Adventures

20
Mar
2013
jloomis

Tulum Ruins and Public Beach Area, Mexico

Picture of Tulum Ruins, Mexico

Katie and I spent the day Wednesday exploring the Mayan ruins of Tulum and enjoying the Caribbean Sea at the public beach below. We have both visited Tulum before, but this was our first time enjoying the beautiful beach situated right below the ruins. We took the ADO (public bus) from Playa Del Carmen to within about a mile of the ruins. It takes about an hour to get to Tulum via the ADO. We walked the last mile to the ruins, but there are other options for those not keen on walking.

18
Mar
2013
jloomis

Exploring the Mayan Ruins of Coba, Mexico

Picture of Nohoch Mul Pyramid - Coba Mayan Ruins, Mexico

Katie and I visited the Myana ruins of Tulum and Chichén Itzá on our last trip to Mexico, so we decided it would be fun to visit Cobá this time. Cobá is about a 90 minute taxi ride from Playa Del Carmen. We were able to rent a taxi for the day for 1300 pesos, but one could also book a tour bus or take the public ADO bus (like Greyhound in the US).

17
Mar
2013
jloomis

Sunrise Run on the Beach - Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

Picture of Sunrise at Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

Katie and I arrived in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico yesterday afternoon for a much-needed vacation in the sun. We have friends getting married here on Friday and have been looking forward to the trip.

09
Mar
2013
jloomis

A Sunny Day for Snowmobile Play Near Timothy Lake, Oregon

Picture of Jason Taking a Break with Mt Jefferson in the Background

Spring is in the air, but I am not quite ready for it to arrive. On Saturday I took my friend Donnie from work on his first snowmobile adventure. We left early, thinking Skyline Sno-Park (South of Mt Hood) would fill up quickly due to the sunny weather forecast. I was wrong. Skyline was the least busy I have ever seen it. Maybe the beautiful weather sent everyone over to ride on Mt Saint Helens.

03
Mar
2013
jloomis

Snow Camping Near Bonney Meadows, Oregon

Picture of Jason and Katie Snow Camping Near Bonney Meadows, Oregon

I took Katie on her first snow camping trip this weekend. She agreed to go as long as I kept the wood stove going all night to keep her warm. We had originally planned on going to Mt Saint Helens, but the weather forecast was not as good as we would have liked. Instead we planned on going to Bonney Meadows which is on the Southeast side of Mt. Hood about 1.5 miles NW of Boulder Lake.

25
Feb
2013
jloomis

Powder Day - Snowmobiling To Olallie Lake, Oregon

Gnar Pow Snowmobiling Towards Olallie Lake, Oregon

I have been looking forward to shredding some gnar pow on the snowmobiles and finally the weather has cooperated. Two to three feet of snow has fallen in the Mt Hood area over the past couple of days. The weather forecast was a little tamer for Sunday, so my friend John and I decided to go out and ride toward Olallie Lake from Skyline Sno-Park. This area is right between Mt Hood and Mt Jefferson.

17
Feb
2013
jloomis

Family Snow Day 2013 - Frog Lake, Oregon

Katie and Jason - Family Snow Day 2013

We had family come into town this weekend from San Diego, CA (my aunt and two of my cousins), so we planned a snow day up near Frog Lake, Oregon. Originally Katie and I had planned to go up on Saturday, get everything set up, and snow camp overnight before l everyone else arrived on Sunday. Unfortunately the weather forecast for Saturday predicted rain in the mountains, so we held off going up until early Sunday morning.

10
Feb
2013
jloomis

Snowmobiling Near Badger Lake on Grasshopper Road 4860

Summit of Grasshopper Point

What better way to finish the weekend than with another snowmobile adventure? On Sunday my friend John and I went snowmobiling from Frog Lake Sno-Park (about 7 miles SE of Government Camp, Oregon). I wanted to ride about 20 miles to the area where we have been deer hunting the past few years near Badger Lake. There are some clearcuts and open areas that could be potentially fun on a snowmobile.

09
Feb
2013
jloomis

Candlelighters Snowmobile Rides 2013 - Skyline Sno-Park, Oregon

Candlelighters Snow Day 2013 - Skyline Sno-Park, Oregon

February 9th, 2013 marks the 30th year the Mt. Hood Snowmobile Club has hosted the Candlelighters Family Snow Day on Mt. Hood. This all day event at Skyline Sno-Park includes sledding, snowmobile rides, games, hot cocoa, coffee, drinks, snacks, hot dogs and chili. It's a great way to give something special to families who are or have been touched by childhood cancer.

03
Feb
2013
jloomis

Lookout Mountain Hike and Flag Point Lookout Snowmobile Ride

Mt Hood from Lookout Mountain, Oregon

I finally got my snowmobile put back together and just in time for the weekend. It looks brand new again and runs great. Katie and I decided to spend Sunday before the Super Bowl exploring the area around Little John Sno-Park. It's located about 26 miles South of Hood River, Oregon off hwy 35 on the East side of Mt Hood. It is a lower elevation sno-park, so the conditions are not generally as favorable as some of the more popular sno-parks around Mt Hood.

27
Jan
2013
jloomis

Mt Hood Trifecta Snowmobile Ride

Taking a Break Snowmobiling on FS Road 48

I couldn't stand the wait any longer, so Katie and I planned a snowmobile trip on Sunday with just one sled. This was my first time back on a snowmobile since my crash at Bonney Meadows in December. I am still waiting on parts to fix that snowmobile, but luckily its twin is in tip-top shape. We didn't have a particular agenda besides having fun and being safe. We chose to unload at Frog Lake Sno-Park, which is about 7 miles Southeast of Government Camp off Hwy 26.

19
Jan
2013
jloomis

Frog Lake and Frog Lake Buttes Snow Hike

Mt Hood from Frozen Frog Lake, Oregon

Katie and I went hiking together today around Frog Lake. We started from Frog Lake SnoPark, which is about 7 miles Southeast of Government Camp off Hwy 26. Our plan was to take it easy and just hike a couple miles around the lake due to my leg and knee injury from snowmobiling last month. The weather forecast called for another calm, unseasonably warm sunny day up on the mountain.

17
Jan
2013
jloomis

Bennett Pass Mt Hood Viewpoint Snow Hike

Mt Hood from Bennett Pass Rd 3550

It has been over a month since I last went out on an adventure. My last trip involved a snowmobile crash which has made it difficult for me to walk and has put me out of work. I tore part of my quadriceps muscle and also my medial meniscus in my knee. I started physical therapy this week and fortunately am walking much better now. As part of my rehabilitation to gain full range of motion in my left leg before knee surgery next month, I decided to go on a short snow hike today. The weather has been beautiful up in the mountains and I have been eager to get out and enjoy it.

16
Dec
2012
jloomis

Snowmobiling and Snow Camping Near Bennett Pass Sno-Park

Picture of Snow Camping Near Bennett Pass Sno-Park, Oregon

Winter finally decided to arrive and snow continues to fall in the Northern Oregon Cascades. With a forecast calling for over a foot of new snow, my friend John and I decided to go snowmobiling and snow camping near Bennett Pass Sno-Park. This SnoPark is about 9 miles East of Government Camp, Oregon across from Mount Hood Meadows ski resort off Hwy 35. The trails at Bennett Pass are popular with cross country skiers and snowshoers.

09
Dec
2012
jloomis

Skiing and Snowshoeing Boy Scout Ridge - Mt Hood, Oregon

Picture of Boy Scout Ridge - Mt Hood, Oregon

Katie and I went out on our first snow adventure of the season together today. Even though the weather forecast was not great, we were both happy to be out doing what we love. We decided to head to White River Sno-Park (off hwy 35) to ski and snowshoe up to Boy Scout Ridge. This hike is about 2-2.5 miles (~1,800' elevation gain) depending on how far up you go and can have great views when the sun is out. The last time we were here was about two years ago on another poor weather day.

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