Nothing beats a yota in the snow, plus it makes for a great staging area.
The morning started off with quick jaunt up the hill with Catherine P. for some powder tossing. I say morning but we didn't really leave town until 10. We scooped up our 12-4 passes and headed to our alpine chariots. Our first run was designed for the crawlers and bawlers (i was neither, thank you). We took it up a notch and moved onto "Easy Street," a nice winding green with some good pace and even better snow. Things got a little crowded on the greens so there was only one option, Blue, baby blue. "Mt Hood Lane" started with a step drop and nothing but butter the rest of the ride down. I took a few "soft" spills, not even enough to pop my planks off. After that i was juiced on the blues and left the softer greens for the snowplowing kiddies. I must give thanks to Catherine for the motivation and taunting that got me over that first edge (thanks).
This is the face of one happy lad.
A lonely chair has its moment in the sun, a brief moment but sun nonetheless.
We decided on Skibowl per Dan's suggestion and the financials of the whole thing. The cost for a 4-hour ticket is softer on the pocket than at any of the other spots on the hill. I had heard grumblings of a "Warming Hut" mid-mountain. I didn't really know what to expect but what we found was a real gem. This "Warming Hut" is an old and apparently sturdy, wooden shack. But this isn't your everyday shack, they have exactly what ever good carver needs, beers, a nice big fireplace and. . . sausage. What more can you want to break up a long day of running the groomers?
Liquid warmth awaits!
This is the face of an even happier lad about to get his beer and sausage on.
The face of a happy lass that doesn't know that sausage awaits (easy pervs, it's not like that)!
After the beers and sausage we had to pick a few last runs to round out the day. We decided on another run down "Dog Leg" and transitioning over to "Fire Hydrant" to take us back to the Cascade lift. After that it was back up the hill down an uncharted blue "Middle Reynolds" to the Multorpor Lift for another shot down "Mt. Hood Lane."
Map reading 101. Be sure to have the right equipment; a map. . .and a beer.
The plan was perfect and would have been executed to the same perfection but we didn't calculate for the 3-Close skiers to swarm the lifts. When we got to the foot of the Cascade lift the line was large and far from in charge. By the time we got into our chariot, our chances for another two runs were slim. We settled for another trip down "Dog Leg" and "Fire Hydrant." No complaints here. It was a great day to be on the mountain and i'm happy i had the company to nudge me over that ledge.
To round out my pre-blogging evening, i played a little co-ed indoor football (the real stuff). I expected to be slow and uselss but i think the skiing did something to my legs because they moved gracefully and led to a hat-trick. I ripped of a beauty of a side volley from about 20 yards out that slammed off the top corner and deflected itself into the unsuspecting (lucky son of a bitch) keeper. So close!
Peace and fresh powder grease!
