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In Portland when it snows, anything goes. Among other unorthodox devices, these were some of the most ingenious sled substitutes spotted in the streets and parks around town this week: 1. Plastic corrugated roofing blow torched into the form of a sled
2. Coolers
3. Vinyl van seat
4. Kayaks
5. Linoleum kitchen flooring
6. Pizza box
7. Skateboard decks (without wheels)
8. Thermarests
9. Dinner trays
10. Snowboards
And the No. 1 traction implement? Nylons--worn over shoes.
Overboard
Disaster in the Atlantic means profit in the Pacific Northwest--and everywhere else, for that matter. If you were understandably wowed by blockbuster biggie Titanic, three-odd hours of history, unstoppable action, merciless class division and undying love probably didn't quench your thirst for discovery. This extravagant epic makes you want more: more details, more romance, more insight. You've been struck by Titanicmania. So you go to buy the book, James Cameron's Titanic, and/or the sweeping soundtrack. Unfortunately, trips to Borders and Music Millennium will probably be fruitless; shipments are selling out as soon as they hit the shelves. Even the soundtrack distributor, Valley Records, is having a hard time fulfilling stores' requests. So you find an hour when it's open and trot over to the library, only to strike out again: Every single item relating to the fateful voyage of the ship is checked out. Even the cookbook Last Dinner on theTitanic: Menus and Recipes form the Legendary Liner by Rick Archbold and Dana McCauley is unavailable. There are still plenty of books about titanium, though. The nautical section in Powell's has a few books (check out Down with the Old Canoe: A Cultural History of the Titanic Disaster by Steven Biel) and a box of document replicas (aisle 626 in the Rose Room). Or you could just see the movie again.
--Christina Melander CRASHING THROUGH THE SNOW
Talk about great timing. There couldn't be a better weekend to hold a snowshoeing demonstration than this one. Snowshoeing isn't as graceful as other winter sports, like skiing or ice skating, but it allows greater freedom. Trails are optional, so, clumsy as they may seem, these oblong aluminum rafts will let you go places that ordinarily would be off-limits to skis or hiking boots. The traditional webbed-birch snowshoes are still around, but most contemporary models are equipped with a crampon-like claw on the bottom, which lets you scale icy inclines. The claw also prevents slippage on flat terrain--such as sidewalks. Try snowshoes at a Tubbs/ REI co-sponsored event from 9 am to 3 pm Saturday, Jan. 17, at White River Snowpark (about four miles ahead of Mount Hood Meadows). There will be guided tours at 10 am and 1 pm, "Snowshoeing 101" at 11 am, a kids' scavenger hunt at noon and door prizes at 2:30 pm. It's totally free, no strings attached--though participants will receive an incentive coupon toward a pair of their own.
--Christina Melander |
