I monitor the bird activity at many of the local parks and natural areas on the "ebird" app. It's a great resource to clue me in on what birds have been spotted around town. I'm always eager to capture some of the more unusual birds with my camera lens. Late last March someone posted a photograph of a nest containing two great horned owlets spotted the nearby nature park. I knew I had to find them.
Barred owl sleeping in a tree
My buddy Kim is always up for a walk in the park, so she and I teamed up for an owl hunt. From the ebird image one could tell the owl nest was sited atop an unusually curved tree trunk. Kim and I were frequent visitors of the nature park's trails and knew the place pretty well. That tree shouldn't be too hard to identify, we reasoned. Little did we know.......
Who-o's there?
Kim and I started on one end of the park, and began combing its trails. Not far down our first path we came upon a lady with a long lens pointing upwards. She informed us there was a barred owl sleeping on a branch above our heads. Although not the species of owl we were seeking, any kind of owl sighting is marvelous, so I followed the direction of her lens and soon spotted a lovely brown and white owl snoozing in a nearby tree.
I found the Great Horned owlets!
I spent at least 20 minutes watching and photographing the barrel owl. In time, our voices woke the bird and he gave us a few surly glances, annoyed we'd disturbed his nap. This was our cue to move on. We had baby owls to find!
These guys look like muppets
Kim and I ended up walking a large circle, exploring nearly every trail in the nature park, with still no sign of the little owls. We were next to the very last trail, ready to give up, when a man passed by, and noticing my big lens, asked us if we'd seen the owl nest yet. When I replied that we'd been searching for it all afternoon, the man told us where to find it. And of course the nest was on the only trail we'd yet to cover.
Mama owl in a nearby tree
After hustling down this last trail, a crowd of people looking into the forest clued us in that we'd finally found the spot. And there in the thicket of trees and bushes high in the crook of a large fir tree was the nest. Lucky for us, the two baby owlets were awake and peering out at the onlookers.
Only one owlet when I returned a few days later
The gray, fluffy babies were cute! They kind of looked like muppets, with fierce stares. There was no sign of either parent the entire time. After a half-hour photography session, the day was getting late and the light had begun to fade, so Kim and I reluctantly left.
Mother owl giving me the stink-eye
Jazzed by this very exciting baby owl encounter, I couldn't stay away and returned just a couple of days later. This time, the mother owl was perched in a nearby tree, asleep on a branch, and only one of the owlets was in the nest. Another photographer who happened to be there at the same time as I said she heard one of the owlets had already fledged. Wow, so soon! The owlets didn't look old enough to fly yet.
First trillium of spring!
But just two days later I learned via another local photographer that both owlets had indeed left the nest. I felt lucky to have been able to photograph both babies when they not quite ready to fledge. It's not everyday one sees an owl in the forest, and spotting a nest with young ones is even rarer.
Spotted Towhee striking a pose
I'd close this post with a couple photos of other spring finds in the nature park. Like the season's first trillium bloom and a beautiful Spotted Towhee striking the perfect pose for my camera. And a shy pond turtle peeking his head up from the water's surface.
Pond turtle
Spring is such a wonderful time of year! The flowers are blooming, trees are bursting with vibrant green leaves, and the birds are singing happy songs. And if you're lucky you might just spot a few nests with youngsters in them.
This post is a love letter to ski season 24-25. It was absolutely incredible! There were so many wonderful days on the slopes I wanted to recap the highlights here for posterity. This story is mainly for my benefit, so if skiing's not your thing, feel free to breeze by the pictures and move on.....
First day of the season - in November!
After enduring several past winters of skimpy to non-existent mountain snow throughout the month of December, this year's ski season got off to a stellar start. Huge storms walloped the Cascade Mountains in early November and Mt. Hood Meadows, my local ski area, opened on the ridiculously early date of November 15th (they usually don't open until early December if we're lucky.) By November 21st, there was a good four feet of snow on the ground, and the resort began 7-day-a-week operations, with nearly all of the chairlifts running. My first ski day of the season was on November 25th, the earliest I've ever started in nearly 20 years. And conditions were excellent! It didn't look like early season, that's for sure!
Kim in the powder
Of course I went back right after Thanksgiving for two more wonderful days on the first week of December. The following week, I got my good friend and best ski buddy Kim up to Meadows to enjoy a deep dumping of lovely powder snow. Conditions were sublime!
Photobombed!
We always have fun on the slopes, taking selfies and photobombing each other.
My son at Showdown, Montana
Over Christmas, my hubby and I visited our son in Montana. My son's local ski area was also doing great in the snow department, so one day we headed over to the tiny resort of Showdown to enjoy a sunny day on the slopes. Although temps were frigid, the four inches of light, fluffy powder snow that blanketed the slopes were amazing.
Having fun with my son
It's always extra special when I can ski with my son!
Glen getting ready for the "Vista Experience"
Another of my long-time ski buddies is former co-worker Glen. We've been sharing the slopes together since the late 90's. Glen is now 78 years old, but the way he skis, you wouldn't know it. Mt. Hood Meadows gives a free season pass to anyone over 75, so Glen has been skiing free for 3 years now. (He was sooo happy when he reached 75 and got his first freebie pass!)
Lovely Mt. Hood from the top of Vista lift
On the of the chairlifts at Meadows is named "Vista." Several wide-open cruising runs fan out from its upper terminal. Glen's favorite is one nicknamed the "Vista Experience." After all these years, we've yet to determine what exactly is a "Vista Experience" and it's become our running joke. Either way, it gives wonderful views of Mt. Hood as one skis down the mountain.
My new ski buddy Deneen
Another person I've started skiing a bunch with this season is Deneen. I met her through work, when we were both assigned to transit projects. Deneen retired this winter, and looking for people to ski with, reached out to me. We both purchased midweek season passes for Mt. Hood Meadows and I introduced Deneen to the glories of weekday skiing (no crowds and zero lift lines!)
Cool clouds over Mt. Hood
Deneen used to work for the Mt. Hood Ski Patrol, so she was an excellent skier. It was fun to ski with someone who challenged me and wasn't afraid to try the steeper slopes and ungroomed snow. I was starting to get lazy, preferring blue groomers. Deneen reminded me how fun it is to try some of the off-piste runs.
Mt. Bachelor summit
Not only did I have a Meadows pass this winter, I also purchased a midweek season pass to nearby Mt. Bachelor. Located in Central Oregon, about a 4-hour drive from home, it's hands down my favorite Oregon ski resort. Not only does my buddy Kim own a vacation home nearby, one of my brothers lives in the nearby town of Bend. And he likes to ski!
The ride down from Mt. Bachelor summit
I made five trips to Mt. Bachelor over the 24-25 season, roughly once a month from December to April. January came with three weeks of unusually sunny and dry weather. Besides sunshine and great views, these springlike conditions meant Bachelor could open Summit chairlift. (Winter storms often keep this lift closed for days on end.) As it's name implies, this lift takes skiers to the very top of 9,000 foot Mt. Bachelor. Although a wee bit steep, it's an amazing trip down from the summit. The views are spectacular!
Skiing with my brother
And it's always great fun to ski with my brother.
Mt. Hood Meadows has the best Hood views
Back at Meadows here - enjoying more January sunshine with friends Kim and Young. Mt. Hood Meadows has some of the best views of Mt. Hood from it's ski slopes. Although the snow was getting a bit icy and skied out from three weeks of dry weather, we were happy for the sunny skies.
Tumalo Mtn from Mt. Bachelor
The snow finally returned in February. Although that meant low visibility and tough driving conditions, it sure was nice to have fresh powder.
February snowstorm
Kim and I returned to Mt. Bachelor to enjoy the snowy conditions. We had another fun ski day with my brother - although neither of them were looking when I tried to capture this selfie.
Kim enjoys the pow
I do love storm skiing. Although visibility can sometimes be a challenge, you can't beat fresh tracks every time!
Stellar mountain views from Mt. Bachelor's slopes
Lucky for us, skies cleared briefly on our last February Bachelor day, treating us to stellar views of the surrounding mountains. This is one of the many reasons I ski here!
Mt. Hood view on the highway approaching Meadows
The highway approaching Meadows gives some amazing Mt. Hood views. Gets me all excited to ski every time! I captured this one sunny morning heading up to ski (no, I wasn't driving.)
Mt. Jefferson view from Mt. Hood Meadows
One day Deneen and I arrived at Meadows, and the staff had groomed lots of runs - many more than usual. We were like kids in a candy store.
Deneen preparing to ski "Sunburst"
This is what a freshly groomed run looks like. Skiers refer to the marks made by the grooming machine as "corduroy." There's nothing better than making first tracks on fresh corduroy. Early in the season Deneen discovered an out-of-the way run called "Sunburst" and when conditions were good, it quickly became our favorite. The run usually wasn't ever groomed, but on this day it was! After making first tracks, we returned to Sunburst again and again - it was that good!
We ended up logging 26 runs that day - a new record for us both.
Frigid day in February
However it was frigidly cold that day. Temps hovered in the low teens, with an even colder windchill. I put on so many layers, I felt like the Michelin Man. And my nose got so cold, even that had to be covered up. Looking back I can't believe I lasted so long in that artic blast. Of course I took a selfie to commemorate our bundled selves. (We even had nearly matching purple jackets!)
The gang's all here!
My friends Young and John were frequent Meadows visitors. John loved to ski so much, it seemed he was always on the slopes. John ended up with over 60 ski days this season! Here's a group photo from a day when Kim, Glen, and I met up with Young and John. You can tell we were having a good time.
Kim skiing down from Cascade
At 7,300 feet, the Cascade chairlift is the highest lift at Mt. Hood Meadows. Like the Mt. Bachelor Summit lift, windy, stormy conditions often keep it closed. But when Cascade is spinning, everyone heads up high to enjoy the wide open slopes and Mt. Hood views. I enjoyed quite a few Cascade days this season.
St. Patrick's Day at Mt Bachelor
Back to Mt. Bachelor for St. Patrick's Day! A huge snowstorm dumped several inches of snow the day before. Not fun to drive through but sure great to ski in. Talk about luck of the Irish - the sun came out and we enjoyed a bluebird powder day. One of the best days of the season!
Look how deep the snow is!
Although the first day of our Bachelor trip was sunny, the next two were quite stormy. Winds were howling, and visibility was bad. But the snow was sure good! The fourth day got so windy, it forced the ski resort to close nearly all of the lifts. I didn't bother going up. You don't want to be on a chairlift in high winds.
My brother sporting green beads
There were many other memorable ski days this season. In early March, Deneen and I enjoyed more great grooming at Meadows. Conditions were so good we ended up skiing past 3:30 and logging a new record 29 runs, smashing our previous record of 26. Boy was I tired that evening!
Yeah, my brother is much taller
Stormy second day
It wasn't all glorious sunny powder days - I had one trip where temps hovered just above freezing and it started to snow, which soon switched to rain. There is nothing fun about skiing in the rain. Once my gloves soak through (which takes about 2 hours) I'm done! Skiers call rain the four-letter "R" word.
Soggy chairlift ride
We're lucky in Oregon to enjoy a long ski season. Although we often get slow starts, March and April snowstorms usually keep the chairlifts turning until early May at Meadows and Memorial Day at Mt. Bachelor. And Timberline ski area, on Mt Hood's south side, usually operates into the summer months.
Celebrating my last day of the season
But as the season begins to wind down, resorts close lifts and terrain, and then start to cut back operating hours and days. After April 20th, Meadows was only open weekends. I skied my final day of the season on April 17th.
Kim and I met up with Young and John that day. I was surprised to see John wearing jeans instead of his usual ski pants. John confessed he'd forgotten his ski bibs on the couch at home! The joke is always that only newbies or people who aren't very good ski in jeans, so we gave John a bit of good-natured ribbing. But as you'll see in the above video I shot on my GoPro camera, John is an excellent skier.
Such a great year - I didn't want it to end
Final stats for the 24-25 season: 42 total ski days (a new personal record!) One day at Showdown Montana, 14 days at Mt. Bachelor, and 27 days at Mt. Hood Meadows. I certainly got my money's worth on both season ski passes! Although it was an incredible season, I wasn't ready for it to end. I'm missing my ski days already.
Back in the parking lot
And although I could still ski at Mt. Bachelor in May, blooming wildflowers in the Gorge are calling my name. I've hung up my skis, and put away my gear. It's time to hike.
Spring is the time to hike the Eastern Columbia River Gorge. The trails here are snow-free by early spring, wildflowers are blooming, and the sunny, dry skies offer a great escape from the gloomy, wet Portland area.
Well....it usually doesn't rain out here.
Labyrinth Falls
In late March, hiking friends Debbie and Barry were able to tear me away from skiing once again with the promise of visiting one of my favorite Gorge trails - the mysterious Labyrinth. This path winds uphill through pillars of columnar basalt, past wildflower meadows, and twisted oak groves. It boasts sweeping views of the Columbia River and Oregon side of the Gorge.
Raindrop-spangled grass widow
Sunny, dry weather was forecast for our chosen hike day. So imagine my friends and I's surprise when raindrops greeted our arrival at the trailhead. What the what?
The rain made the wildflower blooms pretty!
Good thing my friends and I are prepared hikers. Living in the PNW, we know to always bring our rain jackets and pack covers, even when precip isn't in the forecast. So no big deal, we suited up for the wet stuff and soldiered on down the trail.
More water-kissed foliage
The trail began on an old road that used to be the main highway on the Washington side of the Gorge. We passed a lovely waterfall, flowing mightily thanks to the current rainfall.
Looking across a foggy Columbia River
After a half mile on the old road, we left the asphalt for a dirt trail the led us uphill through rocky passages. Purple grass widows were still blooming, and I discovered an unexpected benefit to the day's precip - the raindrops on their petals were most striking. Made for some excellent photo ops!
Our trail wound through an oak grove
As my friends and I climbed higher, the gentle rain gave way to a light mist. We passed through the first of many oak forests, this one below a large basalt formation popular with local rock climbers.
Climbing through the rocks
Cloudy skies and fog hugging the Columbia River didn't allow for many great views. But I was happy for the cool temperatures that made our climb much more tolerable. The mist eventually stopped, and although still cloudy, at least things were starting to dry up.
Gnarly oak branches
From the Labyrinth, we took a connector trail that led us across a ridge towards Catherine Creek's towering stone cliffs. We'd have to traverse a talus slope to reach the top. Just before beginning this climb, I spotted the first balsamroot flower of the season. Yeah! That meant it wouldn't be long before the Gorge meadows were filled with their cheery yellow blossoms (and more camera fodder for me!)
First balsamroot bloom of the season!
From the cliff rim, it was a mile-long uphill slog through an open, grassy meadow to our next junction with abandoned Atwood Road. From previous trips, I remembered lots of huffing and puffing to reach the top. But today I discovered all the skiing I've been doing this winter really strengthened my legs, and I powered up to the road no problem.
Lots of desert parsley
Atwood Road contoured along a high ridge, providing nice views of the Gorge and Columbia River, far below. The clouds were beginning to clear, and we could see much further distances now. After a mile of generally easy hiking, my friends and I returned to the Upper Labyrinth Trail. From here it was all downhill.
Huge field of grass widows
Heading downhill to dry conditions and partly cloudy skies, our return loop felt like a totally different hike from the morning's wet, foggy trip. No more raindrops on the flowers, but with better light I had fun photographing some of the larger fields of grass widow blooms.
Heading back down to dry skies
Speaking of wildflowers, spiky, yellow desert parsley bloomed profusely at several points along the trail. It was especially thick right before one of the tall basalt formations.
Nice river views
About a mile before our junction with the old highway, I spied a bit of blue sky starting to peek out from the clouds. It was actually warm enough to finally remove a layer of clothing. I took advantage of these great conditions to capture a few panoramic Gorge views from one of the lower viewpoints.
Finally some clearing skies
Despite the unexpected rain, it was still great to revisit a favorite trail and enjoy the spring wildflowers. Remember, there's no such thing as bad weather, only bad gear!
