After emptying an apartment in Portland and officially moving into Dandy, my first big stop was Crater Lake National Park. I had spent years intending to visit but always seemed to be traveling too far east or west while heading in and out of town on road trips.
Knowing snow steadily fell well outside normal winter months, late June felt like a reasonable time of year to find warmer weather and less snow. The temperature was as expected. Cooler than lower elevation areas in the state, but enjoyable with an extra layer of gear.
The snow, on the other hand, had barely melted and intermittently flurried as numbers on the elevation marker ticked up.
A paved lot was mostly plowed and available for parking, coming in from the north, providing my first view of the lake. The bluest color I have ever seen in nature. So extraordinary, it deserves a dedicated future post.
Several miles of driving on the same road revealed peak snowpack. Dandy stands just shy of ten feet (with the cross bars and solar panel), and the snow was well above us.
I had never driven on a road with tall snow walls on either side. A somewhat claustrophobic experience, having no idea how many more miles were closed in ahead. Turned out to be only a few, allowing my knuckles to mostly relax on the steering wheel.
Another surprise was only seeing two other people, despite spending hours in the park.
One encounter was steps away from the first parking lot. He was walking down from the lake view as I was heading up. Smile wide, shaking his head, he said my mind was about to be blown. It was.
The second person was in a car heading the opposite direction on the snow surrounded road. We briefly locked wide eyes, in disbelief. As if silently asking each other whether the calendar still planned to read July the following week.
If memory serves correctly, one more snowstorm came through the park a few days later, before winter officially ended.
The entire drive along Crater Lake was full of wonder and excitement. Paving the way for an unforgettable introduction to calling the great outdoors home.
Travel Stories
Immersive stories from decades of hiking, camping, traveling, and living in a van.
As always, thank you for being here.
Looking forward to seeing that photo!
Wow! Great experiences at higher elevations.