Rain Check at the Mountain

We've just returned from our last vacation of the summer. Dennis suggested a last minute trip to Kah-Nee-Tah, but it was booked. We ended up at Collins Lake Resort at Government Camp, on Mt. Hood, Oregon. We had never been there before, but, having gone to Ski Bowl's Alpine Slide/Mountain Adventure in the past, we saw it being built. It's a very nicely appointed resort right in the heart of Government Camp. I've never stayed up at Mt. Hood - we always just went home after skiing. I really enjoyed the mountain, staying up there in the summertime. It's a nice change from Sunriver in the summer. I almost enjoyed it more. Someone told me that vacationing in Sunriver is like vacationing in Beaverton (a horrible Portland suburb) and I totally agree.

We got a great two bedroom unit on the creek (this photo of the boys is near the creek), next to the Recreation Center, which had the pools. I loved where we were situated in the Resort. Here's our cute unit. Caver, Sean and the boys came along, as did Granny and Grandpa. It was nice that they were able to come at the last minute as well. My dad's not always in the best health and he's been wanting to do this for awhile, with his grandsons. Soooo glad he was able to come along.

The kids loved the pool, especially being with their cousins. The world begins and ends with Cade and Tucker. It's cool that they are so close. They could have holed up in the chalets the entire trip, as long as their cousins were there. It was nice for them to swim, but as long as Cade and Tuck are there, that's all that matters. Here's the cousins "surfing" in the leisure pool (pool sized hot tub). Notice their "surf board" is Dennis.

Our main reason for choosing that location at Mt. Hood was so the boys could go on the Alpine Slide at Ski Bowl. The first night had been quite rainy. The weather was unseasonably wet and cold, even for a mountain in Oregon. August is usually a time you can depend on decent weather. When the weather broke yesterday afternoon, Caver suggested we go to Ski Bowl and do some activities. We bought our tickets and headed up on the lift. The lift in itself was an adventure, because the boys get nervous riding up. So, I rode with Finn, Dennis with Tucker, and Caver with Cade. Ashe rode with a complete stranger - a nice lady named Patty.

We started up and people were coming down - on the lift, not on the slide. I yelled across to some of them and asked if the slide was closed. They said it was and they were sent back down, but it was just opening again and we'd be able to go. Thank god, because it was getting colder as we rode higher and some VERY cold drizzle was starting to fall. Ashe didn't take his coat, so he was sitting in front of me...with short sleeves...with a stranger!! What a great parent I am. Sure enough, we saw a few riders go down the slide. Well, literally two minutes later, we got to the platform to get off and they didn't let us. They had closed the slide again, due to rain. By this time it was FREEZING. We had another 10 minutes just to the top of the lift. When we got off to get back on the lift at the top, I put on Ashe's coat and sent him back down with Patty.

Needless to say, everything turned out just fine. They closed the slide and offered us a rain check. The silly thing was that they wouldn't give us a refund. Even though they sold us tickets, already sending people back down the mountain while selling them to us, they still wouldn't give a refund. Just a little note if you go. We left Ski Bowl, not doing one activity in the Adventure Park.

On our way home today, the four of us went to Timberline, while the rest of the group headed home. We looked around and had some lunch. There were many (about 15) buses of ski and racing teams there. I knew it was one of the few year round ski areas in the country. That was obvious today. Ashe and Finn were completely intrigued by the skiers in all their gear. I'm glad, because although I haven't skied in years, I want to again. It's great that they're interested. Thanks for the fun trip, Dad/Dennis!!

the boys (gangstas?) and i - timberline lodge