May 26 - Spring Snowstorm Lake Tahoe
Parked on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe for a lunch break yesterday, we watched the whitecaps form and dissolve into sprays of whispy foam as the waves collapsed. A dark cloud cover was blowing in from the southwest and had already obliterated the Desolation Wilderness peaks normally visible from this pull-out. We, on the other hand, were still basking in warm sunlight and for some reason did not care to properly anticipate the consequences of a delay on this side of Donner Summit. I knew that once over the summit, only chores and a return to "normal" life awaited and I for one, was in no rush to close this chapter of our delightful journey.
After a brief stop in Squaw Valley to visit with our friend Judy who resides there full time, we excused ourselves mid-Peru trekking slide show as the snow was beginning to accumulate in the trees and on the ground and we feared that the conditions might impact the Donner Summit crossing. Driving away, leaving dark grey tracks in the unmarred snow, we checked in with CHP and as we suspected, confirmed the fact that Rt. 80 was closed to all except cars with chains or 4 wheel drive. An alternative plan for the evening was in order. With mixed feelings, we contacted our friend Curtis who lives in Donner Memorial State Park to see if we might share a meal and park in his driveway to wait out the storm. Feelings were mixed because we had really been looking forward to the open mic night at Tinker's Station in Soda Springs. As always the gracious host, Curtis welcomed us over and we spent a great night in his and Sara's eclectic kitchen at one end of the mobile home they have anchored permanently tucked into the State Park cooking a pot luck macaroni melt and sharing camping stories along with hopes and dreams for the future. The house is half living space, half recreational equipment storage locker, with kitchen cabinets as easily yielding a ski helmet and goggles as a macaroni strainer. During dinner it stopped snowing but the temperature remained low so contrary to Curtis's prediction, our late spring snow cover remained in place and began to freeze into a more consolidated frosting.
This morning we awoke comfortably, as we had kept the cabin heater set to 50 to preclude the pipes freezing. The skylights and windshield were obstructed by snow. It is unbelievable to see the winter scene outside the camper compared to yesterdays balmy forest. We check with the highway department and confirm the road is open, fire up the groggy turbo diesel, and point our nose west and over the summit.
Late May snowstorm traps us on the east side of Donner Summit for the night...
Yuba River near it's source below Van Norden Meadow...
Parked on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe for a lunch break yesterday, we watched the whitecaps form and dissolve into sprays of whispy foam as the waves collapsed. A dark cloud cover was blowing in from the southwest and had already obliterated the Desolation Wilderness peaks normally visible from this pull-out. We, on the other hand, were still basking in warm sunlight and for some reason did not care to properly anticipate the consequences of a delay on this side of Donner Summit. I knew that once over the summit, only chores and a return to "normal" life awaited and I for one, was in no rush to close this chapter of our delightful journey.
After a brief stop in Squaw Valley to visit with our friend Judy who resides there full time, we excused ourselves mid-Peru trekking slide show as the snow was beginning to accumulate in the trees and on the ground and we feared that the conditions might impact the Donner Summit crossing. Driving away, leaving dark grey tracks in the unmarred snow, we checked in with CHP and as we suspected, confirmed the fact that Rt. 80 was closed to all except cars with chains or 4 wheel drive. An alternative plan for the evening was in order. With mixed feelings, we contacted our friend Curtis who lives in Donner Memorial State Park to see if we might share a meal and park in his driveway to wait out the storm. Feelings were mixed because we had really been looking forward to the open mic night at Tinker's Station in Soda Springs. As always the gracious host, Curtis welcomed us over and we spent a great night in his and Sara's eclectic kitchen at one end of the mobile home they have anchored permanently tucked into the State Park cooking a pot luck macaroni melt and sharing camping stories along with hopes and dreams for the future. The house is half living space, half recreational equipment storage locker, with kitchen cabinets as easily yielding a ski helmet and goggles as a macaroni strainer. During dinner it stopped snowing but the temperature remained low so contrary to Curtis's prediction, our late spring snow cover remained in place and began to freeze into a more consolidated frosting.
This morning we awoke comfortably, as we had kept the cabin heater set to 50 to preclude the pipes freezing. The skylights and windshield were obstructed by snow. It is unbelievable to see the winter scene outside the camper compared to yesterdays balmy forest. We check with the highway department and confirm the road is open, fire up the groggy turbo diesel, and point our nose west and over the summit.
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| From Spring-Summer 2011 |
Late May snowstorm traps us on the east side of Donner Summit for the night...
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| From Spring-Summer 2011 |
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| From Spring-Summer 2011 |
Yuba River near it's source below Van Norden Meadow...
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| From Spring-Summer 2011 |
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