Is October the beginning of winter?

I was invited by RAMP, a new ski/snowboard company, to come to Hood and test their 2011/12 product  line.  We drove the truck full of all the gear to Timberline ski area and up  to the bottom of the lift.  From there we rode the lift to the little patch of snow left over from last season.  There was a just enough snow to give me good taste of what the skis are capable of.  All the skies are fun to ski super solid!  Of course I have my favorites.

The big mountain Peacepipe was my favorite for sure, but their all mountain women's ski, the Beaver came in a very close second. I would ride both of these skis in every condition and they would rally.   Jamie tested the snowboards. Probably 20 boards in just two days. 

You couldn't ask for better weather!

Check out  www.rampsports.com  RAMP should have product ready to sell in the next five weeks.

THANKS MIKE FOR A GREAT TRIP!!

18 miles, 6000 ft, 10 hours, incedible views and sore feet.  To backpack and camp in the Enchanment Lake Core area you have to get a permit from the forest service.  This is not easy.  You can enter a lottery in the spring and hope you win it, then hope you get the dates you want, which can't be changed, rain or shine, sleet, ice or snow.  Or you can get to the forest service station at 7:30 in the morning to enter a daily lottery.  If you win that, you can leave right away for a three day trip into the wilds of the Alpine Lake Wildreness Area.  So after looking into those choices we decided to hike it in a day.

At 5600 ft. you reach Colchuck Lake.  Beautiful!  Then up Aasguard Pass......

At the 7800ft. pass the goats are so friendly

The view from Aasguard Pass is stunning!  Looking down at the 13 miles to go............uh

The bright blue lakes a stark white granite made a perfect spot to take of our shoes and pause for lunch

Hiking through here was glorious.  Mostly downhill meandering through high alpine meadows sprinkled with granite and larch trees and goats.  One day I will spend a few days here.

But, It's not all just meandering.........

Back into the forest with 9 miles and  thousands of downhill  feet still to go Jamie is dancing with her shadow

We made it just in time for the sunset.  Besides a blister or two it was a perfect day!