Our day was a perfect example of why it pays to hire an experienced guide. The weather was overcast when we started from Portland, but our guide, Evan, had already checked the forecast for Timberline Lodge and decided it would be better to reverse the usual route and go there first. It had snowed there the night before, and began snowing again after we left there. The Lodge road was closed later in the afternoon, after we had already gone there. Thank goodness he made that call! The rest of the day went well after we reached lower elevations. Evan knew the best places to stop along the way, and kept us entertained and informed along the route. His enthusiasm for the sights and nature all around us made our experience the best it could be. We had ample time at each stop; the van was clean and comfortable. We definitely recommend this tour to get the most out of your visit to the area!