Black Butte Ranch Blog
Category : Glaze Meadow Rental Shop
Snow, Beloved Snow
What is it about snow that is so fascinating? When I see snow I get excited like a little kid itching to go play in it; make snow angels and a snowman. In the high desert here in Central Oregon, snow is a welcome marker of winter. It jump starts that nesting instinct to light the home fires, make some hot cocoa and yet you still want to pull on your snow boots, down jacket , hat and gloves and frolic in the wonderful substance. I’m extremely lucky in that I have a big picture window in my office from which I can spy Black Butte and whatever weather event is happening at the Ranch.
With Hoodoo Ski Area so close to the Ranch it offers guests and residents many winter activities. The hill has runs for beginner to advanced, and the back country area, which is not groomed, offers an amazing powder experience. Both Black Butte Ranch and Hoodoo cater to families – which is why we are their preferred lodging partner. Hoodoo also offers the Autobahn Sled Hill. If you’ve never been you simply must take the kids or grandkids there – it is a blast! Another great activity is to rent snowshoes from the Glaze Meadow Rec Center – Equipment Rental shop at the Ranch and snowshoe around the Ranch or on various trails in the forest. Winter is a great time to experience the Ranch and the surrounding Sisters area. Come Play with us!
- Winter Aspens (Photo courtesy of Kate Thomas Keown)
Cycling in Central Oregon
amateur and pro to men’s amateur and pro (even former Tour de France rider Floyd Landis was there – photo courtesy of Jim Williams). It was a very hot afternoon and I certainly did not envy those men and women having to give it their all that day. The coolest thing about all of this is that it says Central Oregon is a great place to cycle. The week after the Cascade Cycling Classic, Bend hosted the USA National Road Cycling Championships. Wow, what a follow up.
If you are staying here at the Ranch or are planning a visit this summer or fall, don’t forget that we have 18 miles of bike paths (great for all levels of riders, even the wee ones). If you didn’t bring your bike, just head out to Glaze Meadow Recreation Center and see Eric to rent an amazing Marin comfort bike for touring the Ranch( we even have an on- site bike repair shop). For the more adventurous ones Eric can guide you to some of the best mountain bike trails in the area. Click here for a pdf of the Ranch bike path map. You just never know what you might see along the way.%20copy.jpg)
It’s Hotter than a Cat on a Hot Tin Roof!
Yikes! In case you’ve been too busy to notice, or possibly on a cool exotic vacation somewhere else, it’s been hot here in Central Oregon. The forecast for today is 94 to 100! Same for tomorrow, but cooling in the evenings, hallelujah. It may be hotter than “a cat on a hot tin roof” but these are really the “Dog Days” of summer. I know you have heard that phrase before, but do you know where it originated from? According to Wikipedia – the term “Dog Days” was first used by the Greeks (during Aristotle’s time) as well as the ancient Romans, named after Sirius ( the “Dog Star”) the brightest star in the heavens besides the Sun. The ancients believed that the Dog Days signified the period of time when Sirius rose just before or at the same time as the sun( which is no longer true) supposedly adding to the sun’s heat creating a stretch of hot and sultry weather. In Ancient Rome, the Dog Days extended from July 24 through August 24. The Old Farmer’s Almanac lists the traditional timing of the Dog Days as the 40 days beginning July 3 and ending August 11, coinciding with the ancient rise of the the Dog Star, Sirius.
Ranch has so much to offer during these hottest days. You and your family (two adults and two kids) can golf after 4pm every day at Glaze Meadow Golf Course for only $60! That’s a cool deal. You could also spend your day chillin’ at the Glaze Meadow Recreation Center pool. The Kids will have a blast in the spray playground(see below) doesn’t that look like fun? There’s also a great snack shop, where you can buy sandwiches and drinks (pop, water, etc.) and enjoy the cool water.
