Mt Hood Ski Resorts Still Open with Base over 15 Feet

While Timberline Lodge boasts year round skiing in Oregon, most other resorts close down a few months shy of summer. But this year may compare with the late skiing season of two years ago, when Mt Hood Meadows was able to keep lifts going until June.

“So long as our skier visits tally 4,000 or more on a weekend, we’ll commit to open the following weekend,” Matthew Drake, chairman and CEO of Mt. Hood Meadows, wrote on his blog. This is good news for skiers and snowboarders that wish to take advantage of cheaper spring season lift tickets and season passes.

This week, the weather has been that of a more typical Mt Hood spring season, with bright blue skies, warm air, and blooming wildflowers. But just last week, as order to remove snow-tires were issues, there was still a layer of snow on the roads as far west as Welches area. So far, no plans have been made to plow and open roads to snow-covered campgrounds, lakes, viewpoints, or hiking trails. But the good news is, you can rent a pair of snow-shoes and head into the snowy back-country of the Mt Hood wilderness area.

High Winds Forced Timberline Lodge to Close Lifts Yesterday

It was an extremely windy day yesterday, so much so - that Timberline made the decision to close down the lift. It was a small price to pay for safety, though!

Today is a gorgeous day, very clear - but it's cold! Gear up for cold weather if you're headed up to the mountain, as the clear skies make for an extra nippy day. The wind has slowed down a bit, and Timberline has reopened the lift, which runs today from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. The temperature is a chilly 24 degrees, and be prepared for snow-covered roads, there is 11" of new snow on the mountain in the past three days!

The Road to Trillium Lake

I've wanted to go up to Trillium Lake while there is snow on the ground and take a few pictures, but I lack the proper gear to go trodding through the snow at this point. That's the problem with living up here, some people (such as myself) sometimes take the beautiful area that surrounds us for granted. For instance, we had about 7 pairs of skis two years ago, and now - not one. We just tend to get involved in daily activities, rather than parttake in all of the fun we once imagined having.

The picture to the right is the road to Trillium Lake in February of 2007, the last trip I attempted to get to the lake with snow on the ground. There was only a few feet on the ground on that day, and the weather was beautiful. It was warm enough to wear only a tee shirt and shorts and be comfortable. But, after about 1/3 of a mile of walking in mushy-up-to-our-ankles snow, we realized that we were in over our heads if we expected to make the minimum 4-1/2 mile round trip we planned. If we made it to our destination, we would have a picture from the same location as the main 3-pane picture that appears at the top of the page (which was taked during the summer season). I would imagine that there is a beautiful picture waiting to be taken now, with all of the recent snow fall. After last February's experience, we will wait until we are better prepared for the trek.

Perhaps we would have made it with ease if we had snowshoes or cross-country skis. Or even a dog sled would have kept us above the slushy under-crust - like the well prepared people we saw coming from one of the side paths with their small pack of dogs. But somehow I don't picture our bulldog pulling us on a sled . . . pulling us by the pant-legs - that I can see. But a sled - not so much.

Tons of Snow on Mt Hood and the Ski Season Kicks Off

Well, after a few days of the weather forecasters giving wishy-washy reports, we can finally see for ourselves that the ski season has finally kicked off! I have heard the saying "I wish it would just snow already" from just about everyone in "the Hood". It was a strange start this year, with frost on the ground in late October, and then sunny warm days to follow. For those who wanted to enjoy a late fall hike - it was perfect weather. But as the rain crept in and tempuratures dropped, most of us just wanted to snow to fall - and it finally has . . . is. Yep - it's snowing now, and has been nearly all day. There's even snow at the base of the mountain, all the way down to Sandy on the west side along Highway 26. If you're on the east side - we'd love to hear about the snowfall on your side!

So while the forecasters wait until Saturday for their snowfall in the valleys and possibly even downtown Portland - we've got a beautiful blanket of fluffy, white, sticky snow - and all of the Mt Hood ski resorts will be open. For all of you who've been waiting - either we'll see you there - or tell you all about it. Either way, enjoy!

A Brief Lesson in Avalanche Safety

Test for the possibility of avalanche by digging a straight horizontal line across the snow about two feet wide, and at least 6 to 10 inches deep. Then dig downward at a right angle from each end of your initial line, then complete a square by digging another line paralell to the first, leaving a raised square in the center. Lock your hands around the top of the square you have built in the snow, and pull downward, in order to determine the strength of the snowpack. If the snow seems solid, it is probably okay to climb on it. However, if you are able to slide the square of snow downward relatively easily, you may be in danger of causing an avalanche by climbing on the surface of the snow.

Caught in an avalanch, a person buried may have only 15 minutes to live before suffocating. If you are caught in an avalanch, you could be disorientated, and not know which way is up or down. One way of finding out which way to dig yourself out would be to spit. Due to natural gravitational pull, your spit will always fall downward, telling you which way is up. Once you have determined the upward direction, you can begin to dig upward,

Timberline Reached 95 Degrees

It was an amazingly hot day at Timberline today. We went up to the lodge with family who had never seen the beautiful mountain, and thought it would be a cool retreat from the sweltering heat below, but it wasn't. We were so hot, we bought clothing that was cooler than what we wore, hoping to cool off a bit. As a local, I withstood the comments about being a tourist as I sported my new Timberline tank top. But the real mystery was how the skiers and snowboarders could stand being dressed in full winter gear as they descended the glaciers, landing in the parking lot below. A group of them left the mountain donned in snow hats and sweatshirts, ski jackets, and other winter clothing as I fought to stay cool in the near 95 degree weather!

Lost Hikers Found on Mt Hood in Good Condition

Wonderful news that the five people who were lost were located last night around 11:30, and were brought back by a snow cat to Timberline Lodge early this morning. There were no injuries, thankfully, to either the search and rescue teams or the hikers.

There just can't be enough emphasis on the good that a mountain locator unit and GPS coordinates can provide, making these rescues quick and precise. The climbing party consisted of Portland residents Brian Anderson, 24, Ben Elkind, 22, and Jeremiah West, 28, as well as Hillsboro resident Brian Weihs, 39, and Lake Oswego resident Bryce Benge, 29. The hikers were faced with whiteout conditions, wind gusts were around 20 to 30 mph and tempuratures hovering around 20 degrees. If not for the preparation these hikers took when they equipped themselves with a cell phone and a mountain locator unit, things certainly could have turned out quite different.

Roads Closed and Bridges Washed Out on Mt Hood Backroads

In an earlier post, I described some troubles we had on a recent trip around Mt Hood. Had I done a little preliminary research, I would have found out that some of the roads are obstructed, bridges are washed out, and passages are blocked by downed trees.

However, like so many people who know the backroads of the mountain pretty well, we were flying by the seat of our pants. We figured that if we used common sense, and turned back if and when necessary, it wouldn't matter much if we had to change courses. Sure it took a little more time (and gas), but it was a beautiful trip.

But for those of you who use the other kind of common sense, here's a report about what to look for around the Mt. Hood National Forest.

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What a Trip! Fun From Mt Hood to Portland and Back Again

As we found out the hard way! The radio news said that all roads to the lakes from the Columbia River to Bend area were open, but we found out differently as we tried to take a short day trip. The weather was great, so we thought it would be fun to take a trip from Mt. Hood area (home) to Portland. Our first stop was the Portland Saturday Market, where we ate, shopped, then sat back and enjoyed a blues band. then to the Columbia Gorge and Hood River, through the orchards and forest to Lost Lake, back down to Lolo Pass, then through the pass to Zig Zag, Oregon. When you live in the area, the mountain's flanks and foothills naturally becomes part of your backyard. This trip should have been easy and quick, but we ran into a few snags.

From the time we left the Portland Saturday Market, (take 84/30 east toward The Dalles from Portland) we followed the Columbia River via Hwy 84 east, (you can also take the smaller, more scenic Hwy 30 which follows the same route in order to visit the beautiful waterfalls, but that was not our mission for the day.)

We took the first exit in Hood River from Hwy 84, and went through the beautiful downtown area of Hood River, then onto Hwy 35, then exit west and pass through Odell and Dee, where we were followed by the Sheriff for about 10 miles through various sudden speed limit changes. We eventually found our way out to Lost Lake Rd. and followed it up towards Lost Lake. However, while we were on the last 6-mile stretch uphill, we found snow. I couldn't tell you how close we actually got to the lake, there was another car parked there and no people in sight. We chose to turn around and go back to Lolo Pass.

We took Lolo Pass, knowing it came out on the west side of Mt Hood, just a few miles from home. Lolo Pass offered some great scenery, there were a few trees down, but the big logs had been cut to open the road. We saw a sign letting us know that Hwy 26 was now just 17 miles away from us - great! We're almost home! Not so much...

About 15 miles from Hwy 26 on Lolo Pass, we came across two huge piles of rubble and trees (seemingly intentional) blocking the road. Yeah, by then we were bummed out. We even got out of the car to stare at the untouchable road on the other side of the monsterous blockage. Once again feeling elated, we followed our own dirt trails and headed back down to Dee and Parkdale. We even saw our friendly Sheriff again as we passed through an intersection. We headed out to Hwy 35 again, travelled south towards Government Camp to Hwy 26 west, and went back home. I did happen to notice that the road to Trillium Lake was closed as well, which was part of our original unrevised plan.

What a day - beautiful and sunny, high gas prices, closed roads, and gorgeous views. Typical of the end of April in the Mt. Hood area. Our digital camera wasn't cooperating much after the Saturday Market, so we were only able to snap a few awkward shots of the mountain and orchards with the camera-phone. So much for beautiful pictures of the lakes. Next time I'll remember to bring snow-worthy shoes, just in case.

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Wilderness Survival Spring Hiking Tips

As winter fades away, we tend to forget the dangers that are present when going on hikes in the spring. Rain and ice are still a very real danger during this time of year, but the deceivingly clear skies tend to fool us into thinking it's warm outside. Protect yourself, and be prepared for either winter weather, or spring sunshine. A wise man I know says, "It's Oregon, bring your sunglasses and your umbrella." Remind yourself of the following when traveling, hiking or biking in the forest:

• Tell someone else where you are going, so that if there is trouble - someone will know where to begin looking for you.
• Bring a backpack with your basic needs.
• Know what your plan is if the weather turns bad quickly, as it often does in the spring.
• Bring something plastic to cover yourself with, such as a poncho, large trash bag, or tarp in case you are caught in the rain while in a wide open space with little or no cover available.
• If there is a chance of rain, avoid lower-elevation hikes that run along the rivers to lessen the chance of being caught in swelling waters or flooding.
• Stay on logging roads or well traveled back-roads if you are driving.
• Use 4-wheel drive on dirt roads where puddles could be thick mud, and many times are deeper than they appear.
• Be prepared for snow, ice, freezing water, hail, and bright sun. Around here, you could see it all in one day. Night tempuratures are still below freezing in many areas.
• Higher elevations are still snowy and icy, and some roads are still closed - Even if they are not marked as closed, some roads are simply located in higher elevations, and could be blocked by snow. Many roads are not plowed all winter, and could pose a serious threat to people stuck in their vehicle in the snow.
• Studded snow tires are no longer allowed for normal driving at this time of year. If you are driving in higher elevations, and you come across snow on the road, do not continue to rise in elevation without proper equipment to deal with snow.

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Weather Alert and Snow Advisory for Portland Oregon

There has been a snow advisory for the Northwest, mostly in the Cascades, but even the West Hills area of Portland is experiencing quite a bit of snow. Freezing levels are down as low as the 500-ft level, but residents on the valley floor are even seeing the snow fall. Some schools in the area are switching to snow routes for the busses, and others have already reported to be closed. Check the local news channels, there should be a marquee on the bottom showing which schools are two hours late, and which have already closed.

As the storm moves through the Cascades, the Columbia Gorge and the Dalles will getting their fair share of snow as well. Here in the area east of Sandy, The Mt. Hood Corridor - including Brightwood, Welches, Zig Zag, and Rhododendron will see some snow on the road, and it could be icy if you're driving to work this morning. As for the conditions on the mountain, there should be a lot of fresh powder to play in by this weekend. Get your skis out of the closet, pack up the snowboard, and head on out to Mt. Hood to enjoy this February fun. For the latest conditions up on the mountain, the Timberline Lodge website has updated conditions.

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Tips for Surviving Cold Weather in the Wilderness

Mt. Hood is the most climbed mountain in the United States, but that doesn't mean it's a walk in the park. As we saw with the three missing climbers who tackled the mountain in early December, even experienced climbers can lose their lives if things go wrong. There have been six deaths on Mt. Hood this winter season, but in the past one hundred years, there have been over 130 deaths. Mt. Hood is not considered to be an extremely difficult climb, many beginners summit the mountain, but the weather can change in an instant, leaving climbers in white-out conditions with zero visibility, and no safe way to descend. There may come a time when knowing what to do when faced with below freezing conditions could keep you alive long enough to be rescued.

There are some key factors that will prevent loss of body heat, which is one of the first concerns when exposed to the freezing elements. You can loose 40-45% of your body heat through your head. A simple beanie can help keep the heat circulating through your body, adding a protective layer between your brain, and the harsh elements at hand, but the better your head gear, the less heat you'll lose. But too many layers and you may sweat, which in freezing conditions, could mean death. Besides the head, keeping the neck, chest, wrists, and ankles warm helps to keep the blood supply warm. Shelter provides an escape from the elements, as well as additional protection against loss of body heat.

Keeping warm and dry are essentials when facing cold tempuratures. When clothing gets wet, body tempuratures can drop 25 times faster. If your clothing becomes wet, it is better to strip them off and dry them, which would require building a fire or other heat source to quickly dry your wet clothing. Take great care not to allow your body to overheat, which will also produce dampened clothing. Once clothing is wet, freezing to death becomes a very real possibility.

In an attempt to hydrate the body, many people would instinctively eat snow. The logic is that snow will melt into water in the mouth. However, eating snow will actually cause you to lose more body heat, and it is highly recommended that you melt the snow and drink the water. Use ice if it's available, because ice melts faster and produces more water than snow. If you have a fire and a tin can, melting ice would be easiest, but you can also use a water bag between the layers of your clothing if you must keep moving or there is no fire.

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Multnomah County Sheriff's Office Enforces "Slow Down Move Over"

For the past two years, I have lived on East Hwy 26, towards Mt. Hood. I have seen two dog from our family get hit, heard stories of children, friends, pedestrians trying to cross, (there is a whole community living among the trees out here, even though you can’t really see us! We’re not talking tree-hugging hairy hippies, either; we’re talking about lawyers, doctors, business owners, teachers, and many other professionals.) The Mt. Hood Corridor is a thriving community of villages, and it’s really sad that people don’t care enough about life, human or otherwise, that they zoom through the mountain areas at speeds upwards of 75 miles an hour! The speed limit starts off at a low 25 mph in Sandy. Once outside of Sandy, there is a long stretch where the limit is 55 mph until you get just west of Welches, where the speed limit drops down to 45 mph until you leave Rhododendron, then it is again raised to 55 mph. I’m amazed almost on a daily basis that there are drivers who will honk and swerve to avoid a car that is moving at the proper speed limit.

One of the rules of the road out here is that when there is an emergency vehicle on the side of the road, drivers are supposed to move to the farther lane, so that there is a “safety cushion” between you and the emergency vehicle, and if you can’t move over, you’re to slow down. But many drivers don’t do either, putting lives in serious danger. Police officers put their lives on the line every day, but most don’t realize how dangerous a routine stop can become. When it comes to stopping on the side of the road, it’s a little known danger that these officers face each and every time they pull someone over.

Maybe you’ve heard the saying, “It’s not you I’m worried about, it’s the other drivers that scare me.” The saying is true for officers of the law as well. Unfortunately the uniform doesn’t protect them from drivers coming too close to them while they are parked on the roadside. It becomes our responsibility, as we share the road, to help protect those who are on the side of the road, either law enforcement, or travelers with car trouble, we should help keep the road safe. It’s not just robberies, gunfire, and public mayhem that are dangers that police officers are facing, but another threat. It is a danger not only on the city streets, but on the highways and freeways as well. It is one of the few dangers that officers face every time they pull someone over. It is the danger of being hit by a passing car. Drivers must follow certain laws when sharing the road with an emergency vehicle whose lights are flashing. Multnomah County Sheriffs are collectively trying to bring awareness to the danger that drivers put emergency vehicle drivers in when they don’t follow the laws. Read more on the laws here.

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news, Oregon, police, Portland, safety

An End to the Beautiful Sunny Skies

Well after a week or so of beautifully blue skies, we are again getting the rain that the Pacific Northwest is known for. For some, it's a relief, there are some strange people like me that love the rain. But it does cause some issues, such as the dog and kids dragging mud through the house, and slippery streets and highways. However, this is a great opportunity to get some great time on the slopes on Mt. Hood, because the snow levels have already dropped as far as Government Camp. Don't forget to check the weather before you go, Highway 26 can get a little icy, so check out the road conditions as well. All in all, there should be great skiing and snowboarding this weekend, with all the rain that's coming down over the Portland area, and the storm continuing on into the weekend, there's bound to be a thick white layer of fresh powder by Saturday. Just im time for a great weekend getaway!

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Tips for Planning Your Winter Weekend Getaway

If there's one thing all the locals know, it's the patterns of tourists, skiers, snowboarders, and outdoor enthusiasts that frequent the area. We know when the traffic will get heavier, we know what types of trouble travelers end up in, and the common mistakes that they make - because we've seen it all before. Now it's time to share the knowledge!

First thing, and most common, is that many people drive too far to be able to get their snow-parks passes and fishing licenses, and then find themselves having to drive back down the mountain to get them, wasting valuable fishing, hiking, and snow time. Although you can get them many places throughout the mountain area, high traffic weekends can cause many local vendors to run out. If you know you need one before you leave, stop at the first place you see that has them advertised. You can buy a snow-park pass at Hoodland Thriftway, but the fishing licenses are sold at the local fly fishing shop just west of the grocery store. However, your best bet is to buy them in Sandy, because if for any reason there is a shortage of passes up on the mountain, you certainly don't want to have make a 15 mile trip back to Sandy from Welches. If you make it all the way to Government Camp without your passes, and if you can't find one up there, you'll be forced to drive nearly 30 miles back to town.

Fred Meyers is the last stop for guaranteed clothing, although there are a few stops along the way that may have a few t-shirts and sweatshirts on sale as souveniers. Although there is also the occasional deal on pajama bottoms, throws, and jackets for sale outside of Hoodland Thriftway, but don't forget your underwear or shoes - because you just won't find those on the mountain. The thing is, Sandy is considered the gateway to Mt. Hood, and for good reason. It's not that you can't get to the mountain using other routes, or that Sandy is trying to promote itself as a city, it really is the last stop before you get out into the national forest areas, and there just isn't much in the way of shopping on the mountain. Let's face it, most people don't go up to Mt. Hood to shop.

Getting a place to call home for the weekend can present a whole new challenge on busy weekends. Many places are booked up in advance, but even if you plan to stay in one of the resorts, you will end up paying a pretty penny for your stay. If you're skiing or snowboarding, you might be able to find a few packaged deals, such as your room and lift tickets combined into one good price. But if you have other plans, and aren't going to use the lifts, you may wish to cut costs, and to add to the experience of staying up in the mountain area by renting a cabin for the weekend, or even sharing one with other travelers to save money. Many of them are beautifully furnished to sleep six to ten people comfortably, separate rooms, and a large number of them feature jacuzzis or hot tubs for those who love to snuggle up on those cold winter nights. Most of them are about $99 a night, but that's a steal compared to some of the prices to stay in the resorts or the typical hotel-type visit. For some really great deals on cabins last minute, check the vacation rentals on Craigslist or Mt. Hood Info.

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mountains, Mt Hood, Oregon, trip planning, vacation, winter

Sled Safety Could Save Lives

There's been a lot of snow all over the Pacific Northwest, and Portland area had plenty fun places to take a sled, tobagan, or snowboarding and skiing on the mountain. For some reason, there were also quite a few snow accidents that came with the fresh powder dropped on the area. This is no different than it has been over many years, I had a few accidents as a kid that ended with hospital visits and a few broken bones here and there. But there were some real tragedies this year around the area.

• There was a 17-year old who was stabbed over a misguided snowball during a youthful snowball fight near a street when the packed snow hit a passing car.
• There was a 9-year old girl who died while being pulled on an intertube by her dad's truck when she struck a brick bench.
• A 14-year old boy was pinned under a car for several minutes after sledding into the road.
• And what the heck are these Portland drivers doing? (Video - courtesy of YouTube...)

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mountain life, mountains, Oregon, outdoors, safety, winter

Flooded Rivers Cause Major Damage in Mt. Hood Area

During the month of November, there were higher than normal levels of rainfall. In fact, in the Portland area, the rainfall for the month was nearly 12 inches, double the average for this time of year. The excess water on the ground has brought about a change in the usual course of the Sandy River in several places. Houses with river views were closer than ever to the river's edge as the swelling waters of the river changed its route. Sandy River flows along a similar path as Highway 26 through the Mt. Hood Corridor.

White River overflowed across Highway 35, which is located on the east side of Mt. Hood, creating 20-foot gouges through the highway, taking out trees and boulders with it. Another area of the highway was destroyed by two creeks washing out a section north of the White River incident, and it is reported that reopening the highway may cost around $20 million.

Severe Weather Wreaks Havoc in the Northwest

Okay, a personal rant due to the recent weather events just may be in order here. I don't normally let a whole month go by without a post, but the weather really created problems for many internet users throughout the Mt. Hood area in the past few weeks. My last post, dated November 16th which was a lucky day for me, the only day out of a month long stretch that I was able to access the internet.

The first in a series of heavy weather systems that blew through the Pacific Northwest region knocked my internet service provider for a few days. My power went out for several hours, and when it came back on, my modem was malfunctioning. I replaced the modem, thinking that this would solve the problem, but the replacement was not nearly as good as the V.92 modem that lost functionality. But replacing the modem still didn't allow me to get online, and my computer was beginning to malfunction as well. So, after several weeks of checking settings, replacing phone lines, power cords, and a friendly visit from the local phone company, I managed to obtain a very slow internet connection, (most of the areas between Sandy and Government Camp lack DSL, so I make due with dial-up for now.)

After doing a Google search on the November storms in Oregon, and reading a few local blogs, I realized that I was not the only one suffering internet complications. But I guess I should be satisfied that I could gain access to the internet once again, right? Anyone else waiting as impatiently as I am for DSL to arrive in the Mt. Hood corridor? Being reduced to dial-up after living in high-tech speedy Los Angeles, it's a little like going from watching a DVD to the days of my father and his picture slide shows! I guess I'll just keep waiting...

High Winds and New Snow

The wind was incredible over the past few days, knocking out power lines, toppling trees, and downed telephone service. Yep, it was windy - hurricane force winds blew through northwestern Oregon into the 90 mph zone continuously at times. But on the bright side, there is a great layer of several feet of new snow on the slopes on Mt. Hood, and that's going to make the ski season all the better.

We are about 20 miles southwest of Mt. Hood, and the weather has definitely changed over to that icy feel of approaching winter, as we anxiously await the snowfall...well at least some of us! I can hear the grumpies now, "I hate driving in the snow," or "It gets everything dirty." Well, winter-haters can go to the drier side of the mountain, because this area is known for up to 120 inches of precipitation per year, as opposed to the milder rainfall of around 60 inches per year in neighboring Portland, Oregon. Either way, I'm loving it - except when the wind knocks out my internet connection!

Winter Preparation and Fire Safety

The rain is here, the temperature has dropped, and it's a great time to gear up, stock up, and get ready for colder weather. This is a great time of year to make sure that you have everything that you will need for the winter, and be prepared before the cold season sets in. This can include checking your winter heating supplies, whether you need wood - or simply turning on your heating elements to check if everything is in working order.

Since the first really cold nights are when most people discover that there heating source is either broken or weak, it's generally a good idea to turn it on a few times before the heart of winter sets in, especially if you live in an area that packs a thicker blanket of snow. Of course there are no guarantees as to when an appliance or heating element can go out, making sure that it is not out now is a good idea. Chances are that if you can run your heater for a few hours with no problems, it will run for a good long time. Make sure that you clean the dust and cobwebs out of any vents before running it for the first time, as these can add to fire dangers. Remember the chimney project you've been meaning to work on? Now is the best time to take care of things like that, before the fire danger becomes an issue. Cleaning out any debris that has collected, and cleaning out the "soot" or creosote that builds up in the pipes can prevent a deadly and fast burning attic fire.

Make sure that all of your smoke detectors are present and working. There should be at least one for every bedroom in the home, plus at least one more near the main area of the house. If you don't have at least this many, you should get some. Having working smoke detectors can make all the difference in the world when a fire breaks out while the residents are asleep. Be sure that all escape routes are well known in the household, and that all exits are free and clear of stored items or debris. Again, this is one safety precaution that could help you escape danger.

With the recent rains, this is a great opportunity to check the seals on windows for any water leakage, check the attic for any indication of a leaky roof (before it saturates your attic!) Warm the house and then run your fingers along the windows and doorjams to check for cool air entering your home - this can save you hundreds of dollars over the course of one winter!