It has been way too long since I have been out on single track after a fresh snow. Yesterday, my sister and I decided to deviate from our normal loops around Meissner to the trails around Swampy Lake. We had some idea of where we were going from the map and times we’d been out there before, but conveniently forgot the elevation gain and loss on these trails is pretty significant. What seemed like a pretty average afternoon ski: from the parking lot to Swampy Lakes hut to Swede Ridge hut and back, turned into an exercise in almost bonking the last few miles without food or water.

The views to the north on the Swede Ridge loop were spectacular and it cleared up just enough for us to appreciate it for a few minutes when the trees opened up along the trail. This part of the ski was also the most fun and most treacherous as there were numerous places with steep descents down the side of the ridge, and the only way to really stop yourself was to do a face plant on the side of the trail. The finale to this section was a double fall on either side of the trail when I got to close to my sister from behind, she took a digger and I flung myself off to the left, unscathed but thoroughly buried in powder.

After struggling like a turtle for a few minutes and finally getting back on the trail, we passed Swede Shelter. We figured we’d better push through instead of taking a rest as we knew there were almost three miles ahead of us. We each got into the zone at this point, talking little, maintaining a strong pace and indulging in our own private food fantasies.

Once back at the car, hydrated and warm, it was mutually decided we’d head straight to 10 Barrel for pizza and pints, the perfect ending to a classic Bend afternoon.