Friday at work I started feeling kind of bad. I figured it was just tummy rumbles but just in case I figured I better start sucking on my zinc lozenges and green/white tea. I left after work for Portland to meet up with some friends and hit up Timberline Saturday. Unfortunately I woke up Saturday with a cold. I felt pretty bad and being woken up by a very enthusiastic (and clearly a morning person) Scott after 4 hours or so of sleep was not helpful. But I managed and this is what I looked like about 5 minutes after.
Yep. Sick. But on we went with a brief stop at the Safeway to load up on more dayquil and zinc. I kind of flitted in and out on the hour drive to Timberline at Mt. Hood. It had been raining a couple days before we got there but it turned out to be beautiful springish weather. Warm enough to get away with a light jacket and flannel. Sun was out occasionally and the cloud layer was low. Great visibility.
When we got out of the truck to gear up an older couple offered to sell us tickets for $50 a pop. Not bad, Timberline is usally $67 a ticket. Off to a good start. I had new boots I had never worn. They were a little stiff but I had been wearing them around the house while cleaning Thursday and they actually felt pretty good.
After getting tickets and everything you can ski/board down to the first lifts. The snow was in pretty good shape, groomed and packed. I was feeling kind of numb at this point so all was well with the world. Scott and I were boarding and Jeremy, Sabrina, and Zach were skiing.
The views were nice on the quads.
I was starting to feel pretty bad again a few hours in. This is what I looked like before "self medicating" with non traditional means.
And this is after a break in the trees with meds up to and including some Session winter brews. :)
You can see the top of Mt. Hood here.
It was beautiful at the top but the snow was harsh. They did not groom the runs above the tree line and with the rains it made the snow very hard and rough. It was like sliding on sharp ice. I actually ate it a couple times because I was not able to cut very well with the snow being so hard. And when I went down it was hard to get up because your arms would just punch through the snow about a foot deep. We only made one run from the top, we learned our lesson.
I had a good time for the half day I made it before getting laid out with this nasty cold. I probably should have stayed in town and rested but it was worth it. Still had fun and glad I did it. Now it is off to much warmer climates and some much needed sun!
Enjoy a few more pics of the views.
In the bottom pic from left: Jeremy, Zach, and Sabrina. Not pictured, Scott. He was doing his own thing off to the right.
