Blue skies, 45 degrees Fahrenheit and a lightened workload Wednesday afternoon meant it was time for me to get out for a rare midweek winter bike ride.

In full disclosure, the lightened workload was due to early deadlines this week since mail delivery was suspended Thursday in honor of the late peanut farmer. Side note: I heard a story once that Jimmy Carter was an honest man. The end.

The late president saw a UFO and filed a report while governor of Georgia. He also promised to release UFO information during his 1976 presidential campaign. Once elected, he said it would pose a threat to national security. Post-presidency, Carter was hesitant to discuss it but would confirm his experience.

While no UFO sightings on my ride out to the Maston trails, the sprawling High Desert, Sisters and rest of the Oregon Cascades were in full view. The 10 or so vehicles in the parking lot upon arrival signified to me that I had made the right call. The trails and surrounding gravel roads were tacky superhighways.

Trail conditions have improved significantly this week, especially at lower-elevation trailheads. Other systems that are likely worth a visit this week include Cascade View, Horse Ridge, Horse Butte and Madras East Hills. Temperatures are forecasted to drop in town this weekend with highs in the 30s. Expect to encounter frozen ground into the afternoon.

After some midweek spring skiing, local ski areas are predicted to get a refresh of a couple of inches of snow this weekend. Hopefully, the holiday crowd has shipped out and the Bachelor traffic dies down. Because I’m a little sick of the moaners. Enjoy time in the snow, or wherever you decide to spend it this weekend.

Below are some recommended spots for recreation. For mountain biking and other trail-specific updates, check out bendtrails.org and the BendTrails Facebook group.

Groomers, possible refresh at local ski areas

Mt. Bachelor

Mt. Bachelor ski area had seen no new snow in two days Thursday, according to the mountain report. After last week’s 5-foot accumulation, 18 inches of snow fell on the mountain this week. On Thursday, the mid-mountain forecast forecasted a couple of inches of snow Friday and another inch Sunday afternoon.

Temperatures are expected to be in the mid-20s Saturday and drop into the teens on Sunday. Winds should remain around 20 mph.

As of Thursday, Bachelor had received 240 inches of snow so far this season. The mountain’s base depth was 103 inches.

Hoodoo Ski Area

Hoodoo had received no new snow overnight Thursday. The ski area also didn’t expect any new snow, staff wrote in the ski area’s report. Ski surfaces were power-tilled. Hoodoo’s base depth was 66 inches Thursday. The ski area had received 143 inches of snow so far this season.

Willamette Pass Resort

Like Bachelor, Willamette Pass had also seen no new snow in two days, according to the snow report. As of Thursday, the resort had received 13 inches of snow over the week. Its base depth was 48 inches, and the resort had received a total of 120 inches of snow this season. All 30 trails and four of six lifts were open Thursday.

Find trophy-sized rainbows at Haystack

Anglers can catch trophy-size broodstock rainbow trout in Haystack Reservoir this winter. According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) website, excess brood rainbow trout were released into the reservoir last month.

Haystack was recently drained for maintenance but is now 85% full. ODFW warns anglers to prepare for possible slow fishing as the reservoir is restocked and fish populations rebound.

The parking lot near the handicap fishing pier remains open year-round. The campground boat ramps on the east and west side of the reservoir are closed for the season.

Haystack Reservoir is just east of Highway 97 from Culver, about a 45-minute drive north from Bend.

Check out the ODFW’s website for more fishing reports.

Sled, ski, snowmobile and more at Wanoga

Popular Wanoga Sno-park offers something for everyone, whether it’s cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, fatbiking, tubing or sledding. The sno-park has its own designated fatbike trails and sledding hill along with snowshoe trails and groomed ski trails. Wanoga also provides access to over 180 miles of groomed snowmobile trails between Crescent Lake and Santiam Pass from its large parking lot. Dogs are allowed on both motorized and non-motorized trails.

There is a warming shelter next to the restrooms in the sledding area as well as a warming shelter for snowmobilers between Wanoga and Three Creek Sno-park.

Shoot for a weekday, if you can. This is a popular destination for winter recreation on weekends. If you can hack it, head up on a weekday.

For a full list of conditions updated regularly, visit bendbulletin.com/explore/conditions.

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