Meadows Blog
1/5/2012 1:08:00 AM
by Meadows Team
in Connection, Overcoming Inertia, Media Center
| 1 comment
Fred Noble skied Mt. Hood Wednesday - for what was probably his 2000th time. He's been skiing for more than five decades. He was a featured skier in some early Warren Miller films. He's traveled around the world and escaped death a number of times. Now he's taking on his next big adventure - ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease.
The disease is advancing, and is affecting his legs. Last year Fred skied as a "four tracker" using two "outriggers" - poles with skis on the bottom of them as crutches, along with his skis. This season, Fred will use a bi-ski - a seat mounted on skis that can be maneuvered by leaning.
Fred donated his outriggers to the Meadows adaptive sports program, for other four trackers to use. And Fred took several runs Wednesday.
Fred is the honorary chairman of the "Ski to Defeat ALS" coming up April 14. It's a vertical challenge event at Meadows - you can register online, get some pledges, take some runs and meet Fred. And raise money for the Oregon and SW Washington Chapter of ALS. For more information on the event, to make a pledge or to organize a team, visit the Ski to Defeat ALS website.
Fred was also featured at the Make A Hero movie premier of "The Movement" which appeared in Portland in November. Meadows is supporting the Make A Hero foundation with a special lift ticket offer. You can purchase the discount lift ticket from Make a Hero - and they receive the proceeds, which are designated to be donated back to Oregon adaptive sports organizations, and the local ALS chapter. You can purchase the lift ticket from MakeAHero.org.
Check out the coverage on KATU of Fred's day on the slopes.
11/10/2011 10:40:00 AM
by Meadows Team
in Connection, Media Center, Overcoming Inertia
| 0 comments
Mt. Hood Meadows is pleased to join Warren Miller and Robert Redford in supporting the Portland premiere of the new film, THE MOVEMENT. This award-winning film includes powerful action and interviews from some of the world's greatest disabled athletes. It tells the dramatic story of one man returning to the mountain where his life was changed forever. The film features music from U2, Foo Fighters, and k.d. lang. To watch the movie trailer and buy tickets visit
MakeAHero.org.
The movie generates funding for the Make A Hero Foundation which supports organizations which help individuals reconnect with their passion. Longtime local skiing legend Fred Noble will be featured at the Portland showing of "The Movement" - Fred has ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) and the local chapter of ALS is supporting him in his efforts to continue skiing, and to raise funds to support others who have the disease.
Trailer for The Movement and Video about Fred Noble
* Winner! Board Choice Award, 2011 Eugene International Film Festival *
* Official Selection: Starz Denver Film Festival, Anchorage International Film Festival *
The Movement will premiere for ONE SHOW ONLY in Portland:
• Sunday, November 20th at The Bagdad Theater. Buy Tickets
Tickets are $12 general admission—or purchase a VIP pass for $50 which includes reserved seating, a complimentary beverage, an autographed limited edition poster, a souvenir VIP badge, and an exclusive meet and greet with the film's producer/director Kurt Miller and featured athlete Jim Martinson. Proceeds from the show benefit local adaptive sports groups.
For more details and to buy tickets, visit MakeAHero.org.
Tickets for the show also available at Hill Crest Sports outlets.
As Warren Miller narrates, "This is a movement for—movement itself."
And Robert Redford says: "It's about finding that turning point when physical disability is no longer a limitation, but a part of your character.”
6/19/2011 9:40:00 AM
by Meadows Team
in Connection, Overcoming Inertia
| 4 comments
This time between seasons gives a chance to pause, reflect and think about what we want to achieve next season. We initially envisioned SkiHood.com to become a community, where enthusiasts could come together and share their passion for Meadows and outdoor recreation. According to Alexa.com web site rating service, SkiHood.com is the most visited winter outdoor recreation site in Oregon – surpassing the visitation of other Oregon ski area web sites and even TravelOregon.com in the winter.
Our
Facebook page has grown to more than 21,000 likes or fans, which has helped to create a sense of community. But promoting the sports of skiing, snowboarding, Nordic, and general outdoor recreation creates an interesting oxymoron – should a virtual experience be created which may actually distract people from experiencing the real thing?
Ever hear of Harry Harlow? He’s a psychologist who conducted a series of controversial experiments on infant monkeys in the 1960s, isolating them for periods of up to 24 months. While we don’t condone these experiments, the results are startling.
Harlow wrote that total social isolation for the first six months of life produced "severe deficits in virtually every aspect of social behavior.” When initially removed from total social isolation, they usually go into a state of emotional shock. When exposed to other monkeys for the first time they would shriek in fear, run to a corner of the cage and stare at the floor. Isolates integrated with monkeys the same age who were reared normally "achieved only limited recovery of simple social responses."
As great as the internet is and online communities have become, we feel it is vital that SkiHood.com serves the passion of the community, and doesn’t try to replace it with a virtual experience. We need the very real physical, emotional and social stimulation which comes from this sport. The rush of fresh mountain air, the exhilaration of acceleration, exploring the mountain and sharing together with others can never be virtualized. Our concern is too much time spent online in isolation connected to a virtual community, may result in some of the social deficits experienced by Harlow’s subjects. Eventually, could “virtual” become “reality”? OK – didn’t mean to go all “the Matrix” on you.
We recently restructured our communications department to better serve the needs of our guests. SkiHood.com plays a huge role in delivering information, accurately, honestly and immediately through the
conditions page (the most visited page on our site) and throughout our site. In addition to the current weather, snow conditions, lift operational and parking lot status, we provide event, activity and special offers that may affect the days you want choose to visit Meadows.
This information is also delivered through our
eNews on a weekly basis during the season, through daily snow report emails, with
Twitter updates and when warranted on our
Facebook page. We’ve developed these services so you can choose the way you want to be informed of what’s happening at the mountain.
As technology advances, so will the ways in which we offer this information. Our site is totally functional on mobile platforms, so you can access this from your smart phone. We’ve also developed mobile apps for both the
iPhone and
Droid which you can download for $1.
How would you like us to communicate with you in the future? What improvements would you like to see in our web site and technologies that will serve your needs better?
You can use this blog to share your thoughts, or
email directly to Dave Tragethon, Executive Director of Communications.
Have a great summer. Get outdoors and recreate – or just sit back and soak up the splendor and beauty of nature. And get ready for the best ski season ever!
-- Meadows Team
4/17/2011 1:33:00 PM
by Meadows Team
in Connection, Media Center, Overcoming Inertia
| 16 comments
April 20 update: Heather Canyon opened at 11:31 AM from A-Zone to 1/2 Moon Bowl Wednesday. We'll continue to evaluate and control daily, and open when conditions allow.
Those that frequent this blog know that Heather hasn't been open much this wintery spring – due to continued avalanche potential from outside of our permit area. That potential displayed with large avalanches on March 10 and on March 30, both of which deposited debris next to the bottom terminal of the Heather lift, burying the run out to the bottom of the lift. The later one on the 30th started well above our permit area similar to last year’s event just much larger (
see 1.21.10 blog posting "Anatomy of an Avalanche).
With the unusual wintery weather we've received this spring, including more than four feet of snow the first week of April, the snow continues to reload and the avalanche hazard continues to be a concern. Similar weather and snow conditions exist and it is above the permit area that we have the most concerns. All of that must be taken into consideration when determining whether the canyon should be opened.
Our Pro Patrol continues to use artillery, throw explosives by hand and dig pits in an effort to reopen the canyon. There's a lot of snowcat work to make the lift accessible, including needing to dig the bottom of the lift out to be able to even load the chair. Due to the conditions snowcats have had very limited access time to conduct the work needed.
As we look forward to this week's forecast, we see some sunny days. That's promising as this weather may create a freeze / thaw pattern which could help to improve avalanche conditions above our permit area.
We haven't given up on the canyon – we will continue to evaluate conditions in and above, perform avalanche hazard reduction operations within our permit area and open it when conditions allow. We thank you for your patience, and for abiding by the closed rope boundaries. We want to open the canyon as much as our most passionate Heather enthusiasts, but only when we feel the conditions are appropriate to do so.
--Meadows Team
3/30/2011 3:03:00 PM
by Meadows Team
in Connection, Media Center, Overcoming Inertia
| 0 comments
Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort held two fundraising nights last week raised $7500 for Mercy Corps Japan disaster relief efforts. The resort offered a special lift ticket price and pledging $5 per ticket to Mercy Corps Japan disaster relief efforts. Additionally, donations were requested at Meadows restaurants and retail centers through the weekend, and Mercy Corps representatives were on hand to talk about how the Portland based organization is assisting the victims of Japan’s devastating earth quake and tsunami.
Resort Executive Director of Communications Dave Tragethon says the funds will be put to good use. “Mercy Corps is already providing relief efforts directly to those most affected by this tragedy. The monies raised will directly and instantly help the people of Japan.” Those wishing to contribute can do so at the
Meadows’ Mercy Corps web page.
Here are the latest developments from the Mercy Corps emergency response team:
March 26, 2011: Earlier this week, Mercy Corps delivered 510 kerosene space heaters and 80 family-sized emergency tents to survivors who are braving frigid temperatures in northeastern Japan.
In all, the team has distributed the following supplies to families in four disaster-stricken cities:
- three large shelters that can accommodate up to 100 people
- 164 smaller tents that hold up to five people each
- 1,720 blankets
- 1,210 kerosene space heaters
- 100,000 medical face masks
- towels, mattresses, clothing and bottled water
- 570 blue tarps for additional shelter
- and food items such as bread, instant rice, apples and oranges.
Those wishing to contribute directly to the relief efforts can do so here.
3/13/2011 2:35:00 PM
by Meadows Team
in Connection, Media Center, Trails Blog, Overcoming Inertia
| 35 comments
This account and pictures of the avalanche investigation is provided by Tighe Stoyanoff and Paul Klein of our ski patrol. You can click on the pictures to make them larger.
A pronounced fracture line runs across the top of Super Bowl - unlike the January 2010 major incident which started in Wy' East (which is still loaded with snow and presumably has the same persistent weak layering which contributed to the March 2011 Super Bowl slide).
Thursday's Investigation
On the morning of March 10th 2011, the Mt. Hood Meadows Professional Patrol conducted Avalanche Hazard Reduction routes and an Artillery mission that included the Super Bowl portion of the permit area. Weather conditions on the morning of the 10th did not allow for any visibility into the upper portions of the Heather or Clark drainages. The Heather Ridge route traveling through the Heather Canyon foothills on the tail end of their route found the deposition from a large avalanche at the confluence of the Clark and Heather Drainages. At that time visibility up drainage did not allow for confirmation of where this large event had initiated from. Debris extended past the bottom terminal of the Heather Chairlift, making travel difficult on skis or foot. The canyon remained closed for the day.
Friday's Investigation
As the sun came up on Friday the 11th, the weather forecast held true and visibility allowed for further Avalanche Hazard Reduction and investigation into the previous days events. Patrol personnel traveled to the fracture line of the avalanche at the 9000 foot level, very close to the top of our permit area. It was determined that the avalanche was triggered during our Artillery mission on the morning of the 10th just after 6:00 am. The slide ran on an old buried and persistent weak layer. Average height of the fracture was 5-6 feet with areas in excess of 12 feet. The hard slab traveled an estimated 3900 feet of vertical and 2.5 miles as the crow flies. Wy’east, the slope directly up hill of Super Bowl did not slide. It is presumed that Wy’east has the same persistent weak layer and similar loading that contributed to the slide at the 9000’ level in Super Bowl. The canyon remained closed for the day.
Saturday Open for "Touring"
Saturday the weather, snow pack, and some grooming near the bottom of the chair allowed Heather Canyon to open for a short time from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. Absolute Magnitude was the only gate open which allowed Patrol to better inform guests of the debris hazards and difficulty of access to the chair. Weather closed in again just before 11:00 am, causing increased concern for the Wy’east Face; resulting in the Canyon’s closure. Wy’east is outside of the Meadows permit area and receives no active Avalanche Hazard Reduction. Historically slides originating from Wy’east face have deposited debris in the lower portions of the Clark Creek drainage. Pictures speak more than these words in describing the magnitude of this slide and the challenges we face with this terrain.
Please obey all posted signs and closures. Heather will continue to be evaluated, at the time of this posting it is closed.
The mountain is the owner, we are but guests…………..
2/9/2011 5:00:00 PM
by Meadows Team
in Connection, Overcoming Inertia
| 0 comments
For a 64-year-old man with multiple sclerosis, skiing was never a hobby or pastime -- it was his passion and release from the everyday world. Eliot Bridge took to the hill again, on a sunny February day, after too many years away from the sport that encompassed much of his younger life.
Along with the help of Mt. Hood Meadows and its adaptive ski program, Bridge was placed on a bi-ski and led down the mountain for an unlimited number of turns on the snow-covered slopes of Mt. Hood. The trip was facilitated by Marquis Care at Forest Grove, a skilled nursing, assisted living and home health care company, and its New Chapters Program. The New Chapters Program encourages employees to listen to the dreams and hopes of residents and then work toward the realization of these, often life-long, aspirations.
Adam Fleck of Mt. Hood Meadows mComm covered Eliot's return to the slopes.
Bridge's love of skiing started at an early age as a member of his prep and high school ski teams in New Hampshire and Maine. An award-winning skier, Bridge went on to serve in the Navy as an air traffic controller and continued his love of the downhill sport on the Navy's ski team as a jumper and slalom skier. Bridge soon recognized the effects of his multiple sclerosis were growing too large to continue skiing in the same capacity of his youth. At that point, he joined the Veteran's Special Olympic Ski Team and won second place in the Special Olympics.
Bridge was joined by his wife; Matt Pool, an administrator at Marquis Care Forest Grove; and Phil Fogg, Jr., the president of Marquis Companies.
12/12/2010 5:01:00 AM
by Meadows Team
in Connection, Overcoming Inertia
| 0 comments
Maureen's love for skiing had been interrupted by something that has affected most of us - painful feet. For Maureen her ski day was being cut short by early afternoon as she just could not endure the severe aching her feet were experiencing. She has unusually high arches and her boots just weren't giving her the support she needed. The boots felt like they fit when she pulled them on in the morning, but the cumulative stress and pressure led to the pain which eventually took her off the mountain.
A trip to the Boot Lab and a session with retail manager Nate Turner made all the difference for Maureen. The custom boot fitting process is presented here - along with the immediate and significant change in comfort and performance that Maureen experienced her first day in her custom boots. She is reenergized and stoked that she no longer has to quit early due to pain and can fully enjoy the sport she loves.
Whatever is preventing you from getting out and totally enjoying an activity or pursuit - do something about it! If it's your passion, don't let annoyances get in the way, particularly when tecnology is available and affordable.
We'll see you on the mountain soon!
12/12/2010 5:00:00 AM
by Clint
in Connection, Guestimonials, Overcoming Inertia
| 0 comments
The past three seasons, I have been dealing with horrible foot pain from my boots. I have tried a bunch of different brands of boots and they all gave me trouble, actually, they were ruining my on hill experience. Finally, on opening day I had had enough of the pain and decided to go to the High Performance Center and see what they could do for me. I ended up talking to Matt Monboquette at the HPC about the issues I was having and he suggested that I get some conformable footbeds. Apparently he had just attended the Masterfit University and was gung-ho to make my boots work. Not only did he make my boots fit like they were made for me, he gave me all kinds of great tips about lacing and fit in general that I was previously oblivious to. The process is quick, easy and affordable! If your boots are hurting or you just want to experience ultimate comfort in your boots you will not regret going to see these guys.
-- Clint
Meadows: Thanks to Clint and to our crew at the HPC. By the way, Clint snowboards and was our first guest that we make customized footbeds for snowboard boots for. The principals work for both disciplines so stop by HPC to find out how we can improve your day on the mountain.
10/14/2010 9:37:00 PM
by Meadows Team
in Guest Stories, Overcoming Inertia
| 0 comments
I want to thank you and your staff for the time you spent with me yesterday in selecting a ski, and working on my boots. I'm looking forward to a rewarding season, in great part because of your efforts. It is rare today to find someone who will devote the time and energy you did yesterday. For one thing, I would likely have gone with a longer ski than I ended up with, which I may have regretted in the long run. I think what we ended up with will better accommodate both my age and physical challenges, which will make skiing more fun for me again.
I look forward to working with you both again soon, both with my equipment and getting my skiing to where I would like it to be, at least as far as I'm physically able.
-- Scott
Note to readers: Scott started skiing more than 50 years ago and was an expert skier until he suffered a spinal cord injury 20 years ago. He continued to ski until about 12 years ago when he stopped. Last season, he picked up the sport again, and was introduced to newer technology that makes skiing easier and more fun. And with the custom outfitting Scott received at our High Performance Center, it looks like he is well on his way to enjoying the sport he is so passionate about.
9/23/2010 8:32:00 AM
by Meadows Team
in Connection, Overcoming Inertia
| 6 comments
NOAA has been talking about it since the end of last season - La Nina is growing and should bring above average snow to Mt. Hood this season. Fox 12's Mark Nelsen posted the following on his blog.
"2. Mountain Snow
Lots of precipitation and cool weather systems = tons of mountain snow. This is probably the #2 most likely event. 11 of 12 moderate-strong La Nina events since 1954 have produced above normal snow at Government Camp. Seems like a pretty good snow signal doesn’t it? The last La Nina winter (2007-2008) was a massive snow year in the Cascades…definitely at the extreme upper end. Get a season pass!!! No, I haven’t accepted a free ski pass in years, so you can be assured I’m not biased. I told folks last year that it would probably be a bad ski season with El Nino and that’s pretty much what happened."
Everybody likes to talk about the weather - here on the Overcoming Inertia blog we advocate taking action. So with the forecast for a La Nina winter at Mt. Hood Meadows, we advise:
- Winterize your vehicle - and get those snow tires on before your first trip to the mountain. Here's a great link to TripCheck winter driving tips.
- Check out the gear we have at Outer Limits Sports to prepare you for storm riding - some of the best days (and nights) on the mountain this season will come during the La Nina driven storms so get ready for it!
- What's in your quiver? The HPC and demo center has "quiver killers" all mountain skis and boards that also provide a smooth, floaty ride in the powder. And with the 30 day price guarantee you'll find the best price available on the wide selection of high performance ski and snowboard equipment sold at the HPC.
- While at HPC make an appointment at the Boot Lab. A custom fit liner, foot beds and possibly some work on your boot shell will connect you with the performance your boot is designed to provide, and create comfort so you can stay in your boots all day run after powdery run. Nate Turner tells you more about the Boot Lab:
See more videos on equipment here.
- Take a steeps / all mountain or powder clinic. We'll be offering them throughout the season.
- And most importantly - start your conditioning now. Get to the gym, or continue your jogging. Hit the stairmaster or exercise bike. This could be the La Nina of all La Ninas so prepare yourself for it!
We'll see you on the mountain!
8/31/2010 11:59:00 PM
by Meadows Team
in Connection, Guest Stories, Overcoming Inertia
| 22 comments
If this isn't overcoming inertia we don't know what is. Dan - a loyal pass holder - sent this inspirational message upon purchasing his season pass.
This will be my 6th year at Meadows. I want to let you know how much I appreciate everything you and the staff do for us downhillers. As a cancer survivor (3 years now), I can't even begin to tell you how important your resort was in my healing. One of these days I will recount for you how I skied through chemotherapy by strapping the pump to my leg and running the tubing to the port in my chest under my clothes. My two closest friends skied with me each time. You can ask Danno from the Mazot about that season. It is way more than a mountain, and Meadows is way more than a ski resort to many of us.
Overcome inertia - or whatever is preventing you from getting up and moving!
8/19/2010 7:30:00 AM
by Meadows Team
in Overcoming Inertia, Connection
| 0 comments
Overcoming Inertia is dedicated to getting people moving, particularly during the winter months when it is easier to avoid the winter drizzle in the low lands, coop up indoors and wait for spring. We hope you find these segments motivating and invite you to join the conversation with your own motivating insights, helpful hints or observations.
Inertia – The tendency to leave things pretty much as they are.
Boy its a lot easier to just allow things to be the same. Change takes effort – inertia doesn’t.
Everything about Mt. Hood Meadows is about overcoming inertia. Buses taking people from their neighborhoods. Shuttles moving people from the parking lot. Guest hosts gently directing guests to their intended locations. Conveyor lifts taking excited skiers and snowboarders to their new adventure. Grooming machines pushing settled snow back up hill for the next day of riding.
Did you know that the cumulative amount of snow a skier or snowboarder displaces in a day of turning can exceed one ton? Think about the inertia our grooming fleet must overcome every night just to put that snow back in place!
Powerful high speed quads uplifting guests to their desired terrain.
But there – at the top of the slope, when you’re getting ready to point them downhill, inertia is no longer an issue. The physical laws of gravity and momentum take over, leaving inertia as a fading memory that you’ll ride back to at some point when you need some rest. But for now the mountain, your body, your soul and all the forces of nature are yours to enjoy.
Overcome inertia. Commit yourself. Purchase the Meadows season pass that fits your needs, your style and your pocketbook. Passes go on sale September 1. Make a move - purchase your pass and we’ll see you on the mountain!