Halle's Smooooth Words o' Wisdom » snow

Why I always ski Superbowl Sunday

Halle — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 04:12:37 +0000

For one day this season we were ok with El Niño. Superbowl Sunday. Chris and I had a surprisingly good day skiing der Hood. We ditched the car in Govy, stuck out our thumbs and the first car up Timberline Rd. obliged. The clouds lifted and the snow up high was as good as Hood snow gets.

Mt. Adams-Southwest Chutes-29 June 2009

Halle — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 18:45:06 +0000

My likely last ski of the season was a grand one. Chris Hill, Blake Osmundsen, Trent Thelen and I bivied at the bustling Cold Springs trailhead Friday night and headed up 7,000 ft. or so to the top then skied down. Skied down most of the way at least. We did a wrinkle I’d never done before: traversing at 7,000 ft to the south side trade route instead of heading to the round the mountain trail and then walking the 3 miles back to Cold Springs. The verdict seemed to be that the traverse at 7k is better suited for earlier in the season or bigger snow years. We finished the day with cold brews at the car and Huckleberry shakes in Trout Lake. Yeeehaaaa!

One of My Favorite Things: Skiing to Ramona Falls

Halle — Tue, 26 May 2009 22:23:43 +0000

The tour to Ramona falls is one of my favorite things. Yesterday Steven, Ralph and I skied the route with a snowcat assist part way up the Palmer. It was a great day spent with friends on the mountain. We encountered a handfull of giants along the way.

Mt. Hood January Corn Snow

Halle — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 07:16:43 +0000

Today’s was an exploratory tour I’ve wanted to ski for a while. After a long approach Lynn, Blake and I found great corn snow to the southeast of Lookout Mountain near Mt. Hood. We could have chosen a better line to ski and were forced to traverse through thick trees and over lots of bits and boughs more than we would have liked. The views and uncanny feeling like we were on a Sierra Nevada spring trip made up for the descent. The views of Hood, Adams, Rainier, Helens, Jefferson, Washintgon and the Sisters were clear and a cold foggy blanket extended to the horizon east of the Cascades.

The Hummingbirds Are Alright

Halle — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 00:32:56 +0000

The feeder outside our kitchen window froze solid during the last arctic blast. The Hummingbirds seemed to protest by chirping loudly and incessantly. Food must be scarce for them this time of year so we attempted to regularly thaw the feeder and place warm sugar water in it from time to time.

Winter Soltstice Eve Urban Tele Turns 12.20.08

Halle — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 06:10:11 +0000

My oh my the skiing was good off Alameda Ridge in NE Portland this evening:

Volcano Corn Season Is On

Halle — Tue, 06 May 2008 14:41:36 +0000

Winter’s End Is Near

Halle — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 02:31:28 +0000

AC and I did a half day tour near Mirror Lake Wednesday. Winter’s going down swinging this year.

The end of winter means anything but ski doldrums in the Pacific Northwest. It means the start of something altogether new: volcano corn season.