Rowena Ride

 

Stats here: http://thegorgeismygym.com/road-biking/hood-river-to-rowena-crest-out-and-back

I'd Make A Pun About the Woods, But I'm Stumped

So, I'm thinking global warming might work out for Portland. After yet another sunny Sunday here in the previously-unbearably-gloomy Pacific Northwest, I may just stop daydreaming about Bend and Mammoth.

Headed out to Trillium again, I know it's not exciting. But it was a great day nonetheless - I did two loops and even learned to control my speed a little better on the long downhill at the end. I think one of my problems last week was not getting my legs far enough apart... that's not a problem your Mom has - blammo! That's one of the things about teaching yourself, you can miss the basics. So I kept a wide stance this time and never got going too fast. The downside is that probably would've been an okay day to let go a little what with all the soft snow, but I like baby steps when it comes to high speed sports. Except all the freaking babies out there ski better than me.

But if anyone comes to this blog ever looking for a peaceful spot for xc skiing, I can't recommend this place on the weekends. Aside from a gaggle of shrieking blondes in heels near the trailhead who somehow managed to make it about 500ft down the hill, there was also a men's Christian choir treating everyone to their falsetto stylings next to the outhouse on the far side of the lake. I usually go into the woods to escape that kind of noise - don't be mistaken, this is not the woods.

Getting Good

Good is what I'm not when it comes to skiing. Today was my second day, and I have the bruises to prove it. I bumbled around at Teacup for about five miles, and then bailed out and looped Trillium Lake. It took me several years to become proficient in the wilderness, it's taken me my decade-long serving career to become somewhat knowledgeable about wine, and I trained intensely to do my first cycling double-century. And still for some reason it baffles me that I cannot just hop onto a nordic trail and look pro.

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.