Outside Features

Testing the power threshold on Bend's spin scene. Isn't it ironic that the year you decided to fork out for a season pass there is no snow? I thought it would make for somewhat similar irony for the Outdoors column to be about the Indoors this week. Due to my shoulder injury, I've been frequenting some of Bend's best indoor cycling venues the past few months. We are blessed in Bend with a treasure trove of great spin instructors and cycling coaches, and I'd like to introduce you to a couple.

Who needs a lift ticket anyway?Mount Bachelor may be under new management, but Mother Nature is in
charge. To the dismay of Thanksgiving vacationers and local ski buffs,
not to mention Powdr Corp execs, Mt. Bachelor lacked enough snow to
open during the Thanksgiving weekend and I'm willing to bet that
continues to be the case when this issue hits print. I've lived in Bend
nearly nine years, and this is the latest start to ski season I
remember.

The object of my affection.Months ago, I said I'd write about Stuff again. So, just in time for your holiday shopping, here is my Top Ten list of outdoor gear. It's not a list of the ten essentials recommended for survival nor the hottest, coolest, most unaffordable equipment. It's just a random collection of some of my ol' faves and a few things on my wishlist, David Letterman style:

Ahhhh, a two-hour trail run along the Metolius, a campfire, a mug of hot chocolate, a good book and a great dog.I first came across Pam Houston's colorful stories of adventure and
travel in magazines and more recently I read the book that won her
fame, Cowboys Are My Weakness. Last week, she visited Bend as one of
the guest authors for the Nature of Words and I wrangled my way into
her writing workshop. Pam, a single 46-year-old woman, has a house in
Colorado, teaches at a university, loves dogs and takes inspiration
from the outdoors for her writing. That sentence describes Pam Houston,
but applies equally to me, so you can understand why I sensed a kindred
spirit when I met her.

Hopefully, some of her words of wisdom
rubbed off on me to your benefit as a reader of this column.
Unfortunately, "Adventure Racers are My Weakness" just doesn't seem to
have quite the right literary ring to it to match her standards. I'll
keep working on it.

FIRST TRACKS
First tracks across Dutchman FlatWhat more could you ask for on November 4th - an Obama
victory and a foot of fresh powder on Bachelor! Yippeee! The day after
the elections, my friend Lisa and I scored some of the very first
tracks of the season on Woody's and Easy Back. We skied across Dutchman
Flat into the nordic area through perfect snow and found the groomer
had just made a pass to pack down the base. I'd say it was an
auspicious start to a new season and a new era.

THREE FALL HIKES
Fall colors at Mt. JeffersonFall is hiking season in Central Oregon. Now that
November is here, the window of opportunity for many of our best hikes
is closing quickly, but if you can squeeze in one more hike before the
snow flies, here are some of my favorites.
Get there any which way you can: Jeff Park
There
are four ways to gain admission to the "Park," a gorgeous lake-studded
meadow at the base of Mt. Jefferson. Every autumn, I try to find an
Indian Summer weekend to backpack up there when the huckleberry bushes
paint the fields burgundy. My usual way in is an easy six miles up the
Whitewater Trail, off Highway 22. One time, we took a shuttle and came
back out the Pacific Coast Trail and Woodpecker Ridge Trail, which is
about the same length, but can involve a challenging crossing of the
creek running down from Russell Glacier. You can also enter the park by
taking the South Breitenbush Trail or the PCT from the North. Once
you're there, it's an idyllic place to hang out or, if you're really
gung-ho, you can attempt to climb 10,497-foot Mt. Jefferson. Whichever
way you get there, you won't want to leave.