January 29, 2008

Photos and blog by Andrea Hartman

Like the typical genius I am, I waited till the coldest day in North America to go skiing up at my beloved Willamette Pass. They were predicting temperatures in the teens, and snow on the Valley floor, but no, it’s MLK day and Andrea was going skiing!

My pal, and superior skiing buddy, Sara and I were up before the sun, and on the road by first light on our quest to make it to Willamette Pass before the first chairs started running. We drove on packed ice for the last leg of the trip, but it was nothing that slower speeds and four-wheel drive couldn’t handle.

After a pit-stop at the lodge to use the facilities and purchase our lift tickets, we were snow-suited up, with boots on tight, skis in one hand and poles in the other.
But before we get to the slopes, a little background information:

Me: Learned to snowboard at age 14, learned to ski at age 18. That means 5 eligible seasons of skiing, if you subtract the winter I was planning my wedding.

Sara: Learned to ski when she was a little girl. Been on many skiing trips with her family. Eligible seasons of skiing: many more than me.

We gracefully made our way to the base of the mountain, sized up the high-speed summit lift and then opted for the Midway lift to take some warm up runs.

We skied the front side of the mountain for about an hour and a half. The snow was freshly groomed, and we swooshed, carved and whizzed our way down the mountain. But, sooner than later, I succumbed to the cold and headed into the lodge. Sara, meanwhile took her adventures to the backside, where some of my favorite runs live. You’ve got your just-right blue runs that have steep bits and not so steep bits, and in addition to the really hard black diamonds, some manageable black diamonds that are the perfect mix of moguls and smooth snow.

I sat in the lodge hoping my feet would thaw and watching the wind whip the dry snow around. The clouds eventually cleared and it turned into one of the most beautiful days I have ever seen at Willamette Pass with brilliant blue skies, and bright summer-like sunshine. Only the temperatures were more Arctic than balmy.

Around noon Sara met me in the lodge for lunch. After eating I decided that warm, fuzzy boots and the heated ski lodge sounded better than trying to manipulate my skis with semi-numb feet. I was in good company though. The folks we ate lunch with called it quits early too, and so did some other skiers – we weren’t the only ones leaving the parking lot by 1 p.m.

All in all, I am a little bummed it got so cold, but Willamette Pass is still my favorite place to ski. It’s the perfect size for a skier like me. It’s comfortable, yet still challenging. I’ll never get lost on this mountain, but there are always new adventures to be had. The best part? Lift tickets are still cheaper than almost every other ski area in Oregon, and this mountain is almost in my backyard (just over an hour outside Eugene).

When you go:
-Check www.tripcheck.com for road cams and the latest road conditions.
-From Eugene head East on Highway 58, the resort is directly off the highway, near milepost 62
-Bring $40 for a lift ticket, $42 if you don’t have a ski key.

Over the River and Through the Woods, to Northern Lights Christmas Tree Farm We Go!

December 10, 2007

Photo by Andrea Hartman

By Andrea Hartman

Eager to jump in to the highly-anticipated holiday season, my roommate and I decided that December 1 would be the day we headed out in search of the perfect Christmas tree.

On Saturday afternoon, a fine Oregon day that threatened rain at anytime, we headed out to Northern Lights Christmas Tree Farm in Pleasant Hill, accompanied by our enlisted help. After scoring a car large enough to swallow my modest hatchback from my parents’ house, we took the back roads through the woods to the farm. We eventually crossed the Willamette River and soon arrived at our destination.

Photo by Andrea Hartman

Bundled up against the cold, we hopped out of the car and surveyed our options: a barn-housed gift shop, complete with hot drinks, a pancake breakfast fundraiser and a selection of pre-cut trees from which to choose. The U-cut pickings were just a quick hayride away, and included Noble, Grand, Douglas-fir and Scotch Pine. We piled on to the hay seats with a few other families and made our way to the fields.

We compared and contrasted as we combed the rows of Nobles, some tall and slender, others short and plump. Finally we selected a nice five-footer and got down to business. The aforementioned help came in the form of two of our male friends, whom we enlisted for their saw skills and lifting skills, among other things we like about them. Surprisingly to me, it took a mere minute or two to saw through the tree, and off we were, to trot back to the farm with our holiday booty.

The folks at Northern Lights shrink-wrapped our tree while we sucked on free candy canes, and with little effort we nestled the tree into the back of the car. Driving off, I marveled over how simple and easy the whole experience was. No chainsaws needed, just a small handsaw, and the ability to lift a few pounds. Not bad, something I could have done myself. Even more so, it was fun, and sure beat the pressure of looking through a tree lot on a rainy day, bumping into folks as you elbow each other to get to the best tree. Will I go back next year? Definitely.

If you go:
(Don’t let the bleak cell phone camera pictures scare you away, it is indeed a beautiful place.)
-Leave your saw at home, they have extras on hand.
-Wear your boots - the fields are muddy!

To get to Northern Lights (36777 Wheeler Dr.) drive South of I-5, take the Goshen/Exit 188, continue east on Hwy 58 for about 5 miles, turn left on Parkway Road, then right on Wheeler Dr.

Pure Pleasure...A Relaxing Hike 10 Minutes Outside of Eugene

November 14, 2007

Photo by Donna Compton

By Andrea Hartman

If you’re like me, it’s easy to fall into the mindset that finding time for a fun outdoor adventure on a weeknight just seems impossible. But at the challenge of my ever-adventurous mother, my theory was put to test. She told me to be in my hiking gear and on my porch by 5:15 p.m., and she’d be there to whisk me off to Spencer’s Butte for an evening hike.

Fortunately for us, living in the Willamette Valley (namely Eugene), means a beautiful hike in the woods is just a hop and a skip away. Up, up, up the road roared my mom’s Trailblazer as we traveled a mere 10 minutes from where I live (in the middle of town!) to the Spencer Butte Trailhead. It was an excellent fall evening, clear and beautiful, a fact reflected in the full parking lot.

Photo by Donna Compton

We crunched our way through the leaves on the trail, only broke a tiny sweat, and were at the top about 30-40 minutes later, just in time for the sunset. We found an area for prime viewing and settled in to watch the show. This, only after my mom insisted on taking half-a-dozen pictures to send my husband who is currently stationed in Iraq. We also took dozens of pictures of the setting sun, trying futilely to capture the majesty of the scene in digital form. From more than 2050 feet up, the views of Eugene are quite spectacular, landmarks like Autzen Stadium (Go Ducks!) are highly visible.

Just before the last drop of the sun disappeared out of sight, we headed back down the mountain, so as not to be caught flashlight-less on a dark trail. Back into the Trailblazer we went, and back into the middle of the work week we drove.

Photo by Andrea Hartman

If you go: Remember the sun sets before 5 p.m. now, so be sure to head out early, and be smarter than us, pack a flashlight! Also, don’t leave any valuables in your car. To get to the Spencer Butte Trailhead, drive south on Willamette Street from downtown Eugene. Stay on the road through town, until you get to the outskirts, keep driving, and you will see the trailhead on your left.

Interested in fall foliage? Check out Andrea's previous blog, on scenic drives throughout the Willamette Valley.