We have very early winter in the Oregon Cascades! Several feet fell the week ending November 15 and the ski areas opened! Timberline, Mount Hood Meadows and Ski Bowl all opened! Not only that, the snow was mid-winter dry! Damn good!
I decided to skip the Meadows 10-punch pass now that Meadows has made more restrictions on it. I'm getting a Ski Bowl "Super Value" pass instead.
But today I decided to Nordic ski over at Trillium Lake. It being so early in the season, it caught my friends by surprise - I couldn't get anyone to go up. Undeterred I headed to the Trillium Lake snow park...I was not disappointed!
Heading into the Cascades, it was instantly apparent winter had arrived! In Rhododendron, with its 80-ft high douglas firs, the branches were laden with beautiful white snow. Higher up, valleys came into view - trees just beautifully blanketed with white...it looked like February yet Thanksgiving was two weeks away!
I got myself suited up and headed down the trail at Trillium. It wasn't very crowded, just the few early season people excited to play in the snow! The snow was dry and lightly packed. I'd say there was 30" of base. No measurable wind - very pleasant! Dogs excitedly playing in the snow, some eating snow cookies and others hoping to chase chipmunks or snowshoe hairs.
Further along I came to the lake itself. It was half frozen! I was really surprised it could be this frozen so early in the year.
Well, the ski around the lake only lasted a couple of hours. But well worth it! I just love the change in seasons.
A word about my local ski pass choice.
I am trying to avoid Mount Hood Meadows this season. I don't like the terrain - it's boring. And I don't like the lift system one bit. I'm tired of taking 2 or 3 lifts just to ride in Heather Canyon. But behind my boycott lie more emotional factors. I don't like their business practices. With each passing season, riding at MHM has made me feel like I'm just some ant sucked up in their business plan. When the Website calls fresh powder "product," that's a sure sign the place is on the wrong track. Last season the woman behing the customer service counter also referred to their lift tickets / packages as "product," and their being in a "market," and I just got so turned off I vowed to boycott.
Folks, skiing or boarding is an experience. It's taking in the fresh air, falling in the white fluff, riding in the cathedral of trees, watching the grin on a tot's face! It's porpoising in several feet of freshly fallen powder. It's the quiet riding in natural snow.
For years I've always loved Ski Bowl for its easy going more laid back experience. I never feel like I am part of some MBA's business plan. Just riding, snow, fun. Just the woods. No fancy high speed quads and 100% groomers. No constantly raised prices for lockers and cafeteria. Just fun, pure and simple! More than this, I like Ski Bowl's Upper Bowl and outback terrain. It reminds me of the Rockies. And there's not a ton of lifts to get back to do another run! The one negative, obviously, is that 'da Bowl is lower elevation. Sometimes it gets rain when the other areas are getting snow.
Still, for me, this year I'm going with Ski Bowl!
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