Ski, Climb and Surf: an Oregon Winter Adventure

Caroline Gleich, Guest Author
March 23, 2015 (Updated April 6, 2015)
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So much about Oregon aligns perfectly with my core values. There’s a focus on sustainability, recreation, wilderness and outdoor adventure. Localism is embraced, and there’s a good balance between doing business and creating a place where people want to live, balancing industry and sustainability. I couldn’t wait to visit!

As we planned our trip over the course of a few weeks, I kept adding more and more on to the itinerary. There’s just so much fun to be had in Oregon, so many beautiful and inspiring adventures I wanted to experience. In one week, we visited five of the 7 Wonders of Oregon: Crater Lake, Mt. Hood, Smith Rock, the Columbia River Gorge and the Oregon Coast. We went on trail runs, ski toured, visited countless breathtaking waterfalls, rock climbed, saw rainbows, skied off the summits of two volcanoes, Stand Up Paddleboarded and surfed. Here’s a look at a few of my favorite adventures from our trip.

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Enjoying local Oregon cheese, crackers and hazelnuts from the top of Table Rock outside of Medford, the perfect place for a picnic.

Road to Mt. Bachelor

The road to Mt. Bachelor. One of the things I loved most about my time in Bend was the dramatic change in environment on the drive to the mountain. It’s awesome to experience beautiful spring weather and winter in the same day!

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Freshies at Mt. Bachelor! We found soft stashes everywhere!

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The summit of Mt. Bachelor. It felt like a palace of ice. I’ve never seen anything like it.

 

Climbing Smith Rock in Central Oregon

I’ve always heard so many good things about the climbing at Smith Rock. I was so stoked to have the opportunity to sample the climbing myself.

Timberline Lodge Mt. Hood Oregon

Catching the last rays of sunset at the Timberline Lodge. The architectural details are beautiful, inside and out.

Summit of Mt. Hood to Timberline Lodge

From the summit of Mt. Hood, I enjoyed a long 4,000′ run back to the Timberline Lodge. The snow was soft and highly carve-able. One of my favorite Oregon experiences.

Oregon Coast

Less than 24 hours after leaving the summit of Mt. Hood, I caught my first glimpse of the Oregon Coast. You can go from summit to sea so easily…

Short Sands Beach surfing Oregon Coast

…and even fewer are the places where you can ski and surf! I was so stoked to paddle out at Short Sands beach at Oswald West State Park.

Horsetail Falls Gorge Oregon
Horsetail Falls

I can’t say enough about the waterfalls! We saw so many lining the roads on our trip.