XC Skiing at Teacup Lake

It only took 34 years, but I finally put on a pair of skis. Teacup is a zoo on the weekends, especially with this run of gorgeous weather.  The snow was getting mushy and my rented skiis had too much grip, but my girlfriend and I had a giggly, sweaty, wonderful time regardless. I freaking love it - now, to get braver and faster!

The Sun Chaser

The mountain must have heard I've been waiting 36 hours to get up there and try out my new snowhoes, because the forecast changed from mostly sunny and clear to cold as shit and gray in about the two hours it took me to get there. I got out of the car and started up the trail at Summit Ski Area, quickly decided that I didn't want to spiral from a mild cold into a full-blown flu, and kept on driving. The road was icy and a little sketchy, but the Subie did fine even without snow tires. On the other side of the mountain, I finally found my sun. So there's that, which was nice.

Iron Constitution

Being productive right now is a huge effort. I tagged along on a rainy wine country ramble with my husband and his biking buddy the other day, and while I didn't embarrass myself completely, I was certainly tired with only 28 miles and 1500 feet of climbing. The only reason I even thought I could keep up is because it was supposed to be an easy ride due to our friend being "injured." And it was, objectively, an easy ride. But I have a long way to go before summer to get where I need to be, even to where I was in 2011. With that in mind, I hit the running trail again today. Only did three miles, but it felt good. Afterwards, I read another chapter in my Ben Franklin biography - in the winter I like to read about badasses with iron constitutions to inspire me. That's a good phrase, that one. A coworker described me that way last week -- but he's from New York, so he doesn't know that I'm like the first or second rung on the ladder above pussy compared to all these hearty Pacific Northwesterners who triathalon to work and rappel into bed. But I'm going to try to be inspired with that image of myself as the season progresses.

My First Snowshoe!

Gorgeous hike on groomed trails from Ski Bowl West on the Glade Trail on Mount Hood up to near the PCT at Timberline. Rented showshoes from REI, but I can see a new gear purchase in the immediate future.

Doldrums

Biking on Sauvie on Christmas Day and it's 35 degrees out.

Lolo Pass shenanigans.

What? I am perfectly comfortable like this and do not miss the sun at all.

Christmas Eve Wish List

2013

• Blanca Lake via Stevens Pass West, WA
• Colchuck Lake via Stuart Lake TH, Leavenworth, WA
• Gem Lake via Alpental with options for Snow and Source Lake, WA
• Yocum Ridge, Mount Hood, OR
• Middle Sister Summit backpack, OR
• Spray Park, Mt Rainier, WA
• Skyline Divide, Mount Baker, WA (weekend trip)
• Heliotrope Ridge, Mount Baker, WA
• Kendal Katwalk, Snoqualmie, WA
• Lyman Lakes/Spider Meadows/Phelps Basin (backpack) via Spider Gap, WA
• Indian Bar, Mt Rainier
• Mt Pilchuck, WA
• Lake Serene via Stevens Pass West, WA
• Illumination rock, Mount Hood, OR
• Robin Lakes trail, Snoq. Pass; Salmon LaSac/Teanaway, WA (backpack)
• Maple Pass Loop, North Cascades,WA (views of lake Ann)
• Goat Lake, North Cascades, WA
• Gothic Basin, North Cascades, WA
• Glacier Nat'l Park Vacation (day hikes)

Life List (in order from most to least realistic):

• Garibaldi Provincial Park, BC
• Ptarmigan Ridge, North Cascades, WA
• Wonderland Trail, Mt Rainer, WA
• JMT from Red's to Mt Whitney 
• PCT Section K, WA
• Telluride/Durango, CO and 14ers
• Chasm Lake, Longs Peak, CO
• Kootenay Rockwall Trail/Skoki Lakes/Lake O'Hara, BC
• Routeburn Trek, NZ
• Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
• Salkantay Trek, Peru
• Annapurna Circuit, Nepal
• Zermatt, Switzerland 
• Tank Lakes via Necklace Valley, WA
• Mount Hood Summit, OR 

Weekend In SF

I went to San Francisco for the weekend to take a WSET course offered through my work. I ate my weight in oysters and drank upwards of 50 wines. I know this might surprise you, but it is STILL an awesome city.

Use it Or Lose It

I have not been biking this winter, like at all. So Hagg Lake was a little bit harder on my lungs than it should've been, considering the last time I was out there, I was all "Pshaw, this is for noobs." But it was pouring rain and we still got some good exercise, so whatever.

I'm Not Afraid To Drink Fucking Merlot

On Sunday we were invited to a four-course small bite brunch at Hawk’s View Cellars. Cabernet-braised short rib and sweet potatoes, Merlot with a turkey croquette and  gravy... sigh.

Dee-lightful

Just got back from a trail run at Tamanawas Falls. The temperature was just around freezing and my footing was cautious at best. The sun was out in Hood River as I drove home and I glimpsed the stark white top of Mount Adams above the clouds. I literally did a little happy dance in my seat at the thought that I'd been up there. Life is beautiful.

What I've Been Up To

Running! I've been trail running 3 times a week on Leif Erickson with my long runs on Saturday hovering around 7 miles. I hope to work my way up to a half marathon by the spring, maybe something like the Timberline Half at Timothy Lake. Something scenic and mountainy, to keep me motivated and in my comfort zone. After that, I don't know. I want to run a marathon someday, but I have quite a roster of Washington hikes to knock out next summer. One thing at a time.What's most important is that I'm happy, and always moving forward.

Anam Cara Winemaker's Lunch

I think I could finally get used to these Oregon winters - it's just that I've been heading West instead of East when the weather turns. Private lunch through work in the winemaker's home. Just wonderful.

Winding Down

A few pics from the last couple days. Lovely Ramona Falls recliner hike with the hubs, and then two kind of crappy hikes. Here's the nice one:

The next day, I was on my way to Devil's Peak fire lookout but was thwarted by a work crew on one approach and an epically terrible road on another approach. I'll take my Subie over some shit, but only if I've made a huge effort to get there. Not for a four-mile fire lookout hike. I headed over to Timberline Lodge instead, to scout out Illumination Saddle. At this point, the lifts have long stopped running and the hike is a slog through dirt. I've gotten a little intel from other hikers who were kind enough to email some warnings about crevasses and rockfalls, so I truly didn't expect to get anywhere near the saddle, plus it was well past noon. I hiked up to the top of the ski lift and just considered myself lucky to have a mountain instead of a gym membership. But for the first time I noticed how depressingly wasted the south side of Mount Hood is. Dirt instead of meadows, equipment laying around everywhere, and shrinking glaciers. It's kind of sad.

Today I intended to drive to Alpental to hike a hopefully emptier Snow Lake/Gem Lake trail before the season closes, but at 6 a.m. I was still tired and at 8 a.m. the clouds were dishearteningly thick. So I slept in and hiked to Grassy Knoll. That was a bad idea - the road is hideous and endless, and I finally scratched up my poor, abused car. The hike is tedious and ugly, particularly in October at the end of a dry spell. Seemed like prime cougar territory, and I was completely alone. On the drive home, I consoled myself with a butterscotch milkshake in Cascade Locks, and still felt pretty darn good about my life lately. But I really am a little bored with the Gorge...I can't believe summer is ten months away.