I talk to myself all the time but take solace in the fact many do the same. It started freaking me out when I heard “Let me out of here man” while recently climbing Mount Hood. Let me start at the beginning of this story so you understand I am not fresh out of the asylum.

Seven years ago my lady and I gnome napped for the first time from an abandoned home. Enjoying the adventure we began ‘gnoming’ friends and clients by leaving, instead of taking, these lucky little guys. For the last three years she has been telling me to take Mookie the gnome on a summit trip. The reason it took me so long is the thing weighed ten pounds. So after years of this looming over my head I decided to make it happen while enjoying all the cool places between Portland and Mount Hood.

The adventure began at 9.30pm at one of my favorite restaurants and Portland icon, Le Bistro Montage Dinner consisted of their world famous green basil pesto mac and the best mojito in town to wash it down. The staff from Steve the bartender to Josh the owner, are all wonderful but take no bull from customers with the creed “the customer is not always right.” It must be because Montage is the late night place to go whether on the way to climb a mountain or stumbling out of a club with a new friend as they are open with a full menu till 4am on weekends.

With our bellies full we got on the road and as we were passing through Sandy around 11pm I could smell donuts in the air and sure enough there was a warm glow coming from Joe’s Donuts. The sign said closed but we decided to knock and as luck would have the proprietors, Sherry and her daughter Stephanie opened the door. I explained why we were bothering her and she was super kind while inviting us in to give us one of the best maple bars I have ever tasted. Joe’s has been around ever since I was a kid and a pit stop for true Oregon locals on the way up to the mountain.

On the road again we were coming through Government Camp and realized we were running early for our climb; so we decided to stop at the infamous Charlie’s Bar. Charlie’s has been a staple for the party crowd on Mount Hood since 1977. We were greeted with a smiling face by Mel the bartender while pouring us a pint of Ice Axe Ale from Mount Hood Brewery. Mel even smiled for a photo with the gnome before we got on the road to Timberline.

Mookie the gnome and I signed in at Timberline to obtain our Forestry Service permit to climb around 12.45am. The late hour along with all this food and drink started to make us a little sleepy before our climb and gave me second thoughts of continuing the adventure. Falling asleep in the parking lot started to seem like a better option than climbing until…

And, there you have it! Asit has completed his Foodie Stuff, Attractions and Your Choice categories. Stay tuned for the rest of his challenge!

With a new year comes new resolutions and we’ve got a load of ideas for 2009. This year, we’d like your help in narrowing our list. Should we learn to snowboard or golf? Should we road trip to Painted Hills or Crater Lake?

This is a four part series reflecting on how to make a “fresh start” in 2009. Of course we need your help. Tell us about your own Oregon resolutions or simply vote for your favorite resolutions!

LEARN SOMETHING NEW….
Have you ever caught yourself saying, “I’ve always wanted to: swoosh down a powdery slope, play golf or cook a gourmet dinner”? Resolve to make it happen in Oregon this year! With plenty of powdery slopes, over 200 public golf courses, a variety of no-stress cooking classes, Oregon is chock-full of opportunity to learn something new in 2009.

Hit the Slopes! Learn to Ski or Snowboard
Picture this: fresh mountain air, spectacular views and the sound of skis swooshing through fresh powder. What are you waiting for? The hot chocolate is brewing and the lifts are open at Oregon’s dozen ski resorts. Most offer equipment rentals, as well as private and group lessons taught by patient pros.
>>Learn to Ski or snowboard in 2009…

Learn to Boil Water – (Take a cooking class)
Whether you’re a budding chef or can’t seem to make toast, Oregon has a variety of no-stress cooking classes. You may opt for cooking demonstrations where you sit back, sip a glass of wine and watch someone else illustrate the art of braising. Or, there are classes where you’re expected to pull your weight—the chef might have you chopping carrots or blow torching the top of a crème brûlée.
>>Learn to cook in 2009…

Improve your Golf Swing
Oregon has more than 200 public courses, many of which offer private lessons and practice facilities to improve your short or long game—or both. And once you’ve warmed up, you can swing through spectacular stretches of sand dunes perched high above the Pacific Ocean or play alongside the mountain views of Central Oregon’s high-desert courses (just steer clear of the volcanic red-sand bunkers).
>>Learn to golf in 2009…