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Racing with Flair and Family

The 2008 Sloan Cup Family Fun Race, a one-day alpine GS, was held on Mount Ashland last Saturday.

Screamin' Tele Lizard Classic

A wide variety of unusual fauna inhabits the Siskiyou Mountains, but none are stranger than the tele lizard, a species that converges annually on Mount Ashland.

Cross-country skiers revel in the majesty of Crater Lake National Park's forests with a tour on East Rim Drive. The first lake view is a daunting five miles from the trailhead, but you will be out of the wind where you can experience the forest from a wide roadbed.

Don�t put your skis away yet!

Burgers on tailgate grills in the parking lot, �corn� snow on the slopes and coconut oil on bared arms, all served under an umbrella of blue sky and bright sunshine.

Ski trail to Stuart Falls tests endurance

Cross-country skiing to Stuart Falls from U.S. Highway 62 in Crater Lake National Park can test your endurance over a long ski day. For your safety and pleasure, bring companions to help you cut this lightly used trail, which stays out of the wind on its southwest course to the falls.

Up against the wall, snowboard style

They call it "the Wall" with good reason.

Crater Lake ski trails perfect this time of year

The magnetic draw of Crater Lake makes the three-mile section of West Rim Drive from the Rim Village (7,100 feet) to the west side of the Watchman (7,400 feet) the most popular cross-country ski route in Crater Lake National Park. Backcountry skiers start their tours of the rim here, and day trippers put up with a choppy beginning to indulge in views that often extend to Mount McLoughlin and Mount Shasta.

Emergency box helps lost snowboarder

Lt. Pat Rowland had good reason to smile this week.

Summit Sno-Park lets you tailor your tour

The loops at Summit Sno-Park give cross-country skiers ways to tailor their tours to match conditions. If you like a lot of downhill action, this 5.6-mile tour to Summit Shelter will make you think you've defied the laws of physics with climbs and a lively descent on the way out (3 miles) and an all-downhill return (2.6 miles).

Skiing the Mount Hood National Forest

Mount Hood National Forest

Ballet on Snow

The skier was scoping out the terrain for his next set of turns when two teens on snowboards slid up beside him. "What kind of skis are those?" asked Boarder One, young enough to be the skier's grandson. "These are telemark skis," the geezer said. "All skis used to be like this, with the heels free to move.

Leak hunters strike helium on Mount A

Those handsome blue porta-toilets on the Mount Ashland parking lot could be on their way out soon, and you'll have Matthew and Shari Botermans to thank.

Warner Canyon offers low-key, high-fun option

Skiers and boarders going beyond the Rogue Valley often head for the bigger-name areas, such as Mount Bachelor, Lake Tahoe and Whistler, but there's an attractive, smaller area just a few hours away.

Out-and-back tour near Burton Butte offers views and more

East of the Cascade Divide, cross-country skiers find drier snow and colder temperatures.

At least the line for the bathroom is short

By February, people on the valley floor think winter is on the way out. The days are getting longer, and on some mornings you might even hear an optimistic bird warming up its spring song.