Next Level

May 19, 2017
Mt. Bachelor

I rolled into the parking lot as it was getting dark.  The party was well in swing by then, but that's ok, I came to ski. I haven't been up since early March, so it was overdue. South Sister and Broken Top loom large over the west parking lot at Mt. Bachelor.

This was the maiden voyage for the rig on a ski adventure.  It was also the first time I've had the opportunity to experience the RV life at a ski area. I spent a good portion of my life being opposed to RVs.  Diane finally broke me down last summer and we bought one.  Turns out they're pretty cool.  It's like having your own fully equipped apartment on wheels.  Not a bad concept.

May 20, 2017
7:30 am

I woke up at 6:45 a bit cold and with an annoying beeping.  I'm still working out how all the systems on our rig work.  The coach batteries died in the middle of the night.  That meant the heat stopped functioning. I don't mind sleeping in the cold up to a point.  It wasn't at all uncomfortable.  The beeping was the propane leak detector complaining it did not have enough energy to do it's job.  You would think they'd still a 9-volt in that to voice that problem.  Maybe they do and it's dead.  I'll have to check.

I wandered down to the lodge to use the facilities. They we're playing a song that I instantly recognized - Brian Auger's "Happiness is Just Round the Bend."  It instantly brightened my mood.  It's funny how a piece of music can do that.  It probably helps that I've listened to it dozens if not more than 100 times.  I checked a live version for this post--and now you can too.  Outstanding!

Something's going round inside my head
I think it's somethin' I feel, something unreal
And so I see my world is upside down
But there is nothing to fear, my vision is clear
All my roads lead nowhere, what lies at the end
reach your destination
'cause what you find is your love
It's your birth started again
So get up....get it on.....try it again...
Get up....happiness...is just around the bend

Nothing like a bit of positive motivation to get the day going.

At any rate, it was gloriously sunny and in the high 30's.  That's a great start to a day of spring skiing. The base of Pine Martin lift.  The orange fences were going up for the annual "Pole, Peddle, Paddle" race. It's a ski/bike/kayak race all rolled into one.  According to the official website the PPP is a "relay race with six legs that include alpine skiing/snowboarding, cross-country skiing, biking, running, canoeing/kayaking/stand up paddle boarding, and sprinting to the finish!"  More specifically, you start with a quick alpine race (easily the fastest and easiest part), then an 8k XC, then a 22-mile bike ride, then a 5-mile run, then you paddle upstream 1/2 mile...down 3/4 mile then do a sprint to the finish.  The tough guys skip the relay part.  I think the race is calling Craig Jones.

 

Something got on the camera. It probably happened on the Silver Falls trip with Doug. I need to be more diligent.  Anyway, I went straight to the 9,300' summit. The view to the South.  Conditions were a bit scratchy at 8:45 so I decided to go check the lowdown.

 

The Summit as seen from the Skyliner lift. I did a ride with some interesting guys from Portland.  They said the last person told them the owner of Willamette Pass was a jerk.  Word, apparently, gets around.

 

Next run I rode up with a couple of guys from Eugene.  I followed them down--they were skiing faster than I normally do, which is saying something. I ran into them two runs later and we spent the rest of the day together.  Turns out they also enjoy the RV life and were parked a little way up the lot from me. My new ski buddies, Kyle and Jeremy.

 

There's a forest fire just below those clouds.  Seems a bit early for that--possibly a controlled burn.  We'll see what the deal is tomorrow.

 

South Sister and Broken Top in the midday light.  I forget how Mt. Bachelor is one of the few places in Oregon where you feel like there's truly an alpine environment.  The Cascades are considerably understated compared to the Rockies.  They have an subtle beauty that is remarkable.

 

Skiing closed at 1:30 pm due to the fact the snow can get extremely sticky this time of year.  The view of the summit from the base again.  

I went back to the rig.  Jeremy and Kyle invited me for nachos and beer, but I elected for coffee and work instead.  I must be getting old. Or, just more familiar with the effects of drinking in the afternoon.  It usually results in napping or early bedtime. 

The base is still significant--it towers over the cars in the parking lot.

After work, I went and visited my new found friends and borrowed a bike tire pump. I brought my bike because I knew the mountain closed early and figured I might do a little ride. I did--a four-mile round trip do the Sunrise Lodge.  The party down there was, well different.  Teepees and mini-pipes. And a lot of tents.  Best I can guess is a bunch of skateboarding hippies.

I'll get up and ski again tomorrow. I'm hoping to meet up with my colleagues from the City of Bend.  Either way, it will be fun.