I Dream of Powder, the Legal Kind

I live in Bend, Oregon which is located in the central part of the state. I have been in Bend around four years and will always remember my interview with kindness that my former boss said these words “The skiing is just as good as Utah”, you see I was living in Park City, Utah at the time and moved yes for the job but also that the skiing was good.

My first run that winter was a storm filled one which I guess is typical of Northwest skiing. The local ski area nearest to Bend is called Mt. Bachelor that funny enough is owned by Park City ski resort and so with that in mind I thought skiing must be good. At the top of the mountain I noticed the lack of trees compared to like Park City, The Canyons or Deer Valley but I thought I must be open minded. Well that open mind started closing by the time I reached the bottom of the mountain. I asked the people I was skiing with where the steep was, their reply was not what I wanted to hear, “that was the steepest run”, Noooooooooo, it cannot be.

Before coming to Oregon I lived in Park City, Utah for several years and did  not realize I spoiled I was with three world class ski resorts just on the front side of the Wasatch Mountains. The Salt Lake side of the Wasatch as another three world class ski resorts. You may ask snow is snow right! I hear you but alas the snow in the Wasatch is fluffy light snow that when the snow does fall it falls sometimes for hours or days so that you get feet’s on new fluffy white powder that when you plough your skis through the powder you just float on the top of the snow, it feels like Nirvana when everything in your body is connecting to your boots, bindings and skis and that you are not separate from this moment.

So how do I try and love Mt. Bachelor, hum, well  maybe they can lower the prices as the same price in Park City but my guess they won’t. I have come to terms that my winters in Oregon are different and I am okay with that. Before the slopes open here and the snow is coming down thick and fast I pack my Yo, yo pack, grab my Tuo skis and boots and skin up the mountain and I find satisfaction just heading up the mountain under my own steam and see the steam rising from my body as my skis part the snow in front of me.

So do I love Oregon skiing, not quite butI have found my peace.

By Sharon Page@ All Right Reserved.