Snow continues to fall “in fits and starts” around the Portland Metro area and forecasts call for call for more accumulation in the Portland Metro area and the Willamette Valley; of course, our mountains are getting an amazing blast of powder as well (check ski resort conditions here)
Of course, while this sort of weather makes life difficult for travelers, there are a few folks out there who relish in these conditions….skiers and snowboarders, kids who’re sledding, animals at the Oregon zoo, and of course the ever resilient cadre of Portland cyclists!
Here’s a video of the animals enjoying the snow from our friends at the Oregon Zoo:
Portland cyclists…neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow will keep me away from my bike! Thanks to BikePortland.org for the video!
Last month, our boss announced the start of the 2008 Lane County Experience Holiday Challenge. Well, we have incredible Lane County experiences all of the time – mind you, we work for the Convention & Visitors Association – but this time, we were challenged to try something new.
I took the title literally and invited my family on a holiday adventure to Northern Lights Christmas Tree Farm, where we went on a quest to find the perfect Christmas tree.
As the self-titled Adventure Captain, I recruited my in-laws, Bob and Betty, from Hawaii for the occasion. (They happened to come a little early and joined us for Thanksgiving, too.) With their keen eye for evergreens, and with the help of my husband, Dean, and our two teenagers, Samantha and Ryan, I was on my way.
While it is possible to get in over one’s head when traveling adventures are insufficiently mapped out, it’s also the case that spontaneity can lead to sweet roads less traveled. A recent impromptu adventure found me with friends at Bagby Hot Springs. I was thoroughly delighted and unprepared for what a beautifully maintained, rustic gem we discovered.
Mike Rysavy of Northwest Forest Conservancy is justly proud of everything his group has accomplished during their tenure rehabilitating Bagby. His suggestions for a visit to the Springs are classic stewardship mantras: “Enjoy yourself. Lead by example. Leave things better than you find them.”
The lower bathhouse features three rectangular cedar tubs in addition to a large round tub on an open deck. The adjacent newer bathhouse includes five impressive cedar “baths,” all constructed from huge, hollowed out logs. Each of these is enclosed in a private room. Clothing is optional at Bagby, so those individual rooms are handy for the more modest among us.
A powder day at Ski Anthony Lakes; credit: Jerry Kreig
This is truly my first POWDER ALERT of the 2008-2009 season… and the POWDER ALERT is for this THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18TH.
A cold and wet weather system will drop into Oregon from the northwest on Wednesday. Snow begins in the mountains (and lower elevations too) in the morning, so Wednesday will feature new snow as well. But the snow will likely add up 8-12″ deep by Thursday morning, making that day a great one for powder lovers. Hopefully, with the additional snow, ski areas will be able to open additional terrain.
Looking further ahead, there is another storm on the horizon that is due to arrive this weekend. The computer models are all over the place in their prediction about the forecast snow level, but I personally believe there will be significant new snow in the mountains again this weekend.
You must have been doing your snow dance, because Oregon’s mountain resorts are starting to open for the year! With snow already piling high on Oregon’s peaks, this will surely be another epic year! So far, here is the update on resorts that are currently open:
Bachelor: 7 inches in the last 24 hours; Pine Marten Express and Sunshine Accelerator is scheduled to open at 8:30 am today. There will be action on Thunderbird and Skyliner Runs. Home Run and a medium jib park is open, accessed by Sunshine Accelerator. Other trails will have deep snow and also exposed rocks and hazards (it’s been a light and dry snowfall) – Keep on the open runs.
Meadows: Meadows opened for the season Sunday with three lifts – Buttercup, Easy Rider and Daisy (and the Wondercarpet) operating.
Timberline: Bruno’s and Pucci are Open 9AM-3PM and Molly’s is open 9AM-2:30PM.
Snow has gripped the Portland Metro region and much of the western part of Oregon this morning, forcing road and bridge closures.
Interstate 5 is closed at Barbur Boulevard in both directions.
U.S. 26 moves at a crawl, and westbound traffic between downtown Portland and Sylvan is closed.
I-84 closed at Troutdale
Chains are also currently required for all travel within the Portland Metro area
For the most up-to-date conditions, check out TripCheck.com or follow updates on Twitter
NOAA 7:30 PM Update: Winter storm warning remains in effect until 10 PM PST this evening for the greater Portland Metro area..a low pressure system off the Oregon coast will continue to spin bands of snow over the Portland Metro area during the evening.
The heaviest snow should remain west of downtown Portland with only light snowfall in the east portion of the metro area. Additional snow accumulations of 1 to 2 inches are possible west part of the Willamette Valley. Reports of 2 to 5 inches are common across the area with storm totals expected to be 2 to 6 inches. Arctic air is now in place over the northern Willamette Valley with gusty winds resulting in blowing and and drifting snow in the eastern metro area and along the Columbia River.
Roads will remain snow covered and very icy as colder air continues to pour in from Eastern Washington. Snow should taper off late this evening. If you must travel…keep an extra flashlight… Food…and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.
Our friends at the Portland Japanese Garden are holding a writing contest in search of the “most memorable Portland Japanese Garden experiences.” Entrants are encouraged to write up to 150 words describing how the Garden has been important in their life or about a significant experience that happened at the Garden.
From marriage proposals to a place for rejuvenation and solace from the hustle and bustle of daily life, the Japanese Garden has served as a refuge for many Oregonians. Tell them your story and win a two-year individual membership to the Garden and a $100 gift certificate to the Garden’s online Gift Store! The Garden is also offering second- and third-place winners $50 gift certificates to the Garden’s online Gift Store. All winners and notable entries will be published in the Garden’s newsletter and in future Garden publications.
Finally, some good weather news! A change in the weather pattern is on the way… and heavy snow is headed towards the mountains of Oregon later this week.
The fun begins Friday. A very strong cold front will charge through Oregon that evening, bringing heavy snow and very strong winds to the mountains. At this point, I expect a bona fide blizzard… with at least 12 inches of new snow from Friday evening through midday Saturday. In the best case scenario, there could be up to 2 feet of new snow by midday Sunday. And the snow level will be low enough such that heavy snow will fall at all ski areas regardless of elevation.
If this storm delivers what I expect, then there may be enough snow to get some of the lifts turning at the ski areas by late this weekend or early next week.
The brisk winter day is perfect for bundling up and exploring the outdoors, and then traveling somewhere cozy to warm up. This past weekend, my boyfriend and I enjoyed a delicious meal at Deschutes Brewery in Portland, after hiking through Forest Park. The day had been beautiful- just fallen leaves crunched beneath our feet and the sun shined brightly through the trees. After an excellent workout, we were hungry for some high quality Oregon cuisine. Which ultimately means we needed a local microbrew and a tasty burger.
We sat at a corner table away from the hustle and bustle of the restaurant, which provided an excellent view of the wood carvings that surround the interior of the restaurant. The details of these carvings are amazing- many of them include mountains, trees and even an Oregon beaver or two- all with intricate detail. This, along with the log cabin-like building, made the brewery feel like home.
I ordered the classic cheeseburger, which included gruyere cheese, sauteed onions and italian spices, along with an Organic Amber Ale to wash it down. Mike ordered their traditional hamburger, with a chicken sausage and white bean soup, and a Black Butte Porter. Deschutes also has an inventive Oktoberfest menu, with items such as schnitzel and German chocolate cake. Stop by and try it before October ends! The food is very filling and cooked just the way you like it. The atmosphere is very relaxing as well, and great for a casual gathering with friends (and kids too)! Better yet, Deschutes Brewery is located right next to the Portland Armory in the Pearl. It’s an excellent location for seeing a show or doing a little shopping before dinner.
In late August, I spent two weeks vacationing Oregon Coast (OC). Like earlier trips to the OC, I thoroughly enjoyed the hiking and cycling and beach sunsets–and of course, that fresh seafood so hard to find here in Montana. This year, for the first time, some of it was extra-fresh because I caught it myself while crabbing Oregon.
Although I’ve been known to get really crabby, I’m certainly no expert at crabbing. But I’ve learned a few things that might help you enjoy your first time out.
I’ve always wanted to try crabbing, and now that I’ve had my chance, I recommend adding it to your wish list next time you’re vacationing on the Oregon Coast. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to go out with friends Mike and Anita Harlan, but if you aren’t lucky enough to know experienced crabbers like Captain Mike and COO (Crabbing Operations Officer) Anita, you can join a guided trip or do it yourself by renting a boat, motor and a few crab pots. Most marinas on the OC offer both guided trips and rentals.
Captain Mike took us out in Netarts and Garibaldi Bays, near Tillamook, but crabbing is also popular in many other bays along the OC such as Alsea, Nahalem, Siletz, Winchester, and Yaquina. Even though crabbing seems nicely suited for the average person who doesn’t have time to become an expert, there’s more to it than you think. For starters, crabbing is not fishing. It’s more like mushroom hunting. And it can be a lot of work, so be prepared to get physical.
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