Donaldson Crew Adventures

2nd half of October and weather looking like it might pop into the 70’s in town we decided to head out for a short fall getaway to one of our favorite family spots - little crater campground at Paulina Lake. It’s the latest we have been there in the year and the campground was almost empty with only a few locals there. The hot springs were almost empty on a sunny Saturday afternoon!

Dinner, smores, fire and a sunset made for a good evening and we also got to see the comet again after dark. 

Sunday morning was cool and windy but warmed up nicely and we went to the obsidian flow for a quick hike. 

We were able to sneak in a quick weekend camping trip to Paulina lake and Little Crater Campground the second weekend of September.  The weather was perfect early fall weather. Warm in the day and cool at night. Two nights of amazing sunsets as well. 

Friday night. 

Saturday Fun with friends 

Saturday Sunset

We go camping on Paulina lake often in the summer. I have never been up in the winter. The resort on Paulina lake is actually open for a few months in the winter but you cannot drive in - hike or snowmobile only from a snow park that is a few miles down the road. 

Noah and I drove up Friday afternoon and hiked in staying at one of the small 2 person cabins for the night. 

On the way in we stopped and hiked down to Paulina falls. Again - a place we have visited in summer but not in winter.  Really pretty.

This years campout was a little different with no fires allowed due to drought conditions. It makes you realize how much a part of camping the campfire is. How it becomes the gathering place for meals and talking with its light and heat.  

Nonetheless we made the best out of our 5 days away!  Our friends the Christoff's came up for a couple days/nights as well!

For many years we have been doing an annual August family camp trip before heading back to school. This year we went for 4 days to Paulina lake from August 20-24. August 20 is of course Abbie’s birthday so we celebrated both at home and in camp the first night.  And we always go get abbie a free birthday drink at Dutch bros coffee. 

Friday was a mixed bag of weather. Lots of clouds and a little cool. Our friends the Bercots were camping for 3 nights so we decided to go to the hot springs on the north side of the lake. 

Saturday was probably our best weather day. Calm, no wind so a great day for being on the lake. Normally it gets choppy in the afternoon but it was as smooth as glass most of the day. We even tried to get holly on the paddle board. She put up with it for a while before jumping in and swimming to shore. 

Sunday was also good other than some smoke that started to roll in from Oregon fires. Not enough to smell it which was great be it put a haze in the air. Our friends the Christoff’s came up for a few hours in the afternoon with their kids. 

We love little crater campground on Paulina lake.  We have been going to this area for years now and the kids know how to get around on their own because its so familiar.  This year we will camp there 3 times!  Our annual family trip is always late august but Kelly picked up a great site that just happened to be open in June and we will go again in September with a few other families we know.

As is typical in the mountains the weather can change dramatically.  While cooler than Bend since we are up high, the weather on Friday (June 26) on arrival was in the mid 80's!  By our departure Sunday June 28, we had snow flurries:)  The fun of the mountains!  Jasper Lovejoy came with us this weekend as Hunter was camping with Jack Lovejoy.  

Pictures from the first day.  (note the green color in the lake is pine pollen washing up on shore)

Abbie practicing starting a fire with a ferro rod.

Noah and Jasper riding bikes into the lake at dusk.

Saturday after a breakfast of egg bites in the Dutch oven, I took Abbie, Jasper and Noah up to the lake overlook hike.  PJ stayed back to hang with Kelly.  

Sunday unfortunately was not nice to wake up to, so after trying to keep warm with a mornings fire we packed up and headed out as it started to snow.

We did a fun early summer Sunday family hike with the Lovejoy's to the Paulina lake hot springs.

We had such a great time last year camping a Little Crater Campground, on Paulina Lake in Newberry Crater south of Bend that we decided to go with the same place again this year.    Unfortunately Abbie was a little under the weather this year recovering from Pneumonia, but we made the best of it.  Some friends from Church - Pete and Dara came up Saturday for dinner which was really fun.

 Around Camp