Your mouth might not water with this post, but your hunger for the Great Outdoors might start growling.  I spent Friday and Saturday in the Mt. Hood wilderness with my dear friends Crystal and Michael Lary.  They rented the Clear Lake Lookout Tower and invited me to come along.  We clipped in to some cross country skis, loaded our packs with snow clothes, books, food and wine, and headed out early Friday morning to relax for the weekend.

And relax we did.  Once we got up to the tower, we sat around in our sweats, drank red wine, snacked on Trader Joe’s goodies, played Gin Rummy, read poems and Portland Mercury Reader Valentine’s and journal entries from past guests of the tower, took naps, and worried about absolutely nothing.

I didn’t shower for days.  Didn’t do my hair.  Didn’t wash my face.  Didn’t put on a layer of makeup.  Didn’t stare at my closest wondering what outfit would look good.  I didn’t even look at my reflection the entire time I was up there.  And I felt sexy every minute of it.

I feel sexier covered in Mother Nature and fleece than I do covered in makeup and trendy clothes.

There is something to be said about not being concerned with reflection, appearance, or other people.  I felt better about myself this weekend than I have in months.  I was able to get back to my roots, to nature, to my bare bones face and body, and it brought such freedom and peace.  I know I had some zits on my chin caused by some dairy I ate but I didn’t see them so I didn’t care.  I know my hair was disheveled because of my headband but so was Crystal’s and we didn’t care.  I know my skin glowed pasty white when we sat in front of the sun-warmed window but I paid no attention.  It was so liberating and so wonderful.  I’ll take a weekend in a lookout tower over a resort vacation any day.

Heading up to Clear Lake Butte

Cold weather makes for runny noses.  Good thing Crystal’s glove has a nose wiper!  They’ve thought of everything!

The snow sparkle made the most beautiful winter wonderland.

Our home for the night!  Just wait til you see the view from the top…

Not bad huh?  Mt. Hood and Clear Lake to the north…

And Mt. Jefferson to the south.  And some David Hill Farmhouse Red, compliments of some club members at the winery I’ve been working at.  Thanks Carrie and Patrick!  We loved it

Talk about a romantic candle lit dinner   We ate til our hearts content then played some good old games.  Crystal is a whiz at Hangman and Michael is cunning at Gin Rimmy.  He sure was pushing my buttons during the game.

All good things have to end right?  Goodbye Clear Lake!  We’ll see you again.  A long, steady uphill trek on the way out.

That beer in ounces was probably more than Crystal’s body weight in pounds!  XC skiing is hard work so we treated ourselves to beer and burgers at Calamity Jane’s in Sandy.  I haven’t hard a burger is FOREVER and it was SO worth it.

Long story short, I felt sexy on Valentine’s Day weekend and I’m taking that with me through the week.