First snowshoe of the year!!!!

October (Yes, October) 21
White River
Tanya, Jim, Lisa, Me, Lucy, Scout











Tanya and Scout
Jim , Lisa and Lucy (x2)

Taking advantage of a 10 inch dump of snow in the Mts. yesterday, we headed up for a nice early season snowshoe.
Showed up at Jim and Lisa's plenty aftern our arranged meeting time of 9:00. Which wasn't a problem because Jim and Lisa weren't there! Within a few minutes of me getting there, they show up, surprised to see us. Turns out T and I both thought the other one were going to call them. Oops!
Works out okay, get them geared up and into the Subaru.
After discussion of where to go, settle on Ramona Falls, which Jim really wants. The closer we get, the more skeptical I am that there will be snow there. So, we revise and decide to head up the Mt. further. Plenty of snow by Govt. Camp, so, T suggest White River.
Perfect!!

Get there, gear up and head out. Within a few minutes, several of us realize we are overdressed for this gorgeous day, and Lisa is regretting not having sunglasses! Scout's first day in the snow. She loves it!! She loves everything. Snowshoe in, up the hill a ways. Drop Lisa off at the top. She's blind from the sun on the snow, and forgot her hip and knee brace. We wander on a little more up the hill. Scout seems to be getting a little tired. Head back to pick up Lisa and scamper down the hill. Highlight-Jim running down the hill, exciting Lucy and Scout. Lucy tears off after him and we let Scout go too. Her little legs can really move down that hill!! Catch her at the bottom-aided by the fact that she really can't get out of the track without being buried!
Overall, the snow was pretty wet and heavy, but the day was gorgeous, warm and mostly sunny. Besides, it doesn't get much better than snowshoeing in October!! Could we be skiing by Thanksgiving? Losing Scout in the powder by Veteran's Day?
So far, the weather forecast looks too nice for that, but, I'm not complaining!!

Jamie's new job

Not really a sporting event, but blog-worthy anyway.
Friday, October 19
Jamie, Nicole, Faas, Jim, Lisa, Don, Tanya, Steve, me.
Seasha, Kaia, Zephyr

On the menu-
Cabernet braised roast served over gorgonzola polenta. Yum.
T brought a yummy spinach salad and Green beans.
Pumpkin spice cake with cream cheese frosting for dessert.

Food was out late (surprise?!) Worked too long and didn't use the ribs that the recipe called for. Oh well! It was still good and everyone was pleased and chatty.

Topped it off with much celebration. Jamie's new job, Lisa passing her test, the impending pumpkin announcement.
A good time was had by all! It's always great to get to see Jamie.

Green Lakes

October 14, 2007
Green Lakes, near South Sister
Distance:? (4 hours worth)
Who: Jacki, Pete, Rayn, Ryan's Mom Jo, Me and Blaze!

So excited this worked out! After popping down to Bend on Saturday to head out to Carolyn and Jim's fall party, and staying up WAY TOO late past my bedtime, I blearily headed down to Sun River to hook up with the crew that had been staying in the FABULOUS house in La Pine that Jacki rented.

So, we pile into cars and head up the nice new road between Sun River and Mt. Bachelor. It's exciting to see snow on the Mountain-fall is here and winter is knocking at it's door!

After missing the trailhead, (Rayn loves to do that), we head out on the hike! It's chilly. It was 36 degrees when I woke up, and it's been between 31 and 40 depending where we're at. Frost on the ground in places even. Brrr... The hike is great! The first part is all through the woods with a river that has waterfalls in several places right next to the trail. Before long, we get out of the woods and then the views get even MORE amazing! Make it up to the top of the hill and see the first lake. Very pretty. Decide we think we can hike around the lakes, so, we set off on trail. Encounter several places with snow (how cool!!), and then the second lake. Keep going and begin to question whether or not there actually IS a path around them all. Jacki goes ahead to scout it out and call to us all to come check it out! It's the mythical THIRD LAKE! Jo says she's read there were three lakes in the guidebook and with all of her hiking around there had never seen it. So, we stop for a delicious bite of snacks by the THIRD LAKE! After enjoying some food and good views, we head back the way we came. It's a little chilly after stopping, and there's abreeze coming off of the second lake, but, after a while it warms right back up and is really a marvelous day!
We're surprised at the number of hikers we see on our way down. Definitely a popular hike on what could be the last nice day for a while. Could be the last day to hike here until spring if the snow flies. Who can blame anyone for being out. It's so amazing!

What's better than a gorgeous hike on a stunning fall day in central oregon with friends? Topping it all off with burgers and beer! So, we head in to Cascade Lakes Brewing for some DELICIOUS burgers. Then, I have to ride off into the sunset to call it a weekend. (stopping only at Cibelli's to pick up pizza for Steve.)

Adidias Throwback run

September 13, 2007


Fit Right NW through Northwest Portland


5 miles?





Thanks to Jacki for putting together another fun reason to run! And get dressed up this time! The premise was to dress up in your best "throwback" running outfit. There were going to be prizes at the end for the best outfit.


Well, pretty much these three were the only ones "outfitted":

But, we had a good run. THere weren't very many people there, so everyone got a prize at the end. Jacki got a CUTE bag and I got a 6 pack of beer. Not bad for free.

(of course being the friend I am, and taking pity on Jim and Gary trying to tarp their roof in the rain, I brought it over to them. Awww....)

Labor Day Hike

Location: Larch Mountain
Date: September 3
Who: me, Steve, Jim, Lisa, Tanya, Molly, Seasha and Lucy

Yes it's October. Yes Labor Day was in September. But, at least I'm getting around to it.

A right nice Labor day, and who doesn't enjoy an extra Monday off every once in a while? Well, besides Steve because then he has to share his day off with the world. At least he gets to see me!

A mellow hike, at least it was the first half. Turns out that was a lot of gentle downhill that we then had to come back up. A wide path, lots of room for dogs to be dogs.

Bonus! Huckleberries. It seemed like we would have been too low for them, but nope! Picked a few to snack on here and there. After taking a path to the right, we stumbled upon an area with LOTS of huckleberries there for the taking. Ended up with may 4 cups worth total? Enough for some huckleberry muffins to share with everyone one of these days. Glad we ended up there, the huckleberry hike this year never materialized!

Bonus scenery on the hike. After wandering around, we found a trail that eventually hooks up with Angel's Rest (or maybe it was Deveil's Rest). Either way, it put us to a nice overlookign view of the Gorge. Ahhhh....
Topped it all off with some oatmeal-chocolate chip cookies at the end.
And, Gartner's brats for dinner that night. Yum.