i've determined that the success of an expedition cannot be solely measured by the ultimate outcome but rather by the relationships cultivated along the way. i'm sure this conclusion has been reached by others countless times, but i think its one of those truths that means little until you have experienced it yourself.
a series of unpredictable events led me on a spontaneous adventure to central oregon on thursday. we drove through the darkness to rescue some boys and broken down car, crashed in the high desert, and woke up to sun. the infamous crater lake was the desired destination, so we set off. we overcame wind and rain, peculiar road closures, chatty rangers, prospect, and mountain roads. but who would have thought that a summer snow storm would best us? after driving around the entirety of the massive lake and reaching the lip of the crater, this was all we saw. the fog and snow hung so thick in the air that the majestic waters were entirely eclipsed from our disbelieving gaze.
by any definition of the word, this was certainly a failure. gallons of gas, hours of patient, incessant sitting, a complete circumnavigation, and no glimpse of the national wonder. yet in the midst of such epic failure, what can you do but laugh? so we did. long and hard. and we returned, tired, to a hot tub, each other, and an incredible view of the universe. stars, shooting stars, satellites, and the milky way. but no snow here.
and when that giant star broke the plane of the horizon again all that lay ahead was the open road, and snowcapped peaks looking on approvingly from the distance.
and so we returned, eventually, each to his own existence. now with a little more of life shared forever between us.
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