Winter 2010

Notebook
Around the State
Winter
Adventure
Two Yurts: Three Sisters
backcountry skiing in the three sisters wilderness gets a
little more cozy. a wood-fired sauna and two wood-stove
heated 20-foot yurts now sit at the base of tam mcarthur
rim in the three sisters wilderness, thanks to three sisters
backcountry (threesistersbackcountry.com).
WHY GO: The huts are located six miles and 1,000 feet
above the Three Creeks Sno-park with a variety of terrain
including open bowls, glades, couloirs, gentle meadows
and steep chutes.
AMENITIES: The huts are furnished with padded bunks,
dining table, wood stove, firewood and maps of local
terrain. The cooking yurt has a full kitchen, dining and
lounge area. The kitchen is stocked with dishes, utensils,
cookware and fuel for the stove. Between the two yurts,
there is ample room for twelve skiers to spread their gear
and relax. Choose from self-guided and self-catered options
or go fully guided and/or catered.
BONUS: You can request a keg of beer from Sisters’ Three
Creeks Brewery to be hauled up to the yurt.
Photo Kevin Grove
CALENDAR:
Make a splash around the
state, make some noise in
Heppner and then make for
northeastern Oregon
GOOD CAUSE
polar plunge oregon
Jan. 30-Feb. 26, many locations
Polar Plunge Oregon promises to take
your breath away, but not before you
make a world of difference in raising
money for Special Olympics Oregon (soor.
org/plunge). There will be no shortage
of cold water to dive into in 2010, with
plunges slated for Portland, Bend and
three new chilly dips planned for Eugene,
Corvallis and Medford. Polar Plunge is
brought to you by Law Enforcement Torch
Rub and sponsored by local businesses.
It is open to the public, and all spectators
are welcome free of charge. Participants
must raise a minimum of $50 for the
privilege of taking a wintry dip in an icy
body of water and will receive a commemorative
long-sleeve t-shirt and a
bowl of soup, plus bragging rights.
C’mon, it’s only water!
Portland: January 30
Medford: February 6
Eugene: February 20
Corvallis: February 20
Bend: February 26
PARADE
st. patrick’s Day march
march 12-14, heppner
Heppner, Oregon is an Irish community
that makes celebrating its Irish heritage
an annual tradition. It is always celebrated
the weekend before St. Patricks Day. In
2010, the Wee Bit O' Ireland St. Patricks
Celebration weekend includes family flags
hung throughout the town, a great green
parade, sheep dog trials, an Irish Bowling
competition, plenty of Irish music and entertainment.
For a full schedule of events,
call the Heppner Chamber of Commerce
at 541.676.5536.
SPORTS
eagle Cap extreme
January 14-16, Joseph
Join some of mushing’s greatest January
14-16 in Joseph for Oregon’s only
Iditarod and Yukon Quest qualifier as
racers launch into the Eagle Cap Extreme.
Sled dog racers cut through the
Wallowa and Whitman national forests
in 100-mile and 200-mile events that
finish at Ferguson Ridge Ski Area, or
Fergi. What better time to see the
Switzerland of Oregon? Bring your skis
and skates to make it a full weekend of
skiing at Fergi, then head to Enterprise
for the outdoor community skating
rink. Of historical note in the nine-year
life of this 152-foot by 78-foot rink:
Schools let out early last January, when
the Portland Winter Hawks came out to
skate. The local team, Baja Canada Ehs,
is the foundation for an interstate league.
Go Ehs!
1859 OREGON'S MAGAZINE WINTER 2010 15