In life there is rarely something more exciting than the first time. One's first kiss, first love, first puppy, or the first time skiing/snowboarding from the summit of Oregon's 11,239 ft. crown jewel, Mount Hood.

My friends and native Oregonians, Carlos Martinez and Alia Hazen, kept repeating the one phrase that all first time summiteers seem to repeat, “This is incredible, holy mackerel this is incredible!!” It is hard to explain how beautiful and inspiring the mountain can be when you see it from the top rather than looking up at it. So all that seems to come out is “This is incredible!” The best way I know of how to describe the feeling is that Carlos rode from the summit for the first time in early May 2011 and fell so hard in love with it he did it four more times during the rest of May.  Five summits in a month is fantastic but the real amazing part of his story is he is about to be married in less than 5 weeks and his fiancé Nancy has been understanding enough to allow him the latitude to chase his new addiction to the high alpine.
 
Mount Hood is amazing in that we can ski powder all the way through June in the higher elevations.  Timberline is the only resort in North America that can be skied all 12 months of the year while allowing access as high as 8,600 ft. via the lifts for those who want to explore higher or all the way to the summit.  So for all the Oregon adventurers, and those visiting our great state, it's time to strap those skins on the bottom of your skis and snowboards or just throw them on your back pack and go up.  Everything is more awesome higher up on the mountain, those that say differently have never been there.  Go out and do something for the first time today because tomorrow never really seems to come.
 
Asit Rathod