January Spring on Tumalo

I spent last weekend consuming great local wine and delicious food in eastern Washington. To break up Sunday's return drive to southern Oregon, I took a quick detour off US 97 for a ski tour at Tumalo Mountain, near Bend. Things weren't quite as effortless as the last time I was there. A strong temperature inversion created by the now infamous Ridiculously Resilient Ridge had temperatures quite balmy on the mountain. In fact, there was corn to be found on southerly aspects exposed to the sun. Everything else was bulletproof ice.

I hiked the west side from Dutchman Flat and skied the sun-softened southwest side. Below are a few photos from my tour:

First glimpse of South Sister through the trees

Tumalo Mountain summit

Broken Top

Middle and North Sisters

Distant view of the city of Bend from high above

South Sister

The view south from Tumalo is littered with cinder cones

Three Sisters

Mount Bachelor and the Sisters from US 97

Central Oregon sunset from US 97