Skiing tracks of the past.

Imagine if you will sitting upon Mt. Hood.  The air is crisp and the sun is caressing your skin with its warm tendrils.  In front of you awaits your first run of the day, and a chance to become a part of history. You smile and turn your tips downward….

Saturday, March 3rd marks the 10-year anniversary of the “Ski the Historic Glade Trail Day” on Mt. Hood.  The 1-day event is held by special permit from the Mt. Hood National Fores.  The Glade Trail is opened and groomed for this living history event by the fine staff at Timberline Lodge.  Now some of you are thinking, “Where is that run?  I’ve been all over Timberline and have never skied that run!“ Well, let us set the “Way Back” machine to the 1930’s.
When the construction of Timberline was completed (Yes! 75 years ago THIS YEAR), ski lifts were still a few years off.   Skiers would climb up above the tree line and ski either downhill or cross-country down the glades.  The US Forest Service had the Bosson trail for hiking already.  So they added two wide trails specifically for skiing; The Alpine and Glade trails.  In 1939, ski lifts were added to Timberline.  However, many did not want to pay to use them. So they would continue to climb up and over to the Glade trail with the $1 pair of Army surplus skis from G.I. Joe’s and ski for free.

Over time, more lifts were added and with the change in skiing equipment, the Glade trail proved to be more of a hassle for the ski patrol as many skiers, mostly novices, would ski for free, but pay the price in broken limbs. The USFS closed the trails in the 1960.  They were re-opened for 10 years when a wealthy skier bought a snow cat and ran skiers (injured or not) up and down the mountain.  After he quit running the snow cat, the USFS permanently closed the Glade run.

Ten years ago, old-time skiers were reminiscing about the days of the Glade Trail.  At the same time, the Mount Hood Cultural Center and Museum were looking for a fundraiser to help with operating costs.

And now you know the rest of the story.

The “Ski the Historic Glade Trail Day” event is limited to 75 skiers.  The shuttle bus will have you at the top of the run by 9 am and you can glide the Glade until 4 pm.  The Glade trail covers about 3 miles according to Cheryl Makie, and will take you all the way down to Government Camp.  Local Guides will accompany all skiers.  Be sure to introduce yourself to Lee Perry, a longtime Mt. Hood ski instructor and a pioneer in enabling amputees to ski.  Lee first skied the Glade Trail in 1943 and has done so every years since, except during his time in the service for the Korean War.

Continental breakfast and lunch are provided as well.  Afterwards, join others for a special party and raffle.  So what are you waiting for?  Get your ticket and leave your tracks in history!

Diner dash.

Not too long after my wife and I married, we started a quarterly habit of picking a direction and driving out to a different town and finding a local cafe we had never been to before.  It was a great balance of family time, beautiful scenery and good food.  However, I made the mistake once of telling my kids of a place known for it’s milkshakes.  They both ordered one with their breakfast.

To be fair, they were quite delicious.

There is something about Oregon and diners that go hand in hand.  Walking in to hear the clatter of dishes, the sizzle of eggs on a hot griddle, the talk of the old men in the corner during the daily meeting of the minds.  It is not only where one finds comfort food for the body, but the soul as well.  Here are a few to check out next time your wanderlust brings you to Oregon’s Mt Hood Territory.

The Huckleberry Inn in Government Camp.

The Huckleberry Inn in Government Camp is a local institution.  Open 24 x 7, you can indulge in all things Huckleberries year-round.  (Somewhere in the back of my mind, I hear Forrest Gump saying “Huckleberries?  I love huckleberries.  There’s huckleberry pie, huckleberry pancakes…”)

Gingerbread pancakes from the Blackberry Cafe.

Just below the mountain in Welches, the Blackberry Cafe along Highway 26 Larry and Michelle Rose offer  the “HWY 26 Papa Bear” omelet.  A 26-ounce challenge stuffed with cheese, ham, sausage, bacon, tomato, and mushrooms, is perfect for those with a massive appetite, and a HDL under 80.’

Click here for a brief video on the Blackberry Cafe.

Sandy’s Tollgate Inn is a gem on the way to Mt Hood.  Housed in a restored inn, the family style dining features excellent meals all day long.  Be sure to pick up a few of the mouth-watering cookies on your way out.  The staff in the office still raves about them!

Come for the breakfast. Leave with the cookies!

Halfway between Estacada and Molalla is a personal favorite, the Colton Cafe.  Here, your kids can order milkshakes with their meal.  Be sure to check out the local artwork on the walls.  Did I mention the milkshakes?

If you like your eggs with a side of history, Milwaukie’s Bomber Restaurant is for you.  Veterans from all service branches are welcome here the first Friday of the month to trade stories amongst themselves.  After breakfast, see the “Wings of Freedom Showcase” museum across the parking lot.  It features wonderful artifacts from the front lines and the home front.

Click here for a brief video of The Bomber Restaurant.

There are so many wonderful places I have yet to see and try.  But the kids and I are almost ready for another Sunday morning breakfast.  This time I swear, no milkshakes.  Well, maybe.

Hot for Chocolate and the Oregon Chocolate Trail.

As I sit in my new cubicle here, I am able to see the winter majesty of Mt. Hood and think of  sacrifices early pioneer settlers made as they trekked the Oregon Trail.  It makes me think of the sacrifices I will make for you now as I follow the Chocolate Trail through Oregon’s Mt. Hood Territory.

My journey begins at Just Delicious Diabetic Bakery in Clackamas to pick up sugar-free treats for my brother and a Wannabee cupcake.  (For energy.  Honest!)  Just Delicious is popular not only for those are diabetic, but for the calorie conscious athlete.

From there, we swing past Bob’s Red Mill and into downtown Milwaukie to Enchanté.  The confections offered by Kim Keehner’s shop were honored this past summer in USA Today’s top 10 places to savor the sweet life!

After a brief respite (and blood sugar count), I continue onward to the richness of Lake Oswego.  The city is host to storefronts for Internationally acclaimed Moonstruck Chocolates and Bernard Callebaut, which is my wife’s personal favorite for their Belgian truffles.  Close by is another award winner, Crave Bakery,  specializing in gluten-free cupcakes.

To this day, I still have not figured out why the city of Canby has not changed its name to Candy.  How many places do you know that have 2 chocolatiers, 1 block apart?  While close in proximity, each one is very distinctive in their approach to satisfying our chocolate-loving hearts.

Puddin’ River Chocolates & Wine Bar‘s moldings makes the chocolate almost too beautiful to eat.   I said “almost”   Ladybug Chocolates is a favorite with kids for birthday parties.  For the man in your life, check out the “Pork N’ Pig – A playful chocolate pig filled with copious amounts of smoked bacon chunks.”

Our trail, ends just inside Aurora at the Pacific Hazelnut Candy Factory.  The Double-dipped chocolate Hazelnuts are high in protein and low in fat. Making this a treat to sneak as your make your New Year’s Resolution.

With so many choices to indulge and enjoy, what are you waiting for?  Come plan your trip to find out why we’re Hot for Chocolate and the Oregon Chocolate Trail.  Oh, and take a napkin.  Just in case.

Wild-Foraged Pleaser from “Running with Tweezers”

Mt. Hood at Trillium Lake

A particularly juicy blog (Running with Tweezers) caught my eye earlier in October. The recent touring appetizer Full On Oregon had served up a statewide pre-harvest tasting trek to a number of hot culinary writers and was the source of inspiration for this succulent literary Mt. Hood-related morsel.  I found myself grazing…er, gazing at the luscious photos again today. Following are a few comments contributed by readers of the luscious photo essay “Full On Oregon – The Great Outdoors.” 

“Ok, Ok. Mt. Hood has been added to my bucket list. It’s a long way from Melbourne, but I will get there. How stunning.”
“Drop dead photos. Seriously.”
“You have convinced me how much I must get to Oregon. Mt. Hood is beautiful. As much time as I can spend in the mountains, the better!” 
“Such excellent photos. No, spectacular photos….”

Smoked Trout Salad

The oohing and aahhhing goes on for some time, as well it might with the expert-led foraging experience mapped out, the crystal clear images of Mt. Hood as reflected in shimmering Trillium Lake, and the take away Smoked Trout Salad Recipe inspired by Chef Jason Stoller Smith.

I sent Atlanta-based author Tami Hardeman a note asking if we could share her mouth-watering content on our very own blog. She graciously gave us the nod.

For food writing good enough to eat, dash over to Running With Tweezers. The images are worth a thousand words and tempting enough to make you book your own wild-foraged Northwest getaway.

Under the Stars with the Pagans

Old Church & Pub in Wilsonville

On a recent sultry, Indian-Summer evening, I plunked down a few bucks for a pint of Ruby Red and a couple of hours on a freshly-turfed amphitheatre, where I was about to enjoy the highly eclectic Pagan Jug Band. I’ve now been to the McMenamin’s (new) Old Church & Pub a few times since its mid August opening. I’m not sure what the Brothers M. were thinking when they chose Wilsonville as the site for this newest endeavor, but I can tell you the crowd that gathers for the free concerts, 2nd-run films and revamped menus (hey man, have you tried the Jamaican Bowl?) think that the Old Church & Pub is deserving of high praise.

The Old Church is homey-warm with its stained glass windows and burnished wood, the church “basement” houses a long bar topped by classic taps, and the lower room is fronted by folding glass doors that open onto the outdoor seating area. The adjacent pub is tricked out with classic McMenamin decorative whimsies, and includes a second floor dining area with atrium – great for people watching! Speaking of people watching, I have to love the Pagan Jug Band for its washboard player alone. Now there is an instrument that you don’t often find featured, but it totally works for the PJB.

Fall in Mt. Hood Territory

Wilsonville is known as the seat for Oregon’s Horse Country, where the Willamette Valley countryside is just starting to see leaves touched with oranges and golds. Take a road trip to Feast On the Folk, Jazz and Oktoberfest events in the upcoming Old Church & Pub calendar, and take a gander at the changing leaves from the outdoor concert venue. Send us your pictures when you go!

The Best Grape Stuff

K & M Grapes

Ooooooh. What do we love almost more than anything? Finding Great New Stuff. What do we love even more than that? Telling our besties all the Great New Stuff we’ve recently discovered, because they’ll need to try it for themselves, sooner or later.

Hence my recent weekend personal triple header for Best New (Grape) Stuff. I headed over to the new-to-me wineries near Parret Mountain, just outside Portland, Oregon. I was willing to brave Labor Day traffic in the search of a sassy Sauvignon. In addition to curvaceous country roads and virtually no traffic, here’s what I found.

Yes, the Cab Franc at Terra Vina excels in depth and a big purple-y body, and yes, the view from the patio that overlooks the swimming pool and  valleys made me want to dive right over the edge.  

And yes, further up the hill at spanking-new Beckham Vineyards, it was super fun chatting up the family who works the land, built the tasting room and makes fine art. This pair burns the proverbial candle at both ends and lights up the sky with how happy they are to be grounded in all their inspired projects.

Looking Sheepish at K&M

But a true ”This is my kinda place” moment arrived when I strolled through the tasting room doors of K&M Winery at Alchemy Vineyards to meet the genuine gentlemen farmer winery owners and saw the sweet sheep down the hill. I toured a barn decked out with the cleverest furbelows and carvings, straight from a wooded Bavarian setting. I sampled a chardonnay that made my palate take notice and a spicy pinot that pleaded to be taken home (ok, a case of that pinot pleaded to be taken home). And the Best Great New Stuff? When I bought that case of wine, I magically became “An Alchemist,” which means that now I’m a member of my first ever wine club, and am destined to be rewarded with a 15% discount on all purchases for a year, an invitation to K&M’s invitation-only Summer Alchemist Dinner, and two lovely wine logo glasses.

Uber Cute Barn @ K

These three wineries were my personal  foray along Mt. Hood Territory’s Tasting Trail, now that we’re into Feast On! season.  K&M Winery is open all the great wine-tasting weekends…Memorial Day, Labor Day and Thanksgiving, as well as by appointment if you’re chomping at the bit to take a wine tour through Oregon Horse Country, sooner, rather than later.

Take a Labor Day Break at Weekend Winery Open Houses

It’s hardly hard work to love the new trend we’re seeing in Labor Day Weekend Wine Tasting open houses. I can’t guarantee how many of these you can personally attend, but it’s a sure bet that you’ll have a great time trying to try them all! 

Wine Tasting in the East Willamette Valley

Come taste the wines of the Chehalem Mountains Winegrowers and East Willamette Valley Wineries this long holiday weekend. Wineries and tasting rooms have the welcome mat out, and at then vineyards you’re likely to find something a bit special this weekend .

Labor Day Weekend Wine Tasting at AlexEli Vineyard & Winery
35803 S. Hwy 213, Molalla
503-829-6677
Saturday & Sunday, September 3rd & 4th, noon – 5:00pm
September begins with the Labor Day weekend of Jazz on the patio and the New Release Celebration. Bring a picnic and have a glass of wine and relax. Stop in to taste the 2010 Rose’, 2010 Müller-Thurgau and 2010 Dessert Riesling. On Saturday enjoy music from Ben Graves & Blake Lyman and Swing Papillon on Sunday. Special case pricing on our whites!

Labor Day Weekend Wine Tasting at Christopher Bridge
12770 S. Casto Rd, Oregon City
503-263-6267
Christopher Bridge will be open regular hours of 3-6 on Friday, and 12-5 on Saturday and Sunday. Christopher Bridge will also bepouring at the Flower Farmer in Canby on Sunday and Monday from 12-6.

Labor Day Weekend Wine Tasting at Forest Edge Vineyard on the Molalla Farm Loop
15640 S. Spangler Rd., Oregon City
503-329-5607
Forest Edge Vineyard will be open Sat, Sun, Mon 12-5PM Labor Day weekend and is releasing their red wines that weekend. Current selections also available.

Labor Day Weekend Wine Tasting at Hanson Vineyards
34948 S Barlow Road
Woodburn, OR 97071
(503) 634-2348
Hanson Vineyards will be open all Labor Day weekend (Saturday, Sunday and Monday) Noon to 5pm
They will be pouring their award winning wines, including: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling and Pinot Gris
$3 tasting fee (gratis with purchase of wine)
Hanson Vineyards encourages folks to bring their holiday weekend picnics and dine al fresco at the winery!

Labor Day Weekend Wine Tasting at Kings Raven Winery
11603 S. New Era Rd., Oregon City
Kings Raven will be open Friday 1-7 PM and Saturday and Sunday 1-6 PM. They offer a 10% off when 2 or more bottles are purchased. They are also hosting a Scentsy Open House to reveal the new Fall/Winter Catalog. Special pricing on cash and carry items.

Labor Day Weekend Wine Tasting at K&M
K&M
30875 Southwest Heater Road
Sherwood, OR 97140
503-625-3236
K & M Wines, Alchemy Vineyard will be open Saturday, Sunday & Monday 9/3 – 9/5 with hours from noon until 6 pm.
We will be tasting 4 wines, and will have artisanal cheeses as well as a surprise to complement the wines. We will offer vineyard tours as time allows. Tasting fee is $5, refundable with purchase.

Labor Day Weekend Wine Tasting at Oswego Hills
450 S. Rosemont Rd
West Linn, OR 97068
503-655-2599
Open Sunday and Monday, 9/4-9/5 (closed Friday and Saturday). Buy your “Sunday Supper,” prepared by chef on premises.
Noon-5 p.m.

Labor Day Weekend Wine Tasting at Quailhurst Winery
16031 SW Pleasant Hill Rd., Sherwood
Labor day open house for Quailhurst winery 11-4 Sat and Sunday….(closed Monday). 8 wines, cheeses, foods, music, open gardens and equestrian area, bocci ball, horseshoes, waterfalls and roses. $20 per person includes admittance and keeper glass.

in the St. Josef vineyard

Labor Day Weekend Wine Tasting at St. Josef’s Winery
28836 South Barlow Road
Canby, OR 97013-9549
(503) 651-3190
Open 9/3 – 9/5
Location: St. Josef’s Winery

Labor Day Weekend Wine Tasting at Terra Vina Wines
33750 SW Ladd Hill Road
Wilsonville
Terra Vina is participating in the Chehalem Mountains Winegrowers ”Explore Tour & Taste” and willl be open for tasting at the vineyard
Saturday – Monday 12-5 PM each day.
Three new fabulous wines in addition to the recently released big reds from Eastern Oregon! Estate grown ’09 Chardonnay & ’08 Reserve Pinot Noir & Eastern OR ’09 Cabernet Sauvignon! This could be the last chance to get their popular estate field blend Rosé. $10 Tasting fee /10 wines. Small plates available to purchase or bring a picnic and enjoy the view and take a vineyard tour.

As always, we suggest calling ahead to verify open and close times. Cheers!

60 Seconds @ 10,000 Feet

Skydiving Siren

We offered our guest blogger, Laci Hutto, the chance to tell us why she entered the Thrillist 30/30 Sweepstakes after we learned how she’s fallen head over feet in love with the idea of dropping from the heavens over our state. Wild and crazy as it may be, now we can’t wait to go, too.

60 seconds is a lot longer than it sounds when those seconds are spent falling 10,000 feet out of an airplane. For the first minute of your skydiving experience, frames of reference drop away. There’s no roller-coaster stomach-drop feeling, and you don’t really notice the ground rushing up at you. You do notice the wind, and the way you spin and soar based on how you hold your body against it. You notice that your laughter and shrieks (if you can force them from your mouth into the wind) are torn away so you never even hear them. It is, without a doubt, the most exhilarating experience I can imagine. The next minute, after the ripcord has been ripped and the parachute deployed, you come slowly back to your senses while the adrenaline from your freefall settles. It is in this post-Extreme Exhilaration daze that you begin to notice where you are.

Thumbs up with Skydive Oregon

I’ve been skydiving twice now, both times in New Jersey, not far from my Philadelphia home. For that first minute or so, it really doesn’t matter where you’ve chosen to dive. The important things (the plane, the door you fall out of, the sky, the tandem instructor securely attached and making sure your dive is successful) are pretty much the same no matter which coast you do your skydiving on. But after you’ve come to your adrenaline-depleted senses and settle into the canopy ride back to the ground, you notice the scenery. For me, that meant 5+ minutes of staring at New Jersey farmland, and getting a distant glimpse of my own city’s skyline. When I saw the Thrillist 30/30 Oregon Wine Country sweeps, I realized what my skydiving adventures had been missing. I could picture the lush Pacific Northwest greenery and snowcapped mountains in sight of Skydive Oregon’s dropzone. I could imagine a canopy ride in which the panorama were as breathtaking as the freefall.

60 seconds @ 10,000 Feet

So to those of you in the area, don’t let this Oregon summer pass without taking advantage of what Skydive Oregon has to offer. Go for that kaleidoscopic thrill, dizzying ascent, and giddy-making freefall—and delight in your canopy ride over this country’s most beautiful land.

Editor’s Note: Skydive Oregon apparently gives an extra 3,000 feet of altitude buzz for your buck, with jumps starting from 13k. 

Running with the River Otters

Chopper on the Trail

Chopper (aka, Greg Moreno) from Mt. Hood Adventure is our guest blogger, helping us kick off our “We’ve Got More Outdoors” summer campaign. We’re lucky we got him off the trail long enough to write this!

“Hi, my name is Chopper.

My mission in life is to get people excited about having fun outside, in this great playground we call Mt. Hood Territory. With summertime just around the corner, thoughts about kayaking naturally rise to the top.

on the lake with Mt. Hood Adventure

My (personal!) favorite flat water lake is Clear Lake, about 15 minutes from Government Camp. It’s big enough to keep you exploring for the day, has 3 resident Bald Eagles, and enough old tree stumps rising out of the water to make for a great obstacle course. Rainbow trout love this spot, there is plenty of water fowl, osprey, river otter, rough skinned newts, and wildflowers on nearby trails. Wow, what a place to get to explore!

The Mt. Hood National Forest offers outdoor recreation for the whole family. Hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, whitewater rafting, kayaking, and the list goes on and on. When I talk with visitors who are trying to figure out where to begin, the question always comes down to “Which activity do I try first?”

Chopper - Get Out!

Some hear the word kayak and picture themselves spilling over the sides and into the water, having to do some amazing roll to get back upright, and feel a little uncomfortable being so close to the water. You don’t have to feel that way. Mt. Hood’s flat water lakes and Mt. Hood Adventure’s recreational kayaks make the perfect combination to GET OUT there and start a new hobby. Imagine yourself paddling around first thing in the morning through the low lying fog, angling for that perfect catch, or after lunch while you watch the bald eagles, osprey, and waterfowl eat theirs, and as the sun sets casting amazing color on the surrounding hills and majestic Mt. Hood.

Our kayaks are wide and stable; offering you the perfect shuttle craft to explore every inch of Mt. Hood’s many lakes. Mt. Hood Adventure has kayak, canoe, and stand up paddleboard rentals and tours. We are here to help you GET OUT and start your new hobby safely, so come on in and see us. We’ll show the way to the perfect picnic and paddle places. See you at the dock!”

Small Town Vibe with Big Flavor Bite

Clackamas Whitewater

When you think of “Mt. Hood Territory,” it’s likely that a few of our most famous spots come to mind; Timberline Lodge with the longest ski season in North America, boutique wineries in the acclaimed Willamette Valley, the wild and scenic Clackamas River with the closest Class III/IV whitewater to Portland, Mt. Hood – one of the most climbed peaks in the world.

What may next occur to you is probably the desire to get closer to the Local Characters  that paint the bigger picture of the people who live, work and play in our area.

Community Profiles

Your comments on Facebook let us know - you’re interested in meeting the personalities that make Oregon, with its keen recreational culture and love of the landscape, what it is. To help you know us a bit better we’ve created an online, page-by-page, intro to those community profiles. Think of it as a virtual Grange Hall, that will …
* Lead you to the original hospitality house at the end of the Oregon Trail
* Zero in on the hub of the action at Blacksmith Week
* Spirit you through ghost tours and farm loops

And, of course, much more. Step into the small towns with their open doors and big local lives. By popular demand, here’s a look into our 13 communities, keeping it real.  

~Jae, Your Travel Advocate