Saturday December 8top

Glacial Outburst II

Now, don’t go shitting your snowpants—Highway 35 has not washed out again. Mount Hood Meadows Ski Resort is just keepin’ its promise of using last year’s road closure as its annual inspiration to “celebrate the start of a new season” (even though technically it's been open since Nov. 23). But why nitpick when the focus here is beer—specifically, Widmer sampling. Besides, knocking back a few brewskies nearly ensures that the Salomon skis and snowboards will be less boring to demo. Let the hops and wobbles begin! Mount Hood Meadows, Ten miles North off Hwy 35, Mount Hood., 337-2222. Noon-7 pm Saturday, noon-4 pm Sunday. skihood.com. Easy. $1-$4.

Still Creek Basin Grand Opening

For better (profit) or worse (the environment), Timberline Ski Area has cleared another 220 acres to make room for eight new alpine trails, plus one for nordic skiing and snowshoeing—collectively called the Still Creek Basin. In addition, Timberline has built a new high-speed quad chairlift (“the longest on Mount Hood”) and named it the Jeff Flood Express. This being the official “christening” weekend, snow bunnies of all breeds can celebrate this vast new treeless area on free guided ski, snowboard and snowshoe tours; by watching a film on the construction of the lift; or making spirits bright with a “Timberline Toddy.” Timberline has even created an online interactive trail map for impatient folks just “mousing” to take a virtual run down the slopes. Timberline Lodge, Timberline Highway, OR 97028., 272-3391. 10 am-3 pm Saturday, 11 am-1 pm Sunday. Easy. Free.

Sunday December 9top

Ho Ho 5K

Believe it or not, even with its annual spread of Sno Balls, Ho Hos, candy canes and fruitcake, the X-Dog crew is out to raise more than just your glycemic levels. Last year, the club collected “30 jackets, 20 blankets and well over 500 lbs. of food”, not to mention “100 lbs. of dog/cat food.” The group's goal this year? To double those numbers, with all donations going to the Portland Rescue Mission and the Oregon Humane Society. As if that weren’t sweet enough, every finisher of this 5K run receives an evergreen seedling, plus “a dude in a red suit” will be there to wish you the happiest of hydrogenated holidays. Cook Park, Near 17005 SW 92nd Ave., Tigard., 639-4171. 10 am. xdogevents.com. Easy. $10-$20.

Silver Falls State Park Hike

As a self-proclaimed sucker for waterfall hikes and even bigger fan of fond memories (who isn’t, really?), I still carry quite a bit of affection for this easy, well-known hike around the Trail of Ten Falls—it being one of the first I traversed after my arrival in Portland. Despite the trail's mere 8.7 miles, the falls are really what make this a great excuse to carpool into the Central Cascades—especially with a like-minded group such as the Adventurous Young Mazamas (a 40-and-under subsection of the mountaineering group). Unfortunately, a small section of the Canyon Trail leading to the 178-foot Double Falls is currently closed due to “storm damage,” but fortunately it's not one of the four falls that you can walk behind. Durham Park & Ride, Off of Southwest Bridgeport Road., 227-2345. 9 am. mazamas.org. Easy. $3 (plus $3 day-use pass per v.