Mount Hood

January 8, 2025 to January 11, 2025

What a relief it is to leave the car behind Wednesday as we catch a shuttle to the Denver airport for our flight to Portland. We're happy to be passengers for any winter driving to be done from the airport up to Mt. Hood and back.

Our approach to PDX takes us right past the peak.

A striking preview of our destination from above

While I've seen photos on CycleBlaze of Portland's spectacular new airport, it's absolutely dazzling in person. Thousands of trees and plants bask under skylights that shine through a wooden slat ceiling. The designers have done a wonderful job of evoking the beauty of the Pacific Northwest.

Happy plants cascade from the wooden ceiling made from locally sourced trees.

Trying not to bump into anybody as I gawk at the art works

This trip is a do-over of one we booked five years ago in February to celebrate the 70th birthday of our friend Terry Waitrovich. Mary Fran, his wife, planned a lovely dinner for family and friends at the Timberline Lodge. We looked forward to hitting the slopes there with our old skiing buddies.

I seem to recall that Portland was one of the early entry points into the U.S. for the coronavirus in 2000. At that point my daughter in St. Louis was a few weeks from the due date to deliver her first child. After studying the news about incubation periods and fatalities in China, the trip was off the table for us. We're glad to be past all that and eager to see our friends again.

This time, flying to Portland from Denver instead of St. Louis was meant to save us time, money and trouble. The blizzard on the roads to Denver wiped out all those intentions, but we're here now, happily riding in an Uber past the lovely evergreen forest along U.S. 26 toward Mt. Hood. We arrive in time to watch the sun set on the mountain.

Sunset on Mt. Hood from the Rams Head bar at the Timberline Lodge

The Timberline Lodge was a project of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in the 1930s. Men and women were recruited from the Depression-era bread lines to be trained by skilled artists and craftsmen in the construction trades and the arts. President Roosevelt came here in 1937 to dedicate the lodge as a monument to the skill and faithful performance of these workers.

As we walk through the hotel, evidence of their artistry is everywhere in the metal railings, fireplace andirons, massive wood carvings, stonework, drapes and paintings.

Weighing in at 800,000 pounds, the great stone chimney

Its a pleasure to take the stairs and admire the elaborate railings

Drapes in our room, made by skilled local seamstresses using the same kinds of fabrics as the originals.

"Symbolizing Lodge Builders: Wood Work," one of a series of paintings by Howard S. Sewall to honor the workers

No real bike news for today so I'm donning my "Chainspirations" earrings, made by Paula MacMann, my friend and favorite jewelry maker back home. Does this count?

Thursday morning Mary Fran settles in at the lodge to enjoy the day while we head out to the slopes with Terry. After renting skis we pony up for the senior lift ticket rate of $79, a deal compared to the $200+ daily rates in Summit County CO.

For no discernible reason I fall immediately on the first run. Other than my pride, there's no injury and before long I'm in the groove again. With no lift lines to slow us down we're doing hot laps.

It's been some years since we skied with Terry at Lake Tahoe, back when they lived in Sacramento. He's just as graceful as ever. My legs feel good; I guess all the bike miles last year were decent training, but my skills aren't sharp. After a break for lunch I fall again for no apparent reason, in practically the same place as before. Fortunately I'm able to stay upright for the rest of the afternoon.

Another sunset, this time from the hot tub

Dinner in the hotel dining room is excellent. The braised lamb shank cries out for a good red wine so I'm taking a short break from Dry January. Just one glass; I'll get back on the plan tomorrow.

In the Cascades dining room with Mary Fran and Terry. They were our hosts for the final stop on our Northwest Trails cycle tour in 2023, and met up with us on both of our European bike tours. We'll have to plot another meetup soon.

On Friday a howling 30 mph wind blows heavy snow outside our window. We're all in agreement on staying inside and passing the time playing Hearts and Bananagrams. Judging from the looks of all the skiers coming in to warm up, the snow must be really wet. Feeling good about staying in today.

In the afternoon Terry and Mary Fran's son Luke comes up with his wife and daughter for night skiing. Not at all tempted to do that; we'll go out with them tomorrow.

One biking tidbit for today... the front desk has a map of the ski runs and lifts here. On the back I find a map of Timberline's Mountain Bike Park, which opens sometime in late spring.

The Jeff Flood chair lift is open in summer for mountain bikers. Not sure I could manage it with my bike.

On Saturday we ski for half the day, then head back to Portland for one more fun night with our friends. Terry breaks out the Y2K champagne flutes from our 1999 New Years Eve celebration in Lake Tahoe. I'll have to make another dry January exception. As I read in the New York Times, I'm sober-ish.

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Karen PoretLake Tahoe? North or South shore?
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1 month ago

Janice BranhamTo Karen PoretWe were on the north end at Northstar and Boreal, where their son was on the ski team.
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1 month ago

Karen PoretTo Janice BranhamIf you ever go there again, stop in at River Ranch ( Palisades Tahoe, formerly Squaw Valley) and say hi to my younger daughter. ( She used to work at Northstar) and is the manager at RR. Old place but good food!
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1 month ago

Rachael AndersonWhat a great reunion!
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1 month ago