Mt. Bachelor Snowboarding 2012

The recent storms brought some record snowfall (35 inches in 24 hours) to the mountains, so my co-worker, Sean, and I decided this warranted a day off work. I also called my H.S. friend, Chad Staker, to join us....he caught a last minute flight up from Denver. We took Friday off and drove 3.5 hrs down to Bend, Oregon to ride the slopes at Mt. Bachelor. Since Sean's wife, Adrienne, is a freelance writer, it was not hard for her to convince her boss (herself) that it is OK to take a powder day.

on the drive from Portland to Bend, we saw the sunrise over Mt. Jefferson

the snowbank was taller than the truck...I'm glad I splurged for new 31" Toyo M/T tires last year (the deeper the snow, the better they grab, due to lugs on the outer sidewalls)

Mt. Bachelor Resort

Sean and Adrienne's dog, Porter takes a nap after a long day of playing in the snow

Our accommodations for the weekend were at the McMenamins Old St. Francis School. It is an actual school from the 1930's that has been restored and transformed into a hotel, restaurant, movie theatre, and brewery. They did a great job at preserving the charm while incorporating modern amenities.

our rental cottage for the weekend

Adrienne is surprised at how awesome this place is!

the kitchen still harbors the original icebox

the courtyard outside our rental house....the fire pits are clutch after a day in the snow

the soaking pool (warm saltwater) is instrumental in loosening up legs made stiff from snowboarding all day

original water fountain in the hallway of the school....brings me back to memories of grade school

Of course, no trip is complete without finding the best food....we found an amazing brunch spot called "Chow":

banana french toast with almonds

I'm still amazed that we have lived in Portland for over 3 years, and we are just now checking out nearby Bend. This just goes to show you how much Oregon has to offer. We had passed through the town before, but never spent the time to truly discover the charm it holds. This town is a front runner for places I would like to retire....but, until then, I guess I will just have to come visit more often on the weekends. :)