If I feel guilty about something I do - in the green vein, it's driving 75 miles to go skiing. Sure I usually carpool, and my snow vehicle gets almost 30 miles per gallon, but still, it's an energy intensive sport.

I could save all that gasoline if the ski hills were a bit closer to town. Last week, they were.

Mt Pisgah, and Spencer butte- our local mountains aren't known for their ski slopes, but last weeks storms changed all that.

While lifts aren't part of the package, the way up pisgah is simple. Take the same trail you're used to hiking on. Spencer butte on the other hand requires a very dedicated skier. Seeing the normally green terrain under a blanket of white is worth all the effort- and you meet the nicest folks in the mountains.

The descent on the two peaks has a decidedly different feel too. With a 10 inch base, and 2 inches of new, the Mt Pisgah ski area offers everything from winding trails through the forest, to wide open meadows near the peaks base.

Spencer butte resort on the other hand rewards skiers with a steep descent whether it's done on skis, or another snow sliding surface.

With a skiable pack accumulating once every 20 years, it will be awhile before the condos go up at the base of the mountain.

Sure, skiing this way, the old fashioned way, takes more of your energy. But if there were a green way to ski, this would have to be it....oh, and it feels good too.

The principle of saving energy by vacationing close to home works on everything from hiking, boating, and biking to exteme skiing.