is, without a doubt, the most beautiful spot in Oregon....pictures don't come close to doing it justice....but it is over 4 hours from Corvalis--each way--and that is in dry summer like conditions. In April you are just as likely to encounter snow or even icy roads which could easily double the trip time.
Finally; I must second Alex on the old hwy over the intersate for trips up the Gorge. Hiking up the Onteonta, however, is best done in July.