Snowstorms in Oregon keep spring at bay

Snowstorms in Oregon keep spring at bay- OregonLive.com

During the morning, chains were required on trucks along 14 miles of Interstate 84 through the Blue Mountains between Pendleton and La Grande. The unincorporated town of Meacham got at least 7 inches of snow, while 10 inches were measured at the Tollgate Store, at 5,000 feet elevation along Oregon 204 between Elgin and Weston.

"This is how an ice age starts," grumbled Jan Ness, 60, of Walla Walla during lunch at the Tollgate Store. "On June 10, usually we are up here camping, and it's usually hot."

She was seeking shelter from the driving snow with grandsons Jacob, 8, and A.J., 6. . The boys live in Charleston, S.C., and Ness chained up her sedan so they could experience snow.

Gordon Clayton, 73, an employee at the store, said it was the worst snowstorm he's seen this late in June in 24 years in the area. Most years, winter's last heavy snowfall comes in March, he said.

"It's not good for business, not at all," Clayton said.