It’s not often you see an entire United State’s National Park close, especially if it’s not related to a government budget squabble. But that is exactly what has happened to Oregon’s Crater Lake National Park. The massive storm that seems to be never-ending has forced officials to close Highway 62 from the south and west, which is the only road that leads in and out of the park.
The snowiest location in Oregon is reeling from this winter’s brutal pounding. An avalanche on Highway 62 happened when a sheet 18 inches deep and 100 feet wide broke loose, spilling onto the road. The park’s headquarters building is buried under 99 inches of snow, which is 134% above normal. That total will easily surpass 100 inches today with another 16-26 inches expected. Needless to say, counting on the park to reopen on Wednesday is a long shot, so if you have plans to stop by Crater Lake National Park, make sure to check out their website for the latest updates.
This is what the Headquarters building usually looks like in early winter. Photo by Casey McCallister.
And here is what it looked like this week. Photo by Crater Lake National Park.
All remaining photos by the author, Michael Bonocore.
