Ram's Head

A winter storm system moved into the Mt Hood area overnight bringing a mix of snow and rain to Govy Camp, snow to Timberline, and a mix to Meadows. However, when I got up at 545am it was cloudy but no precipitation. After a little coffee, meditation and stretching, I set out on my run opting for the same trail I’d run the two mornings prior. Why change a good thing?

I ran a little stronger than the prior mornings, having to stop only once on the trudge uphill from Mt. Hood Brewing Co. Back at the condo near 715am, I took Mindy a cup of coffee then retreated to the downstairs where I hung out with David while waiting for Mindy and the kids to join us. By then it was spitting a mix of rain and snow, though still fairly light. Given the forecast for both ski parks, I suggested Timberline a much better option. They sit a bit higher on the mountain than Meadows. I exchanged a couple texts with Darwin sharing as much.

We left for Timberline near 910am. It was drizzling at the base of Timberline Rd but turned to all snow with 2 miles or so left in our drive up. Not surprisingly, the lot wasn’t crowded at all. Parked about as close as we ever have. Darwin and company were right on our tail. And because we bought our spring passes on Sunday, we hit the slopes as soon as we were snapped into our skis.

The plan all along was for Jacob to ski/lift with David and I leaving Mindy and Bella to have a peaceful girls day. The previous day at Meadows, Jacob had Mindy almost in tears with his incessant complaining. And according to Bella, some not so pretty words were exchanged. I told Mindy that she needed to stay committed to our plan, which she followed I think all but one lift ride all day Tuesday. It worked well too. Jacob didn’t complain to David and I much, and whenever he’d utter something negative, David would offer a positive way to look at the same situation.

My plan was the same as Sunday, ski to the bottom of Flood then head up and to the Mile (Palmer wasn’t opened). The down Flood was fine, though visibility a periodic challenge due to snow. Could see the Magic Mile lift running once atop Flood so we headed there. What? Had a closed sign blocking the entrance to the lift house. Learned a few minutes later that it was running on stand-by. From that point on we kept a watchful eye on the lift chairs from afar, looking for dangling feet heading up. Anytime the weather is suspect, meaning heavy snow and or clouds, they’ll shut the Mile down due to poor visibility. I’ve been up there before it complete white out conditions. Because it’s above the timberline, there is nothing to use as a natural boundary in poor visibility conditions. It can be a harrowing experience. Just ask Bob Imber. 

Even though the Mile was on stand-by, they did have Molly’s opened, which has some of their best lower mountain terrain. We skied the crap out of that. We made a couple more trips over to the Mile lift after seeing it opened however briefly. But by the time we got over there it was shut down again. The mountain peak was once again shrouded in clouds. It must’ve been around 1230pm when they shut it down for good, removing all the lift chairs. We were stuck with only the lower mountain.

By early afternoon the bottom of Flood and Molly’s was grabby and slushy, and while it was snowing at the lodge level – 6000’, it was spittin rain at the bottom of Flood & Molly’s. Turned right back to snow after passing a lift tower poles. We opted to head in for a break around 115pm, agreeing to meet at Ram’s Head Lounge, the pub restaurant atop the historic main lodge.

We nabbed a table one away from the coveted window table that provides a breath taking view of Jefferson on a clear day. As it was, all we could see was the immediate area and lots of snow. During our lunch break it snowed really hard. The menu at Ram’s Head features some of the entrees served at the renowned Cascade Dining Room.

Most of us ordered their clam chowder. I had a beer, too. And I’m pretty sure that it was a Porter. After our hour long break we headed out for a bit more skiing. Mindy, Bella & I got a little tired of the sloppy lower mountain conditions and called it a day around 3pm. By then David said his legs were just starting to feel good. I think he headed in with us just the same. While waiting on the others, including Jacob, who was busy on the terrain parks with Lane most of the day, we asked the office if anyone had turned in a snowboard. Nope!
While waiting for the others, it began to snow like only it can do in Oregon – total white out and enormous sized flakes the size of quarters. Holy smoke! In truth, it was beautiful to look at, but a little too wet to enjoy, especially with tired legs. Jacob and Lane came in around 340pm and we promptly made a beeline for the minivan and ultimately our condo back in Govy Camp. All of us were eager to get back and to the hot tub.

The forward looking forecast, by the way, was calling for nothing but snow and colder temps Tuesday night, Wednesday, and Thursday – and roughly another 20” of snow. Everybody was excited about the prospect of skiing Meadows again on Wednesday.

Spent about an hour in the hot tub and then Mindy & I took a much needed nap. We all planned to have dinner at Mt Hood Brewing Co. I think it was near 7pm when we rolled that way – all nine of us. Hadn’t been there since we did lunch there on our drive home from Bend three years ago, and they recently completed a remodel which I was anxious to see.

Cozy place and nicely appointed. The remodel looks great. Best of all, they maintained the charm of old while dramatically sprucing up it up with new stone, bar counters, tables, paint, etc. I had a cask-conditioned Ice Axe. It wasn’t really that good. My second was an Ice Ave but off the regular tower. That one was fine. We shared some appetizers – some plates we don’t ordinarily see back home – Alpine meats with onion jam and then a gruyere, fontina fondue. They were good but not very filling. Later, Mindy and I shared fish & chips.

Can’t recall our servers name but she was a cute young blonde with red Sally Jessy Raphael-like glasses. With Mindy’s brother, Craig. He also knows Deanna Sweeney well, too. Sent her a pic of Mindy and I. We haven’t seen Deanna for a while. Must’ve been about 9pm when we got out of there and headed for the condo. Our server came chasing us out the door. Apparently didn’t put David’s meal on our tab like we requested. Mindy graciously took care of that one too. Back at the condo Mindy was pretty quickly off to bed. Bella and I stayed up reading until 10pm.