Premature Spring in Oregon 2026

5 Feb 2026

We've had a pretty mild winter so far in the greater Portland area. We haven't had any snow yet in the Willamette Valley and our local snowpack in the Mt. Hood area is about 30% of normal. This week we've had a couple of days of record high daytime temperatures in the low 60's (F).

I was walking with my grandson and 2 granddogs and we noticed lots of bee activity in a patch of Heather (at least that's what my wife calls it). Mostly Honeybees and Bumblebees, also a few others that I couldn't identify. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get any bee pictures because I had a bag of dog poop in one hand and was trying to control the dogs with the other.

It got me thinking about beacon_dave and site preparation for BeeBox. I'm looking forward to learning about how his BeeBox does this season.

When we got home I took a look at the only two plants (Hellebores and Camelias) that are currently blooming in our yard and found that we also are having bee activity. The bees weren't very cooperative so I didn't get any good closeup pics like Dave gets.

Older granddog

Good eye test to see if you can spot the honeybee in the next two pics. The third pic is of a bee that I can't identify. And I wasn't able to get a pic of the one bumblebee that I saw.

It looks like we will be back to colder and wetter weather next week. I am hopeful for a good bee season this spring and summer.

Parents

scottiebabe 1 month ago

Still cold up here
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ralphjy 1 month ago in reply to scottiebabe

Looks like you get to ski at your house ! Great view!
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ralphjy 1 month ago in reply to scottiebabe

Looks like you get to ski at your house ! Great view!
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Children

scottiebabe 1 month ago in reply to ralphjy

There was a surprising amount of technology. Addressable LEDs everywhere

My snow pants had a recco thingy, which I have later learned is a harmonic reflector (900MHz, 1.8 GHz).

All the ski lifts have rfid reader gates, so you keep an rfid card in your left pocket.
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genebren 1 month ago in reply to scottiebabe

Wow! Very cool!
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beacon_dave 1 month ago in reply to scottiebabe

"...My snow pants had a recco thingy..."

It is always good to know where your pants are when caught in an avalanche...

"...so you keep an rfid card in your left pocket..."

Progress. In the ol' days you used to get handed a paperclip like wire frame which you had to straighten out and poke through the little hole in your jacket zipper and then carefully fold an adhesive label over it such that it stuck to itself and the wire frame. All whilst holding your skis, sticks, gloves and whilst it was blowing a gale.
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scottiebabe 1 month ago in reply to beacon_dave

Can't imagine trying to hold onto a rope for 15 minutes being pulled uphill

This year smart wearable airbags are mandatory at the Olympics
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beacon_dave 1 month ago in reply to scottiebabe

Never tried a rope tow but I guess it depends on the steepness of the incline. Still a lot easier than walking I expect. On some of the T-bar and Poma button tows, it can feel more like a chairlift at times as you hit the steep bits where the snow has drifted.

I wish I had body armour one year as I was hit in the head by a swinging T-bar. The person behind me on the tow, instead of letting it slow and wind up as it went around the end pylon at the top, just let go fully extended and skied off as I got clobbered with it.
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