Snowboarding at Steven's Pass

1-18-2011

Today I headed up to Steven's Pass with Dewey to do some snowboarding. We left around 8:30 and when we arrived 45 min. later, it was snowing on the mountain with temps in the 20s. - a great day to be enjoying the mountain! And testing out all my new gear!

I got to say hi to a few familiar faces from when I interviewed, and then got to check out where Dewey spends his days at work and meet some of his co-workers. I got set up with a Burton Snowboard. Not sure what the specs were - but it was purple - so it matched my outfit. (My insistence that my outfit "match" or "coordinate" has been a constant source of teasing between Dewey and I, so when he grabbed the purple board for me, I just had to smile. Later, when we were on the lift and I commented on the board matching my coat, he just looked at me and said "yeah, I know, that's why I grabbed that one for you.")

Once we had our gear, I insisted on going on the "easiest" run so I could refresh my memory on how to snowboard. We ended up going down the "Daisy" run about three times before Dewey got too bored and went off to harder runs. That was okay, as I just kept ridding the same green runs - practicing.
All together, I did pretty good. I only fell twice. (Which was a good thing, because warmer temps and rain the prior few days made the snow really HARD!)
Once Dewey met me again, he made me go down a few Blue runs with him before lunch. Again, didn't do too bad, and didn't really fall.

After lunch, we decided to try skiing, since neither of us had done that in 5-7 years! This was a BAD idea! First, I was getting tired from snowboarding, second, it's an entirely new set of "rules." Anyway, I made it down the green run, freaked out on the blue run, and then went back to the green. That's when I managed to get off the lift wrong, fall down and twist my knee. (I might have even heard a pop....) After that, a few tears, and a painful trip skiing down the bunny hill, we returned the skis and went home. 

I spent that evening and much of the following day on the couch with an ice pack to my knee. I should have just stopped when I was snowboarding and doing good instead of trying something new. Oh well. Hopefully my knee will get better in the next week so I can get back up the mountain. After all, the snowboarding was a lot of fun!

Until next time, thanks for reading - Sharon

I actually look like I know what I'm doing!

Check out my purple goggles! Too fun right!

Dewey, goofing around during a coffee break!

Snowshoeing with Dewey

1-17-11

Today both Dewey and I had off work. Since the sun was out and it finally stopped raining, we wanted to enjoy the day outdoors. So, we headed up Icicle Road to do some snowshoeing. Check out the photos I took from our walk.

Taking a break at the top of a ridge.

Self-portraits!

 

We've had a lot of rain in the past few day. This, along with the warm temperatures causing snow to melt, there has been a lot of flooding in western Washington and the water levels in the rivers are up.

This is Icicle River.

Feels Like Home

The view outside reminded me of home-sweet-home, Minnesota!

Anyone want to shovel my walk?

NYE Challenge: Week 2: Cross Country Skiing

1-10-11

Today I went Cross-country skiing for the first time. I dressed in my new Under Armor thermals, some fleece pants, a pullover and hat, and headed out. (It was about 24 degrees and overcast here, so a pretty nice day temperature wise to be out and enjoying the snow.)

My first stop was the ski rental shop, Osprey, just up Icicle Road from my house. I explained that I've never skied before and they not only hooked me up with equipment, but gave me a few pointers on what to do and the best places for a beginner to start. If you are ever in the area in the winter, and want to try snowshoeing, cross country skiing, skate skiing, down-hill tubing, snowboarding, etc or if you are in the area in the summer and in the mood for some white-water rafting, I would recommend checking these guys out. Their website is http://www.ospreyrafting.com/ 

With the equipment loaded in my car, I headed to the Fish Hatchery/Sleeping Lady Resort. This is the best of four different Cross Country ski trails in the area for beginners as most of the track is flat, smooth, and groomed daily. There are a few hills and trails for the more advanced, so perhaps I'll try those next month! There are several other cross-country trails around the area, and, if you are thinking of visiting, you can check them out at http://www.skileavenworth.com/ The link takes you to the Leavenworth ski club with updates on trail grooming, prices, conditions, etc.

After paying the fee to use the trails, I set out. It was a bit awkward at first because your skis are positioned into a narrow divot in the snow to keep you on track, but once I got into a rhythm, it really worked great. There were other people on the trails, so I never felt like I was in the middle of the woods by myself, but not so many that there was "traffic" or anyone in the way, so that was nice. I completed the first 4 KM in about a half and hour and my legs were still feeling fine, so I crossed over the river to enjoy the back 4 KM of trail. By the end, I had gone approx. 8 KM and it took me about an hour and a half. I figured that wasn't too bad for my first time out. This was a handy tid-bit of information to know because both Osprey and the Leavenworth Ski Club offer half-day rates after 1 p.m. This means, next time, I can save money and still get the whole cross-country ski course finished.

Since I was by myself, I didn't have anyone who could take a picture of me in my cute little outfit on my skis, so you'll have to make due with the few photos posted below.

You can see the tracks the Cross-country skiers use.

My feet! LOL!

Thanks for reading - Sharon 

NYE Challenge: Week 1: Snowshoeing

1-10-11

For the first week of my New Year's Eve Challenge I went Snowshoeing. It's something that I've never done before, yet there are trails all over the area special-made for snowshoes. (Of course you can always blaze your own down/up a mountain, but I would need a better sense of direction to do that.)
Instead, I decided to check out a snowshoeing tour at the Leavenworth Fish Hatchery (located about a mile down the road from me). I was thinking this was going to be the cheesiest thing I've done since Maui's "Pineapple Express," but, thankfully, I was wrong.

The tour consisted of about 8 people, plus a hatery employee that was our guide, and lasted 2 hours. I had borrowed Dewey's snowshoes and he helped me fit them to my boots the night before. However, the hatchery provided snowshoes if you needed them, along with poles.
Not only was it a good experience in way of showing me some cross-country trails to check out next week, but I got to meet another lady from the area and learn of a few more snowshoe trails, and of course, I got to see and learn more about the fish hatery - which raises and releases Chinook (King) Salmon. After the tour I visited the Hatchery's Information Center and got to see the baby salmon and trout they will be releasing this spring.

Me, in Dewey's fancy snowshoes:

Sights along the trail, which went up Icicle Creek and intersected with The Sleeping Lady Resort's Cross Country Ski trails. (Can you see the "Sleeping Lady" in the mountain in the first photo?)

More views of snowshoeing

Checking out the baby fish and the holding tanks at the Fish Hatchery.

Until Next time - Sharon

The Oil and Vinegar Cellar

Hello!

In my "journey" and current job search, I have been able to meet a lot of new and interesting people. One of those people is Taelor Feinberg. I met Taelor around Thanksgiving when I answered her ad on Craigslist for part time help in her store. Taelor (who is younger than I am) was able to bring her love of food and cooking to life in a store here in Leavenworth, and I've been having fun over the past month and a half learning more about the products and the business. Generally I can be found at the store two days a week selling, bottling, and of course, taste-testing! Below are some photos I took at the store, as well as additional information on what the store is all about.

The Oil and Vinegar Cellar opened approx. two months ago and features flavor infused oils and balsamic vinegars. The Olive Oils have been infused with a variety of spices from Rosemary to Garlic, Lemon Pepper and Basil (to name a few), and the Vinegars have been infused with a variety of fruit flavors, such as Tangerine, Cinnamon Peach, Fig and Vanilla. Each bottle is priced at 18.00 and we do ship, so if you are interested in learning more about the products and other flavors available, or ordering a bottle to try, check out the website. http://www.oilandvinegarcellar.com/

Thanks for reading!
~Sharon

New Year's Challenge

Hiya all -

Well, it's the new year. Time for New Year's Resolutions, new beginnings and a new blog format! Personally, 2010 was okay- guess it was hard to follow 2009. Since it's not as much fun to read about mundane life, I kind of fell off the "blogging" band-wagon. Oh sure, there were a few posts from the winter in Minnesota, this last summer in Alaska, and my new adventure in Washington, but let's face it. If I'm going to be so crappy at communicating with all of you via email, text, facebook, or snail-mail, the least I could do was post to my blog what I'm up to. 

Guess I need to start by saying that Washington has proved to be less than what I had imagined. The job market is CRAP, I'm still unhappily unemployed, the unemployment system has been a huge pain/let down for me, and I've self-diagnosed myself with a mild case of depression.  Now, before I call the band for my pity party, I have to say that I am hopeful that all of this will change in 2011. I'm working on a new attitude/outlook that I will be the Queen of Part-Time Employment (I even have a few interviews set up for next week), I'm working with the state of MN and AK to fix prior errors, and I have an appointment to see a doctor. I also have the world's greatest cousin/friend/confidant/& councilor who came up with the exciting proposal I'm about to tell you about.

As it's New Year's day, it marks the beginning of a 16 week countdown to May 1st. (May is significant because the rental agreement on the house is up May 31st, and, as plans stand, Dewey will be returning to Alaska and Yes Bay Lodge, while I return to Minnesota.)
The challenge: do/perform/take part in 16 different events/activities (one a week) that are special or significant to this area, and then blog about it.

So, stay tuned for the first event - coming to you, sometime this week!
~Sharon

P.S. Feel free to offer suggestions on activities or things that you would like to see (or read) about me doing!