It’s Thursday, and the weekend is fast approaching. You have a choice to either suffer through hangovers Saturday and Sunday morning or wake up early to get out of town. I recommend the latter because four years will speed by, and senior year you’ll wake up wishing you had explored more of the state. So, hang out with friends Friday night but also prepare a Saturday adventure. Try something new, such as skiing or snowboarding.
Mountains are both beautiful and terrifying. They can be thrilling, but equally as dangerous. The weather can change in the blink of an eye, turning the mountain into a roaring lion instead of a sleeping kitten. The mountains can be your friend, but only if you approach it with the right tools and state of mind.
Patt McKinney, a ski and snowboard instructor for the Powder House in Bend, Oregon, says Mt. Bachelor offers a variety of slopes for all skill levels, from beginner to cliff hiking.
“Honestly, people are asking how hard it really is,” said McKinney of newcomers. “People think they are better skiers than they normally are and will talk themselves up, but you could be setting yourself up to get injured.”
He also recommends that mountain-goers remain aware of the variable weather. It can go from blue skies to heavy overcast without a second thought.
The weather can make or break your first mountain experience. Don’t show up to Mt. Bachelor without a face mask when winds are 30 miles per hour and the furthest you can see is your hand five feet in front of you. By the end of the day, your face will be so numb you won’t be able to tell that you have one.
Proper gear is essential, and I don’t mean a rain jacket and a beanie. Before you leave to go skiing or snowboarding, lay everything out on your floor to make sure you have all the essentials. Speaking from personal experience, your stomach will drop if you open your car door at the base of the mountain and realize you only have one pole or one glove. Skiing without poles is like watching a penguin try to fly, and you can kiss the feeling in your fingers goodbye if you forget a glove.
As you layer your clothes, you will feel like a fat snowman or the Toaster Strudel boy. Do not bring less clothing because you think the two sweatshirts and heavy jacket aren’t flattering. You will freeze and look even more ridiculous. That being said, make sure you have a turtleneck or under-armor, a waterproof jacket, glove liners, hand warmers, thick socks, goggles and preferably, a helmet over a hat.
Stirling Cobb, the Marketing and Communications Manager at Mt. Bachelor, stresses the importance of layers, recommends purchasing tickets in advance online and starting your day at Sunrise lodge where more accessible, beginner terrain is located.
“The best is when you see people in street wear,” said Cobb of new skiers. “They look like they’re bumbling around with jeans and their ski boots unbuckled.”
The Gravity School at Mt. Bachelor offers a variety of ski and snowboard lessons for all ages and skill levels. Cobb highly recommends that beginners check out the Ski or Ride in Five Program for their next ski season. It offers five lessons, a daily lift ticket, rental gear and upon completion: a 12-day pass, which is good for the rest of the season.
It can seem daunting to plan a mountain excursion if you never grew up around them. Go to have fun, but go responsibly. Do the online research beforehand and reserve your rental gear so that you know exactly where to go and what to have by the time you reach the mountain.
Look for blue skies, tuck your hair into a helmet if you don’t want it to become an icicle, bring hand warmers, zip your jacket all the way up, don’t sag your ski pants below the waist (that’s just asking for difficulties) and keep an optimistic and open mind as you explore the mountain.