Extremes of Spring Skiing

You thought skiing was over?

Oh no - not by a long shot.  There's plenty of snow on our mountains. 

Sunshine on the mountain!

Yes, although flowers and trees are blooming throughout the Willamette Valley, up in the Cascades it's still very much winter.  Here in the PNW, elevation determines whether precip falls as rain or snow.  The higher in elevation you climb, the more likely you'll see the white stuff.  Portland is near sea level, and influenced by the Pacific Ocean, has mild winters.  But Mt. Hood measures over 11,000 feet tall, and boasts year-round glaciers.   We tend to get our largest snowfalls in February and March.  And due to Oregon's cold, wet spring, snow tends to stick around - well into the summer.

So.....spring skiing is fabulous!

Katie models her sexy new boots

One sunny Friday in late April, my friend Katie and I decided to partake in some bluebird turns.  Katie had purchased some new ski boots and was dying to break them in.

Twin boots

Katie has good taste in ski boots, doesn't she?

Fog bank down below

The day highlighted everything I love about spring skiing.  The skies were sunny and blue, the air was warm, the snow soft as velvet.  So nice to be on the mountain, enjoying some turns, without freezing our butts off.

Happy to be skiin' in the sun

And the view couldn't be beat!

I never tire of this view

I saw something that day which was a first.  Katie and I were standing near the chairlift when we heard a bunch of loud laughter.  I turned around just in time to see a guy riding the lift drop his drawers, and moon the chair in front on him.  (Guess that's what happens on a warm spring day!)  I'm amazed the guy didn't fall off.

Interesting clouds

He's lucky I was too far away to get a good photo.  Had we been closer, I joked to Katie I would've taken copious shots and posted his naked behind all over Facebook (Do you recognize this crack?  Hee, hee!)

Another trip to the top

Another bonus of warm spring ski days......chairlift shadow selfies (but no mooning for us!)

Admiring my shadow from the lift

Yep, it was a lovely warm day for spring skiing.  Funny thing was, the weather did a complete 180 degree turn the following weekend.

Ski friends selfie

Mt. Hood had herself a raging spring blizzard!  Over a foot of snow dropped on the slopes.  And, yes, this was the last Sunday of April.  Crazy!

Yes - this is the end of April!

But boy, oh boy were conditions terrific.  It was the best snow of the entire season.  My friend Kim joined me for the day, and we hit all the steep runs.  I had a blast bombing through the pow.  I even got Kim to venture into the trees.

Kim showing her powder smile

Sadly, tree skiing was my undoing.  While enjoying a blissful run, zipping through a glade, I collided head-on with another skier (no one's fault - we were simply both in the wrong place at the wrong time).  Luckily, he wasn't injured, and was nice enough to summon the ski patrol.  I had the wind knocked out of me, and was afraid I'd broken something.  Although the (cute!) ski patrol guy who came to my aid gave me the "all clear," my chest hurt throughout the following week.  When I finally visited the doc, his diagnosis was a broken rib.

Happiness is.....a late April powder day

Sooo..... I'm on injured reserve for the next 4-6 weeks.  My ski season is over.  I'm sad it had to end this way.  Although I won't be able to ski, run, or work out, I can still walk, and I'm pretty sure I'll be able to hike (although probably with a fanny pack instead of a backpack).  And, no worries, I can still hold a camera!

At least ski season 2014 finished with an amazing powder day.  Guess you can't ask for anything more.


Sharing with:  Weekly Top Shot.

(Almost) Spring Skiing

The calendar read March 7th.  Spring was still two full weeks away.

But don't tell that to Mt. Hood......

Sunny day!  Yahoo!

My ski-buddy Kim and I both had Friday off, and the weatherman predicted a warm, sunny day.  Time for a visit to the Hood to partake in some spring skiing! (even though it wasn't quite spring yet).

Ready for our first run

Although a week of constant mid-February snowstorms revived our skimpy snowpack, the weather this season has been more spring- than winter-like.  Another blogger complained that "PNW" (Pacific Northwest) stood for "Pacific No Winter."  But those who prefer their ski days sunny and warm were happy campers.

Cool cloud bank hovers over the valley

Kim and I certainly were smiling.  How can you not when the first ride up brings you views like these?

Looking into Heather Canyon

Due to the low snow, Heather Canyon, Mt. Hood Meadows' Expert area, had been off-limits most of the season.  But the fabulous February refill covered its slopes enough that the ropes were finally dropped.  Kim saw me staring longingly into the canyon and told me to go ahead and take a run (she doesn't do double blacks).  She promised to meet me at the bottom of Shooting Star lift.

Bottom of Heather Canyon

So I happily swished down the slope between Twilight and Moon Bowls.  Although a little icy on top, my ski edges soon found some soft fluff to bite into.  Although the slopes were pretty bumped up, I still had a fun ride down.  Upon hitting the bottom, I stopped to take in the beauty of this stark, snow-covered landscape.  Sitting in the bottom of a massive canyon makes you realize you're merely a speck in this great big ole world.

Riding the  lift out of Heather Canyon

Then it was a quick slide to the lift, and a fun ride up the steep canyon wall.

Approaching the Shooting Star Lift

And during the trip, plenty of photo ops.

Different perspective of the lift line

Passing over the Shooting Star chair gives one a different perspective of lift lines.

Kim waving to me from below

And a wave from Kim, waiting below.

Dramatic views from top of Cascade Lift

Post-lunch, the sun was out in full force.  My friend and I traveled to Cascade Chairlift, the highest place in the ski area.  Fantastic views could be found from every direction.

Gotta be careful!  (photo by Kim)

But lookout for the hazards!  Kim snapped this funny photo with her phone, and was nice enough to share.

Kim tryin' out some demo skis

The  intense solar energy worked it's magic on the snow, and by afternoon, it was lovely soft corn.  An absolute joy to ski through!  Crowds (what little there were) had tapered off, so lines were non-existent.  Kim and I made lap after lap, until our legs were crying for mercy.

Mountain and forest views

These ungroomed wind-blown drifts were probably my favorite run of the day.  It was big fun to slide up and down these small (and large) bumps.  I even caught a tiny bit of air!  (tee-hee!)

Hood is lookin' good

Ahhh..... blue skies, soft snow, no crowds, endless solar energy.  Who doesn't love spring skiing?  (Especially when it arrives early!)


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I Heart Spring Skiing

Here in Portland, spring has arrived in a big way.  Flowers are emerging from the ground in colorful bursts, birds are singing, frogs croaking, trees exploding in blossoms everywhere.  Rain continues to fall (but it's much warmer).  And I'm still skiing.


Size matters!  Click on any photo to enjoy a larger version.

Yep, it's definitely spring in Portland

It's a weird feeling to be packing up to go skiing when the air outside is balmy.  To hear singing birds and see blooming trees as you're loading up the skis.  To be leaving your house in daylight.  To go from this colorful scene in my backyard......

Not spring

To this.  All white all the time.

I'm lovin' this endless winter

Despite the lure of warm weather at home, I love spring skiing.  The snow is plentiful, the crowds are nil, and the weather usually sunny.  No need to bundle up against blowing snow and cold.  And skiing snow that has been thawed by the sun is the best (after fresh powder of course!)

Looks more like January, doesn't it?

Katie (one of the tele-ladies) and I have spent the last two Fridays up on the mountain, enjoying some turns in the springlike conditions.

Mt. Jefferson is easy to spot

It's great to able to see the adjacent mountains and forests from high up on Mt Hood Meadows' slopes.

Katie and I enjoying the fabulous view

To see clearly the snow-capped top of Hood against a brilliant blue sky. 

Hooray for spring skiing!

And to make turns through buttery, sun-softened, corn snow.

No shortage of snow here

While other parts of the US have been suffering from low snow this year, the Cascades have enjoyed a banner spring.  This photo was taken last Friday.  Yes, there's still huge mounds of snow on the ground, and piled up around the lodge.  Meadows reported a 170-inch base that day.

Perfect turns on hero snow (Photo by Grant Myrdal)

I've had bad luck with my cameras.  The first Friday Katie and I skied, my little pocket camera broke.  The following Friday, I dug out my old back-up camera.  I managed to get off one shot before the battery died! 

Gettin' closer (Photo by Grant Myrdal)

So I had to rely on my buddy, photographer Grant for some photos from the day.  As you can see, he came through!

Catch me if you can!  (Photo by Grant Myrdal)

I love seeing photos of myself making tele-turns.  And I think I've improved over the season.  Just in time to fully reap the benefits of spring skiing.