We Got Iced! Storm Adventures

Lily not at all amused with the icy ground.

The warnings went out, the mercury plummeted, and we found ourselves in one of the worst ice storms our area has experienced for decades. Ice storm on the beach? Crazy! It was a frozen spectacle dropping tree limbs and downing powerlines, that was incredibly novel and mesmerizing at first, but then the power went out.

Snow and freezing fog as far as the eye could see.

Without electricity, having laundry in the wash, hungry bellies, and dishes that still needed to be done in the sink, we spent one chilly night in the house before deciding to seriously split town. It felt a bit like going from the frying pan into the fire; knowing we were heading out for more of the same, anywhere in Oregon, but at least we’d be able to thaw out our toes, make some soup, and take hot showers.

Enchanted A Frame nestled in the foothills of the Elkhorn Mountains.

We visited friends and family, goofing off on the way, with an absolute trajectory to this cabin. We’d been there before (insert dreamy music here). Have you ever stayed somewhere that felt as ‘home’ as home soon as you stepped in the door? If we were going to be snowed in, or iced as it were, this was the place to do it. I mean, the hearth for the fire is made of big chunks of petrified wood, agate, and quartz, what’s there not for a Rockhound to love? Plus, that beautiful fireplace makes the whole A frame hot as a sauna, yes please!

Nordic skiing fun while the snow was dumping!

Don’t feel sorry for us, we were making lemonade (or lemon sorbet) out of a lemony situation. There are untold miles of skiing fun, dog buck-wild craziness in the snow, and incredibly cool adventures to be had out here in Eastern Oregon. Plus, it’s a dry cold, it’s true what they say about it. Flaky powder cold is so much easier to take than the wet, freezing to the bone weather back on the coast.

Steve and I wondering if we can stay in the ghost town next time, lol.

So the next time winter serves you up an unexpected ice folly, see if you can play hooky and find a patch of snowy heaven instead. We’re already planning our next trip out there, emergency or not, lol.

Stay tuned for a video that includes this year’s adventure and last year’s incredible finds through this alluring region of the mineral rushes of old! Cheers!