McCoy Smith telemark skied at eleven ski resorts in Oregon

SKI OREGON CHALLENGE
"RACE TO THE FINISH"
 

McCoy Smith tied with Emilio Trampuz to finish second in the “Race to the Finish” to ski Oregon’s ski resorts in the 2005-06 ski season - Anthony Lakes, Cooper Spur, Hoodoo, Mt. Ashland, Mt. Hood Meadows, Mt. Bachelor, Mt. Hood Skibowl, Spout Springs, Timberline, Warner Canyon, and Willamette Pass.  Read about McCoy's experience below........

I decided to take up the first inaugural Oregon Ski Challenge, but wanted put my own special twists to it. I ski both alpine and telemark, so part of my personal challenge was to attempt to ski all of the Oregon ski areas according to my technique preferences -- alpine for the expert, black runs, telemark for the intermediate, blue runs. (I skip green runs.)  I also thought I skied hard and planned my days right, I might be able to say that -- in a single season -- I skied had every black run in Oregon on my alpine skis, and every blue run in Oregon on my telemark skis.  I called that the "Black and Blue Challenge."  And to top it off, and in the spirit of financial support for the smaller ski areas, I also decided that I would try my best to purchase some piece of ski gear with the logo of each of the ski areas I visited.

In the end, I didn't achieve my Black and Blue Challenge goal, although I came pretty close.  I did ski every black run on my alpine skis and every blue run on my telemarks skis at Anthony Lakes, Mount Ashland, Warner Canyon, Hoodoo and Cooper Spur.  I missed only one blue run at Willamette Pass when they closed the back-side lift before I got in the final run.  I missed out on four or five runs at Spout Springs because their main lift was closed for repairs after a wind storm the night before. I also got about 80% through all the runs at Mount Bachelor, but the spread of the terrain and some long lift-lines on President's Day weekend kept me from finishing off all the runs.

However, the main reason why I didn't complete my goal was that on my first run on Cooper Spur, I hit an ice patch on my telemark skis, fell down, and broke my thumb.  I managed to finish off the rest of the runs at Cooper Spur, but the next morning the doctor put me in a splint and told me no recreation for at least four weeks.  I cheated a bit on my doctor's advice (I ran a Pacrat race at Ski Bowl three weeks after the broken thumb), but it did keep me from going back and finishing up the slopes I missed on Ski Bowl, Mount Hood Meadows, Timberline and Mount Bachelor.

McCoy at Warner Canyon

Overall, I had a great experience and ran into some really good ski days at Mount Ashland (6-8 inches of fresh powder -- in late March!), Warner Canyon (beautiful, clear, sunny day and a decent amount of untracked powder) and Anthony Lakes (fresh powder, beautiful clear day in the morning, followed by fog and heavy snow in the afternoon).  I also picked up some interesting logo’ed skiwear (including a hat which was one of only two pieces of Spout Springs labeled gear sold in their ski shop).  The smaller ski areas not located on Mount Bachelor and Mount Hood are worth checking out -- good terrain, non-existent lift lines, and if you're lucky some great conditions.

Now, I need to figure out a way to complete my Black and Blue Challenge!

McCoy Smith

If you have a story to tell about skiing Oregon's ski resorts let us know – Send to Steve at sacoxen@aol.com