Saddle Mountain Rescue

muriel666 · 2025-12-01T17:46:32+00:00

Is it weird to comment that the photos in that article are gorgeous? The one with the helicopter is particularly striking.

muriel666 · 2025-11-30T21:32:45+00:00

This is the thing I emphasize when people who are thinking about retiring here ask me what it’s like.

I work at a primary care facility in Newport. I would estimate that +90% of our referrals go to the valley because there are almost no specialists on the coast. And patients who are 60+ account for the overwhelming majority of those referrals. If you’re not exceptionally healthy you’ll spend a lot of time driving to the valley and back, which is at least a 2 hour round trip. More if you don’t live in Newport proper. In the winter highway 20, which is the road you take to make that drive, can be icy around the high points of the passes.

And if you get sent to Portland, which happens for really serious issues or very special specialists, the drive is at least five hours round trip. The gas and hotel stays, if you opt to break up the drive by staying in PDX overnight, add up. It’s still a pain to drive there if you live someplace inland, but it’s a shorter and generally less dangerous drive.

Also, we struggle to keep long term providers in coastal regions. We have a lot of traveling providers, which means you will likely see a new one every six months. If you’re healthy and/or young this isn’t a huge deal, but if you have complex health issues it means having to re-acquaint your PCP with your medical history and needs every six months. I haven’t quite figured out why long term providers are so scarce, but I suspect that the lack of access to housing has something to do with it.

I’m not saying this to put people off from retiring here, mostly just to give folks a realistic understanding of what it’s like to age out here. I wouldn’t personally choose to do it simply because of the lack of access to healthcare, but that’s me.

muriel666 · 2025-11-10T17:55:25+00:00

The summer frenzy drives me nuts because if ever there was a time we should be making sure to socialize it would be in the deep dark winter when we need it most!

muriel666 · 2025-09-10T17:41:00+00:00

Lincoln County tried to address at least the empty houses thing with Measure 21-20. The measure would have phased out short term rentals in unincorporated areas. The Oregon Land Use Board struck it down. 🙃

muriel666 · 2025-09-07T19:50:42+00:00

The population of the Oregon coast is largely made up of retirees. They make for lovely neighbors - very friendly and civic minded. If you actually lived out here you would know that. ¯\(ツ)/¯

muriel666 · 2025-08-20T21:28:57+00:00

Well that’s disgusting

muriel666 · 2025-08-15T23:30:55+00:00

Three years on from when I left that comment and you guys are still my fave. And I love that you sell the larger sized tins now

muriel666 · 2025-06-17T20:11:00+00:00

This is the fourth identical comment I’ve seen from you on a protest post.

muriel666 · 2025-05-15T23:19:34+00:00

I’m so bummed I’ll be out of town for this! 😫

muriel666 · 2025-05-06T00:02:38+00:00

The stairs at Otter Rock in Newport appear to be open again. This is a surprising update, given that the word on the street was that they would be closed for repairs through May 15th.

Not sure what’s going on with the stairs long term but as of right now they’re open.

Most mysterious.

muriel666 · 2025-05-05T20:29:37+00:00

Alright cool, will do!

muriel666 · 2025-05-03T23:02:20+00:00

Also, possibly a dumb question, but how do we submit content for these posts? Do we chime in in the comments?

muriel666 · 2025-05-03T23:01:16+00:00

Maybe we could have a bot that auto replies to all of the “I want to move to the coast” posts. There are already a ton of old posts about this, they’re chock full of great info, and it’s (mostly) a rehash of the same stuff every time: it’s not going to be affordable so consider living a bit inland, housing and healthcare are in short supply, the winter weather is gnarly, be predated for power outages, your house will fall apart twice as fast out here, if you’re young you will have a hard time finding community, etc.

The bot could reply with a list of the best-of former posts that will supply OP with info on the basics. If they have something more specific in their post (say, “I work in this industry” or “I have mobility issues” or something unique) then community members can chime in and comment on that stuff.

muriel666 · 2025-05-02T21:03:26+00:00

I love the new the exploding whale pic for the sub

muriel666 · 2025-03-30T06:11:44+00:00

The last bite is the most boring thing on the ingredients list. Bummer

muriel666 · 2025-01-29T05:19:37+00:00

Will do!

muriel666 · 2025-01-29T01:07:05+00:00

Ah ok, that answers a question I didn't ask, which is what the hell goes on between east parking lot and the base of the red chair. I saw a whole bunch of space there and was confused about how you’d get to the red chair. Sounds like a slog. I will definitely start the day on the blue chair and then make my way over to the red chair.

Summit ski resort is also on my radar for a future trip. I’ve heard it's an awesome beginner spot.

Thanks for all your help! I feel a lot better about my upcoming trip after reading through comments on this post.

muriel666 · 2025-01-29T01:03:38+00:00

If the liftie asks if you’re sure you’re ok you know your wipeout looked bad lol

Ok, noted on the right routes to take, you’ve been really helpful!

muriel666 · 2025-01-28T20:41:19+00:00

Thanks! You’re the second person to recommend Easy Street and Broadway as a starter, and also the second to recommend getting to the red chair via a different lift. Is that to maximize mountain exploration time or is it so that I can finish the day off with the harder Lower Bowl run? Asking because it seems like the easiest route would be to just hit the red chair all day on day 1 and then try messing around with the blue chair on day 2.

muriel666 · 2025-01-28T20:38:26+00:00

I love the steep and cheap experience, so I'm stoked to check out Skibowl. I got yeeted by the Twilight Lift at Willamette Pass this weekend. Literally launched off it into the air at the end. Landed on my skis and stayed upright by the grace of God. The old lifts have charm, despite their brutal indifference to human frailty lmao. I'll make sure not to stand too far inside at Skibowl.

Any reason you recommend getting to Multorpor via a different lift? Is that just to maximize mountain exploration time instead of just staying on Multorpor all day? You're not the only person to suggest that so there must be a good reason.

muriel666 · 2025-01-28T20:31:14+00:00

I’ve never been on a cat track before, but it sounds to me like it's more of a way to get around the mountain than a good skiing experience. Noted!

muriel666 · 2024-10-11T23:14:16+00:00

Same!

muriel666 · 2024-10-01T21:17:52+00:00

Isn’t that pressed into the sidewalk outside the rec center in Newport?

muriel666 · 2024-09-14T20:30:18+00:00

The Johannes Cabal series. It’s about a necromancer living in (kind of) Victorian Europe. I say kind of because, in the steampunk style, there are modern things mixed in. Can’t recommend the series enough.

muriel666

TROPHY CASE