This has been one of those winters. The Portland area has been blessed this winter with uncharacteristic doses of sun and blue sky, and plenty of mountain views to match. It’s a recipe ideal for adventures on the mountain, especially for those whose relationship with Mt. Hood is usually limited to summer, or who enjoy a change of pace from the ski slopes.

At EverGreen Escapes, we’ve been guiding snowshoe adventures twice weekly on Mt. Hood since mid-December, as well as taking visitors to waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge and the mountain’s trademark National Historic Landmark, Timberline Lodge – all in a single day. Our Escapists have come from as far as China and as near as our backyard – literally: A trip last week included an Escapist into whose backyard I could probably hit a golf ball from my roof!

Check out this video created and posted by a recent happy Escapist.

Excited?  Intrigued?  Book this adventure for yourself here.

Well it’s that exciting time of year again, when we get to rise above the trails to explore the winter back country.  For this year’s annual winter retreat, the staff of EverGreen Escapes hopped in the vans and headed North to Whistler, BC!  Our hosts for the three-day weekend were Brad and Evan of Callaghan Country Lodge and they gave us the star treatment!  (Although maybe not quite as much as last year’s surprising guest, Paris Hilton.)  We strapped on our cross country skis and headed out on a 13km trek, with a 2000 foot elevation gain to the lodge!  Thank goodness Brad schlepped our bags up for us on a snowmobile, leaving us only our own weight to haul up the mountain.  Chief Escape Officer, Jake Haupert, would have been laughing at us if he could have caught his own breath.  Four hours, many bruises and a good amount of laughter later, we were all huddled by the fire with local wine and hot chocolate to warm us up.

The landscape was breathtaking.

The dry winter led to crystalline snow, sparkling in the winter sun that graced our entire weekend.

After a great night’s sleep and a fabulous breakfast, we got to explore on our own for awhile.  Some relaxed in the lodge, some went on quiet photo walks, some skied the numerous trails from the lodge and some built snowboarding jumps and played in the snow.

Then we gathered up and had a great meeting, getting lots accomplished!

Three fabulous meals a day…

Warming up in the sauna in the evening…

Candlelit tobogganing on beautiful nights.  (No photos of that, but hilarious images instilled in our memories.)

All in all, it was a fabulous trip, the team bonded, learned about each other and ourselves, we made new friends and found a little piece of Canada, pristine and welcoming for years to come.Want us to plan your Corporate retreat or back country winter escape?  Contact us, experience@evergreenescapes.com or 206-650-5795.  Cheers!

This past week provided a grand example of just how diverse our microclimates can be from one day to the next.  I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Mount Rainier National Park three times in the last week, each time treated to something entirely different.

My first visit was last Thursday, November 10, with a couple of fourth-generation Washingtonians who hadn’t visited the mountain in years (I LOVE showing locals their own backyard!).  We couldn’t have asked for more agreeable weather in November – bluebird days are rare this time of year!  And with snow on the ground from the prior week, Paradise was as stunning as ever.

The following Sunday, November 13, couldn’t have been a more polar opposite.  Dark clouds overhead opened up and began blanketing the mountain in snow as low as Longmire, at roughly 2,700 feet in elevation.  In fact, it was snowing so heavily higher up the mountain, that the road to Paradise remained closed through the day.  But we didn’t let this discourage us!  We enjoyed tromping around a fresh winter wonderland, our first true winter experience of the season, with hikes around Longmire, Kautz Creek, and Twin Firs.  Not making it to Paradise today also gave us the opportunity to enjoy Copper Creek Inn’s world-class blackberry pie on the way home.

Finally, Tuesday, November 15, provided a perfect blend between the two days:  a quintessential November day in the Cascades, with ominous skies dramatically punctuated by glowing sunbreaks that allowed for an occasional peek of Rainier’s summit.  Fresh snow from the previous night allowed for our first snowshoe of the season, out to the overlook of Paradise Valley, just below Myrtle Falls.  Then, shortly after leaving the National Park in the afternoon, the clouds seemed to vanish as we looked back towards the mountain from the west, a setting sun painting the glaciers and snowfields in pastels.

To top it all off, between the three days, we had one sighting of a Black Bear, nibbling at the few blueberries remaining above the snow, and two sightings of Cascade Fox – a single individual one day, and a family of three another.  Additionally, winter finches seem to be arriving, with a small flock of Pine Grosbeaks and a large flock of Red Crossbills feeding in the firs at Paradise.  Gray Jays, Common Ravens, and Steller’s Jays put in their usual appearances, as well.  Lastly, hikes at Twin Firs Trail elicited “oohs” and “aahs” as always, with towering Douglas Firs, Western Redcedars, and Western Hemlocks above, and orchids, mosses, ferns, and dozens of mushrooms carpeting the forest floor.

It’s a magical place, and winter is a magical time of year to visit!

The temperature is dropping to a crisp breeze in Portland, as we’re nearly half way through November, and Fall will soon be a faint memory among snow flurries. This winter season is the perfect time to visit Mt Hood, and partake in our snowshoeing excursion! The 10 day forecast is calling for snow across the board, already predicting 5-8 inches this weekend. While there are several wonderful holiday activities to do in the city from the Winter Ale Festival, to a Nutcracker production, if you want to escape the city and engage in a truly northwest winter experience, come to Oregon’s highest point, and a distinguished visible landmark for up to 100 miles down the road. Mt Hood has six ski resorts; Timberline, Meadows,  Ski Bowl, Cooper Spur, Snow Bunny and Summit, many of which you’ve probably heard of, in particular the Timberline Lodge which was featured in the eerie film the Shining.

Our snowshoeing excursion begins high on the mountain near Government Camp, in the heart of the Mt Hood National Forest. Your experienced mountain guide will pick a trail of the day, snap on the snowshoes, and take off on a glimpse of the Northwest’s lovely winter beauty, and adaptive ecosystem. You’ll spot wildlife, and winter bird species while your guide educates on the area’s winter ecology. You will also get to experience first hand a grand landscape in motion; your guide will describe the various forces that have shaped the land beneath you, creating the dazzling alpine lakes, and panorama that opens up around the peak.

After your trek along the trail, we’ll take you up even farther North up to that infamous Timberline Lodge, which sits at an elevation of 5,960 ft within the National Forest. We’ll cozy up next to the grand fireplace, and enjoy an organic pinic lunch, paired with a tasty local Oregon wine, and possibly a cup of hot chocolate to warm you from the inside out. The perfect fix, for a beautiful day in Oregon’s winter wonderland!

If you’d like to make a reservation, or have further inquiries, please visit http://evergreenescapes.com/oregon_mthood_snowshoe.asp, or call our office directly.

On November 19th the 3rd Twilight movie “Breaking Dawn” premieres, and we’re calling all Twilighters to come experience Forks, WA with us, the backbone and setting for Stephanie Meyer’s eerie love trilogy. We’re offering our awesome Ultimate Olympic Twilight Rainforest & Beaches full day tour, with an option of getting dropped off right at a downtown Seattle movie theater to watch the Breaking Dawn premiere! What could be a better lead up to the premiere, than trenching through Vampire country, and walking through the fairy tale forestry; you’ll start feeling like you’re Jacob Black himself!

On Saturday November 19th, we’ll take you out to experience the Olympic Peninsula, watching the first of the twilight movies to get everyone amped for the day’s festivities. As we approach Forks,WA we’ll make a stop at all of the Vampire relics, including Forks High School, Bella’s truck, Fork’s Hospital, La Push, the Quileute Tribal community center and even a ““No Vampires Beyond this Point” sign and the Treaty Line. We’ll take guests to local vampire shops, and even stop for dinner in Port Angeles at Bella Italia, where Bella and Edward had their first date together; you can even order the mushroom ravioli; it’s to DIE for!

Not only will you enjoy searching for Vampires, you’ll also experience one of nature’s divine creations, the Hoh Rainforest, and skip rocks along First Beach, while breathing in that crisp Northwest air along Crescent Lake. This is a tour of a lifetime for twilighters, equipped with all the right Vampire & Werewolf trivia, out in the beauty of the wilderness; the perfect day to get everyone excited for Breaking Dawn!  For this day only, optional movie tickets are included in the price of the tour and guests get dropped off right at the theater in Seattle to watch Breaking Dawn.

For true DIEhard Twihards, we’re offering a Twilight Overnight Adventure, with all of the elements from the day tour, plus a visit to Hurricane Ridge, and a movie pass to see BreakingDawn right in the heart of Vampire town.

For tour reservations/questions please call 206-650-5795, or visit,

                      http://www.evergreenescapes.com/twilight_tour.asp

What’s bursting with holiday cheer, and quacks while sipping local Washington wine? Could be you, on the next upcoming Wacky Quacky Holiday Lights & Wine Tour! Come join EverGreen Escapes’ Sleigh Ride on Wheels on a “Ride the Ducks” holiday city lights tour around Seattle. No we won’t immerse you in the Sound, this is a land only excursion from Westlake Center, showcasing all the merriment city lights in and around downtown. After you’ve quacked holiday tunes like ‘Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” with your driver, you’ll shed your warm layers and hop into one of our luxury Bio Diesel Mercedes vans and carpool over to our neighboring Winery, Fall Line Winery in Georgetown, where you will sip and savor several wines paired with delicious holiday fare. The Wine maker will educate escapists on the art of viticulture while visiting this local gem, a lovely end to a fantastic new Holiday tour offered by EverGreen Escapes!

For More Information on this fabulous Holiday experience, visit http://www.evergreenescapes.com/holiday_2011.asp