welshkate

Part of the reason I love living in the Pacific Northwest is the variety of outside activities in which I can engage. Oregon’s geology, climate and precipitation make it a prime location for outdoor recreation. This year, instead of partaking in the usual New Years fun filled, PBR fueled, merriment I hit the hay early (but after midnight)  in anticipation of hitting the snow early on New Years Day. That was abnormal behavior for me- strange things like this have been happening to me all the time since I hit the big 3-0. Lucky for me I awoke (early and hangover free) to find a bright, sunny day and off I toddled to the snow. I went cross country skiing for the first time. Being a downhill snowboarder, I’d been under the false impression that cross country may not offer that full shot of adrenalin that boarding does. How wrong I was-especially when you dont know how to stop. Skiing cross country was an absolutely remarkable experience with the undulating trails empty of people and devoid of the noise of the chairlifts.  Best of all, it was free (and we all know kayakers are cheap, so I was super happy).

HAPPY NEW YEAR from a snowy sno park, somewhere near Sisters.