A Bear on the Mountain!
Well, we all know that in the springtime the various hibernating animals of the Cascades are in the process of waking up and looking, in earnest, for food. After all, they just spent many months asleep with their last meal taken sometime last Fall. That said, people were still quite excited when a very good size black bear was seen ambling up the ski run just below Timberline Lodge. Captured on a cell phone (yes, the footage is quite grainy), this great scene is shown below:
And while we didn't get the name of the person that shot this cell phone video, we are truly thankful. That said, a cell phone upgrade is in order (IMO) as this looks to be shot on something akin to an iPhone 4...quite old. Or...the phone was on mega zoom. Either way, it's great to see a bear like this in the wild...even if it right where I like to shred the powder!
Here is a picture showing where the bear was spotted, and where it enters the trees in the above video. Original Image Courtesy: Timberlinelodge.com
Summer Snow, Bear Free!
Well, don't let the sight of a bear stop you from getting in your summer turns! Indeed, with nearly 50" of snow still up at Timberline, this is the one place you can still ski or ride in the U.S. In fact, without heading down south of the equator, it's darn tough to find anywhere else in the world to ride this time of year...outside of the indoor ski ramp in Dubai!
For $71 you can ski/ride from 8:30 to 2 p.m. up at Timberline these days. This is an all ages ticket. Both The Magic Mile and Palmer ski lifts run daily, weather permitting. Of course, you're unlikley to see a bear when up riding...but there are no guarantees one way or another!
Beginning on June 18th, advanced skiers and snowboarders will have the option of paying just $29 to get access to the elite-level pro park up on Palmer Glacier. Here is an excerpt from the Timberline Lodge web page talking about this great feature:
“Qualified skiers and riders can now have access to our elite level Pro Park. The Timberline Pro Park Ticket offers lift-accessed skiing and riding on the Pro Park June 18 - August 1, 2018. Pro Park features include a 22 foot half pipe, a 60+ foot jump, and a pro-level rail line, all serviced by one-handle tow. We anticipate prime pipe dates to be June 22 - July 10 with a pipe air bag included. Timberline’s Pro Park Ticket is $29, valid with the purchase of a regular lift ticket. Participants must sign release at time of purchase.”
Summer riding up at Timberline Lodge. Get up there and have fun! Image Courtesy: TimberlineLodge.com