It's Ski Bus Time!

Every year in early January I eagerly await the start of another wonderful activity - the midweek ski bus!

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A fun ride to the mountain!

Mt. Hood Meadows, my local ski resort, offers bus transportation for Portland area snow-riders during the week.  I've been a regular on my bus since 2001.  For a skiing maniac like myself, it's the best thing that's even happened.  Skiing on uncrowded slopes and not having to drive.  For more background about the bus, check out the blog post I did a couple of years ago right here.

Midweek skiing crowds....

I pick Thursdays as my ski bus days.  It's great to be at on the mountain on a weekday.  Lift lines and crowds are nonexistent.  Just me and the trees.

Rush hour on the slopes

Over the years, I've made many friends on the bus.  People you get to know well during the 8-week session, then you don't see for the rest of the year.  The first day back, it's so much fun to reconnect with everyone.

Linda and Judy pose for Mt. Hood

My streak of sunny ski trips continued with yet another day of bluebird conditions.  That meant more great views of Mt. Hood.  Here's bus buddies Linda and Judy posing with my favorite mountain.

The camera phone photo I sent my work friend

It was such a beautiful day, I couldn't resist snapping a photo of myself with my new camera phone and sending it to my friend Kim, hard at work.  I know - not a very nice thing to do!  (And my friend texted me back a word that starts with the letter "b" and rhymes with "itch")

I found the Tele Ladies!

The Tele Ladies also ride a midweek bus, although a different one than mine.  I ran into them after lunch, and of course had to tag along.

Yet another Mt Hood photo....

We headed up to the top of the Vista Lift to check things out.  On the way up, I couldn't resist snapping this view of Mt. Hood from the chair.  Gorgeous, huh?

Impressive clouds on top

On top of Vista, the snow was wind-packed and icy.  Ugh!  But we couldn't stay up here all day.  Eventually we'd need to ski through the crummy snow.  At least there were some good views to enjoy on the way down.

Icy tree and White River Canyon

The icy-crusted trees were especially scenic.  And you could see across the White River Canyon to the Timberline Ski Area.  In this photo, you can just barely make out the towers of Timberline's Palmer Lift (upper right hand corner).

Katie the tele queen!

The snow gods had dropped 6 inches of fresh snow overnight.  Sadly, by the time our bus arrived, most of it had already been tracked out.  But.....once we got past all that icy crap on top of Vista, Katie, Sue and I made a wonderful discovery.  Powder.  An entire slope of it.  Still fresh and not too badly cut up. 

Whoopee!  It was a blast sliding through this nice snow.  My friends and I had so much fun, we skied back through that crummy icy stuff and hit the run again.  And again.  To capture this happy adventure, I set my camera to "movie" mode and created a short clip.  Those of you wanting to see what a telemark turn looks like, check out the video above.

Mt. Hood plays peekaboo

After many happy turns, it was time to head back to the lodge and catch our respective buses.  On my last run, I spied this great view of Hood peeping out between the trees.  It was a moment worthy of Eastman Kodak!   Of course I stopped and captured the scene.  Now you can all enjoy it.

Bus mom Linda with the important beverage!

Back on the bus, our "bus moms" Linda and Dixie get busy serving us hungry skiers goodies.  Although the bus doesn't supply alcoholic beverages, they do allow riders to BYOB.  And most of my bus-mates are willing to share their vino.

Bus mom Dixie with the less important beverages

But Dixie also supplies sodas for those not wishing to imbibe.  She thinks of everything!

"Back of the Bus" gang

I sit with the notorious "Back of the Bus" gang.  Don't they look like troublemakers?  But give 'em some wine, and they turn into pussycats.  Cheers, guys!

I'm so happy it's ski bus time again.  Here's to another great year of sun, snow, skiing, and friends!

Retro Photo - Snow Kids

I haven't done a retro photo post in awhile, so it's time!

This particular image is one I captured of my kids on a rare snowy day.  The Portland area only receives a measurable snowstorm every 5 years or so.  When white stuff does accumulate, the entire metro area goes nuts.  Kids of all ages rush outside to play in the snow.  Which is what we did that day.

This photograph is from around 1992.  My daughter, always the ham, produced one of  her super-cute expressions.  My son, the master builder, couldn't have cared less about the camera, and kept working away on his snowman.  One of the reasons I like this photo is it really captures the different personalities of my kids.


Linking to:  Flashback Friday.

The "Tele Trio" Rides Again

Look out ..... we're back!

Sue, Katie and I (the newly named "Tele Trio") descended upon Mt. Hood Meadows last Sunday for another day of fun and frolic in the snow.  It's becoming a weekly routine. 


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What are they up to now?

We lucked out with our third straight bluebird ski day.  The skies were clear and amazingly blue, with nary a drop of precip.  (Are you sure we're still in the Pacific Northwest?)

Sue admires the corduroy

It was another day of sweet turns in perfectly groomed snow.  And a continuation of merriment and laughter on the chairlift rides up.

Mt. Hood makes a nice backdrop for Katie

So far this season, I've been using my telemark skis more than my alpines.  (If I want to hang out with the Tele Ladies, I'd better have my heels free!)  Katie also threatened she wouldn't ski with me if I showed up with alpine boards.

Smile, you're on candid camera!

But the benefit is, my telemark skills have improved dramatically.  The Tele Ladies are a good influence!

Obligatory sunburst pic

As you know by now, my skiing blog posts are not complete without at least one sunburst shot.  Here ya go.  (You're welcome)

Glittering, icy snow

I ran into Dean and Kathy, some of my other good ski friends.  We all teamed up into one large happy group.  The gang traveled around Meadows, finally ending up at the top of Vista Lift.

Our gang high above the clouds

Although the runs off of Vista aren't my favorite, you can't beat the views.  Looking west across the White River Canyon one can see Timberline Lodge and the Mile and Palmer Lifts.  Hovering below the mountain was an impressive cloud bank.

Poor little ice-crusted trees

But conditions up here were definitely not ideal.  The top of Vista always gets the winds, and it appeared they'd scoured every bit of snow off its slopes.  All that was left was a firm, slick base.  And a few sad ice-crusted trees.

Icicles dangle from it's branches

But even though all that ice was nasty to ski over, it sure made the trees look lovely. 

Hood wears a feathery cloud cap

Towards afternoon, the wind picked up and my favorite mountain was wearing a wispy white cap of clouds.  So beautiful!  Yes, I have zillions of Hood photos, but I couldn't resist taking one more.

Just another wonderful ski day with the Tele Trio!


Linking with:  52 Photos Project.

New Year's Day with the Tele Ladies

I met the Tele Ladies last season on a ski bus Thursday.  They are two incredible woman who still rip telemark turns despite being of retirement age.  Check out last year's post about my friends right here.


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Katie and Sue - ready for action!

We telemark skiers like to stick together.  Since meeting the Tele Ladies (aka Katie and Sue), I've teamed up with them several times.  It's always loads of knee-droppin' fun.

A good sunshiney start to 2013!

I have a tradition of skiing New Year's Day.  It's a great time to be on the slopes.  Everyone's too tired (and/or hung over) from staying up late and partying on New Year's Eve.  Ski areas are generally deserted.

The mountains pop out of valley clouds

New Year's Day 2013 found me at Mt. Hood Meadows with my two favorite telemark buddies.  The weather couldn't have been more perfect.  Blue sky as far as the eye could see.  Made for some fantastic views.

Sunshine on the Cascade Lift

Starting out with some easy runs to get the blood flowing, we quickly graduated to the upper Cascade Lift.  From high on the mountain, we were treated to the best views ever.  Foggy clouds clung in the valleys and the higher peaks poked up through the cloud layer.  The skies were so clear we could see distant mountains that normally aren't visible.  Super-scenic!

Two snowboarders savor the view

Lift rides were full of stories and laughter.  I told them of my friend Kim and I's mogul rating system (A - DD, with the very largest being classified as "Dolly Partens").  Sue and Katie loved it - so much that when Sue looked down a slope she reported there was nothing but "Dolly Partens" down there.  (Which made a nearby male snowboarder who overheard us bust out laughing)

Skiing in Hood's shadow

My friends and I decided our little group needed a name.  After several funny suggestions, we settled on the "Tele Trio."  Has a nice ring to it, don't you think?

I tried to capture the Tele Ladies in a few skiing action shots.  But I only had my point and shoot camera to work with, and it doesn't do action very well.  Still, I had fun trying.

Here comes Katie!

This one of Katie was a little bit better.  If nothing else, Mt. Hood makes a great backdrop.

And there she goes!

Next time I'll have to lug my digital SLR (aka my "big girl camera") up to the slopes.

First self-portrait attempt

I decided we needed a group photo.  Finding no one around to work the camera, I had the bright idea to prop it on top of a protective foam pad tied around a nearby trail sign.  Setting the timer, I quickly shuffled back up slope, attempting to get into position before the shutter went off.  I made it just fine - but nearly blocked Katie.  Time to try again!

Failed self-portrait attempt

The next two attempts were both failures.  One shot was out of focus, the other very over-exposed (I couldn't figure out why).  Maybe the fourth time was the charm?  Again I set the timer, and began to shuffle into position.  After three attempts, you think I would've had that down.  But no, on shot number four, I tripped over my skis right before the camera clicked.  This is the photo that got captured.  Fail!

Success! (with a little help)

A snowboarder who happened to be passing by witnessed my fall, and took pity on us.  He offered to take our picture.  So I ended up with a good group shot after all!

But you know what?  After getting home and looking over all my photos, I decided I liked the blooper shot best of all.  The expressions on everyone's faces are priceless!  It's a good memory of a very fun day.

A day on the slopes with the Tele Ladies - what a great way to start the New Year!


Linking to:  Share Your Cup Thursday and 52 Photos Project.

Awe and Frustration in White River Canyon

Last year's debut backcountry ski season left me eager for more.  With the arrival of winter once again, I looked forward to more off-piste trips.  Continuous snowfall during Christmas week covered Mt. Hood in a thick white coat.  Then the sun came out.  Perfect time for a tour!  On Saturday, my friends John and Young invited me to join them for the first trip of the season.  


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Ready for adventure! (Photo by Young)

John suggested an easy trip up the White River Canyon.  I was all for it.  A sunny winter day is the perfect time to explore this wonderful place.

Cold, blue dawn in White River Canyon

The White River Canyon is located on the southeastern flank of Mt. Hood.  In the summer it's a barren, rocky glacial plain where the White River, formed by melting glaciers high on the mountain, winds through.  But in the winter, snow turns it into a magical wonderland.

Mt. Hood wears her white coat

Amazing views and plentiful snow make this a popular place for winter recreation.  But, lucky for us, most visitors don't venture very far beyond the parking lot.  Travel a half mile, and the crowds thin considerably.

"Candy cane" tree

It was a frigid 17 degrees when my friends and I donned our skis and started up the trail.  Our hands and feet froze quickly, so we kept moving in an attempt to heat our bodies.  Although photo ops abounded, I was too cold to stop and capture any of them.

Friendly Gray Jay

We started out along a flat plain that paralleled the river, following a well-worn track in the snow.  The views were amazing - bright white Mt. Hood rose above the canyon, beckoning us on.  A brilliant blue sky framed it perfectly.  As the sun rose higher, the snow began to sparkle like diamonds.  It was magical!

After about a mile, the trail climbed a ridge and dived into the forest.  Taking a break in the trees, John noticed we had company.

John makes a friend

A group of friendly Gray Jays roosted close by, eying our snacks.  John tempted them with a couple of orange slices.  That got their attention.  Sure enough, one of the birds briefly landed in his hand.

Magnificent views!

Continuing on, the trees began to thin out, and we emerged from the woods onto the lip of the canyon.  The entire White River basin spread out before us, anchored by Mt. Hood.  The view was absolutely magnificent!

Young and I take a break

My friends and I skied very carefully down into the valley and used a snow bridge to cross the river.  Then, huffing and puffing up the opposite side, we paused for a quick breather and to scope out our route.

The snow sparkles in the sun

John suggested we ski up the middle ridge.  It appeared to lead straight into Mt. Hood.  Having no preference, Young and I followed John as he continued to climb.  About this time, the sun was high in the sky.  The combination of solar energy and our exertions enabled us to shed some layers.  Hands and feet were finally toasty!

Icky, wind-packed snow

Skiing along the top of the ridge, I stopped to gaze at the interesting patterns formed by wind scouring the snow's surface.  There were some cool ridges and ripples.  But this wind-packed snow had a very firm, crusty surface.  When it came time to travel back downhill, I realized this was not going to be fun to ski through.

John looks ahead to our destination

The track got steeper.  Gasping and sweating, my friends and I slowly pushed our skis up the snowy slope.  Clouds swirled around Mt. Hood's summit, making interesting patterns.  It provided a good distraction as I slogged along.

Swallowed up by the vast canyon

John pointed to a rocky outcrop far ahead at the ridge termination point.  There, he promised, we'd stop and have lunch.  Being the fittest of the bunch, John pushed on ahead.  I watched him slip away into the endless white void.

Time to take off the skis and have lunch!

Although it seemed to take forever to reach the outcrop, I finally arrived.   Happily removing my skis and dropping my backpack, I took a seat on one of the exposed rocks at ridge end.  I was famished.  Trail food never tasted so good!

Lunch spots don't come any better

Our lunch spot had the most amazing scenery.  The mountain rose above us - looking almost close enough to touch.  It was fun to watch wispy clouds encircle its summit.  All three ridges came together here, and appeared to terminate just below Mt. Hood.  A very dramatic scene.  Looking the opposite direction gave panoramic views back down White River Canyon.  The wow factor was off the charts.  Lunch spots don't get any better than this!

Victory pose

After refueling, and taking loads of photos, it was time to remove our climbing skins and ready ourselves for the trip back down.  I was more than a little apprehensive about skiing back through that crusty snow.  Breakable crust is one of the more difficult conditions to ski through.  One your skis punch through the crusty top layer, it's almost impossible to make turns.

Group photo

But of course backcountry skiing means you must be prepared for any type of snow conditions, good and bad.  There's no groomed runs here!  I gingerly pointed my skis down the slope and slowly allowed gravity to take hold.  At first, things seemed to go okay.  I even whipped out my camera and attempted to capture some action shots.

Time to ski back down

But it wasn't long before things started going south.  I garnered too much speed, attempted to turn, and went down, skis grabbed by a hole in the icy crust.  Below the firm top layer was 1-2 feet of fluffy snow, which acted like quicksand.  I floundered in the fluffy stuff, trying to upright myself.  My backpack acted like an anchor, preventing me from rising.  I had to take off my backpack and use my crossed ski poles as a firm surface to get back on my feet.

One of the rare times I remained upright!

Dusting off the snow, I started out again.  Not only was the snow crusty, it also varied between hard, wind-packed surface and pockets of fluffy powder.  I unexpectedly hit a powder pocket, which buried my ski tips, causing a grand face plant.

Arrghhhh......Once more I had to drop my backpack and pull myself back up.  I was covered in snow from head to toe.  Another dust-off and put myself back together.

Young is having fun

I continued down the slope, and as I descended, the falls increased.  Each time I uprighted, I became more tired.  With each fall, I got more overly cautious.  And "grumpy Linda" reared her ugly head.  It was a bad combination - fatigue, uncertainty, and frustration.

Finally after the umpteenth fall, I yelled some bad words, threw my pole, and sat steaming in my snowy wallow.  Poor Young and John - they had the unenviable task of dealing with this grouchy skier.  But being the good friends that they are, they helped me up, and provided encouragement.  It took awhile, but we finally got off that crusty ridge, and back into the well-tromped snowy trail.

The clouds begin to roll in

Drawing nearer to the parking lot, our sunny skies began to give way to clouds and light snow.  The closer to trail's end, the more people we encountered.  The area was swarming with visitors.  It seemed half of Portland had shown up to play in the snow.  Finally, tired of dodging kids in sleds, dogs, and people haphazardly wandering, I took off my skis and walked the last quarter mile.

Arriving back at the truck, John smiled and told me "Well, it was a beautiful day, no one got hurt, and you weren't at work."  Yes, today was a frustrating learning experience.  And even though the return trip wasn't fun, the wonderful scenery and being outdoors in it, trumped all the difficulties of the day.  Thanks John for putting things back into perspective.

I look forward to more trips to beautiful places this season.  And hopefully I won't fall as much next time!  :)

Stats for the day:  5.8 miles, 1600 feet elevation gain.


Linking to:  Sunny Simple Sunday.