Rob DeHarpport’s outdoor report: With the changing weather, start planning your outdoor winter fun now

by ROB DeHARPPORT/For The Herald – As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, it is a quiet time of year here near Crescent Lake and elsewhere. A quiet and peaceful time as the summer tourists have vanished, hunting and fishing seasons are mostly over, leaves have fallen and the Matsutake mushroom pickers have left the Ponderosa and Pine forests.

People in the hospitality and tourism industry call this time of year a “shoulder season” due to a slowdown in business because it doesn’t seem much like fall and isn’t quite feeling like winter just yet. Also, the holiday travel season is still just around the corner.

Indicative of the shoulder season, last Tuesday the Cascade Lakes Scenic Highway gates were closed near the Junction of USFS road 42 approximately 12 miles from the Highway 58 to Gilchrist Cutoff Road. Soon the Scenic Byway will be gated at the cutoff road. The road will soon once again only become passable to snowmobiles. The road around Crescent Lake will soon be closed and gated as well, allowing only snowmobiles, cross country skiers and snowshoe travel.

The gate closing off vehicle travel to Newberry Caldera and Paulina Lake was also closed recently at the 10-mile snow park. Of course, much depends on a good snowpack that could arrive anytime in the coming weeks. Many snowmobilers, skiers, and winter recreationalist are crossing their fingers for a winter full of deep powder. Hydrologists, farmers, ranchers, foresters, and many folks with low or dry wells are anxiously waiting for the predicted La Nina weather pattern to bring us out of the drought pattern. We had a taste of winter with a couple of inches of snow two weeks ago. It was soon followed by a couple of torrential rain and windstorms that quickly melted most of the snow at 5000′ elevations and below.

The Cascade Lake Resorts that stay open or reopen after the snows arrive patiently await the first serious snowfalls as well. Crescent Lake Resort is unfortunately closed again for winter. However, Odell Lake Resort and Shelter Cove Resort at Odell Lake remain open. South Twin Resort and Cultus Lake Resorts are closed. Access to South Twin Lake remains open and fishing season is open year-round. Elk Lake and Paulina Lake Resorts are currently closed, but will soon be opening and catering to snowmobilers, skiers, and snowshoes explorers.

Elk Lake and Paulina Lake Resorts offer snowcat transportation for cabin guests once the snow arrives. Arranging a snowcat shuttle to either resort is a unique and special winter excursion! Once the highly anticipated snows arrive, Odell Lake Resort will once again be providing guided snowmobile rentals, cross country skiing, snowshoe rentals as well as one-horse open sleigh rides, powered by Clydesdale horses!

Willamette Pass Ski Area, as well as all the other ski areas, are also waiting and preparing for Fall to fully fade into a white and fluffy winter.

As for now, we wait for a full-blown winter to arrive. While we wait, there are many options within the Highway 58 corridor’s high country to enjoy and explore in peace and quiet. Quiet walks along the Crescent Lake shoreline, hiking within the Waldo Lake Basin on the many trails not yet covered with snow. It’s also a great time to head for the high desert to look at, and photograph, the Mule Deer in their winter range. Many of the roads in the Mule Deer winter range will be closed on December 1st. Since they expend so much energy simply surviving the harsh winters of the high desert winter range, the road closings allow them to rest undisturbed.

Soon, many of us will be traveling for Thanksgiving visits or into the woods to select a Christmas tree. Be prepared for any type of weather and even high winds that can leave your vehicle trapped behind a fallen tree. Always let someone know where you plan to travel as cell phones often don’t work when and where you might need them. Whether you may be traveling “Over the River and Through the Woods”… as the old song goes or staying home and relaxing… ‘Tis soon the season to be grateful and sharing.’

I will be keeping my fingers crossed awaiting our first serious snowfall. Cheers to all for a Happy Thanksgiving and safe travels. We have a lot to be thankful for living in such a beautiful area. Enjoy!