Tele Fest and Ibis Bikes

This weekend brings a great festival, the 2010 Telemark Festival (TeleFest) at Hoodoo. An annual event sponsored by Bergs Ski Shop in Eugene, TeleFest is a great time for all. Free lessons, lots of demo stuff to try, great skiers to meet, and lots of evening fun. There is usually a gigantic bonfire at some point, and always lots of good people to connect with.
It is Sat and Sun and Hoodoo. Volunteer for the event and get a free day pass, or buy a day pass and get free demos and lessons. If you want to volunteer, show up early and start looking for a way to help.

Also in the news, the Mountain Mercantile is now a dealer for Ibis Bicycles. Originally a small US manufacturer building steel, aluminum and ti bikes Ibis has re designed their rigs and now offers full carbon full suspension bikes made over seas. Built around the solid DW suspension design Ibis bikes climb well, descend well, and look great. While the manufacturing is overseas the bikes are assembled in California. The guys and gals at Ibis are super knowledgeable, friendly, and honest. Check out their website: http://www.ibiscycles.com

If you are interested in checking one out in person we will have one in the shop within the next couple of weeks, and hopefully we will have some demo bikes on the way for the spring and summer.

Hope to see you in the mountains.

Eugene

SNOW!

22.9 degrees and still snowing! Last night brought about 10 inches to the base of Willamette Pass and the surrounding country. Gold Lake Snow Park should be in great shape for cross country skiing and snow shoe adventures. The surrounding high country should be shaping up well for winter expeditions as well.

We should be receiving bindings for our Alpina X terrain skis any day now. They're not quite cross country, not quite telemark. A single camber ski with scales and quite a bit of shape. Once bindings are mounted they will join our rental fleet. All of our cross country equipment rents for $15 per day including boots and adjustable poles. See our rental page for more info.

Enjoy the snow and the holidays!

Winter Returns for Winter Solstice

Thankfully the snow has returned! Cooler weather here in Oakridge means snow in the high country. Typically there is about a 13 degree difference in temperature between Oakridge and Willamette Pass, so when its 45 here it is 32 there. Looking at the upcoming forecast for the Oakridge area in conjunction with the Lane County Cascades forecast it looks probable for the Willamette Pass area to receive between 10 and 15 inches of snow in the next 24 hours followed by cold clear weather. Cross country ski, snowshoe, and downhill conditions should be premium.

The Mercantile is open over the holidays 9-6 daily, however we will be closed Christmas Day and New Years day to celebrate the season with our friends and families.

Enjoy the snow, and stop in for a cup of hot tea or hot chocolate by the woodstove on your way through town.