Meadows Blog
3/31/2011 12:00:00 PM
by Mt. Hood Meadows
in Connection, Media Center
| 0 comments
Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort has accumulated more than 3 feet of new snow in a little over a week. The snow depth is more than11 feet and more snow is forecast this week, making for one of the snowiest March’s on record.
Lifts are scheduled to operate daily through April the resort will look at extending the season on weekends into May as it has in previous seasons, depending on weather, snow conditions and turnout. Meadows Unlimited Spring Season Pass is $139 allowing lift access for the rest of the season. It can be purchased at the resort or online at SkiHood.com.
The resort’s ski and snowboard school announced it will add two Steeps Clinics April 9 and April 17; and two Women’s Clinics April 10 and April 16. The popular clinics were well attended all season, and the awesome snow conditions prompted the April dates to be added.
Information on the clinics is available on the resort web site SkiHood.com.
Steeps Clinic $99 (April 9th & 17th) - This clinic is designed for advanced/expert skiers and riders who want to improve their ability to ski/ride on steep terrain and in more difficult snow conditions. Groups will be divided based on ability and terrain preference so you will be skiing/riding with others of similar ability level and pace. Groups sizes will be no more than 7 and our expert coaches will give you individual coaching with the goal of improving your ability to maintain speed, rhythm, flow and control regardless of terrain or snow condition. All while exploring some of the best known and unknown runs at the resort.
Women’s Clinic $99 (April 10th & 16th) - For women only and taught by our most certified and experienced female instructors. Work on your skiing/riding in a fun supportive environment. Participants will be grouped based on ability and desired terrain. Our focus will be on improving your skills so you can ski/ride more confidently and in more conditions. Available to intermediate and above skiers and riders.
April 2–3: Hood River Appreciation Days
Music, raffles, food beer and wine sampling and $5 all you can eat tacos at the Hood River Meadows Lodge from 11 AM – 3 PM.
April 4-6: 3-Day Holiday Kids Camp
Three day camps provide a great way for kids to play while advancing their ski or snowboading technique, etiquette and mountain safety knowledge. Alpine lessons for students age 4-12, and snowboard lessons for students ages 7-12.
April 4-6: 3-Day Freestyle Camp
Whether preparing for competition, or just looking to enter the park for the first time, this camp is a great way to progress your freestyle skills. The camp is open to intermediate level skiers and riders ages 7-14. Each day of camp includes 5 hours of coaching with a park specialized instructor. Topics covered include, but are not limited to: jumps, half-pipe, rails and boxes, flatland, all mountain freestyle, park safety, and etiquette.
April 9: Full Sail Banked Slalom
5th annual Full Sail Banked Slalom ski and snowboard divisions run on the Banked Slalom course on Daisy Bowl. $4400 cash plus prizes! Register online in advance @ SkiHood.com. Helmets are required for competition.
April 9 & 17: Steeps Clinic
Designed for advanced/expert skiers and riders who want to improve their ability to ski/ride on steep terrain and in more difficult snow conditions.
April 10 & 16: Women's Clinic
For women only and taught by our most certified and experienced female instructors. Work on your skiing/riding in a fun supportive environment.
April 23: Mazot Fest
Fun race held mid-mountain with the finish at the Mazot to celebrate the season and raise money for the Avalanche Dog program. Presented by Double Mountain Brewery
April 30: Sno-Kona Pond Skim
The 5th Annual Sno-Kona Pond Skim by Kona Brewing and All About Hawaii Travel. Skiers and snowboarders "skim" across a water-filled pond right in front of the base area deck. Best judged skimmer wins a trip for two to Hawaii!
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.
3/22/2011 2:30:00 PM
by Alisa
in Guest Stories, Guestimonials
| 0 comments
I want to thank the guys that work in the Demo Center for their impeccable customer service. I had the opportunity to demo some great skis for my level and ended up purchasing them on Sunday during the sale. The guys were there to help us with questions and I even had to go in later on in the day for a boot fitting and Matt helped me out. Thanks to him my boots fit perfectly but most of all I appreciated the assistance from everyone and applaud them for having smiles on their faces - even at 7 in the morning! Kudos to the Demo Center team!
-- Alisa
3/18/2011 8:19:00 AM
by Meadows Team
in Connection, Media Center
| 1 comment
While a winter storm rages on Mt. Hood, Mt. Hood Meadows announces its line up of Spring Splash events for the rest of the season. Boasting a snowpack of 10 feet and growing, the resort will celebrate all the good things spring brings to the mountain. Daily operations are scheduled to continue into late April with extended operations on weekends in May based on snow conditions and turn out. The schedule is subject to change – check the resort website, SkiHood.com, for details.
Spring Splash Event Schedule March 19 - April 30
Click the Spring Splash for Event Schedule
The Spring Splash is all about corn snow, warm sunshine and the occasional midwinter-like storm common to this time of the season. It’s a fun and spectacular time on the mountain, ideal for cruising the groomers, hitting the parks and basking in the sun on the deck at the end of the day. Beginning March 19, special events, entertainment, clinics and contests will be presented weekends and holidays.
Meadows Adds Services for Oregon Spring Break March 19 – 27
- Park & Ride shuttle service will run daily from Portland to the mountain, at reduced rates - $25 for round trip bus, or $69 for bus and lift ticket.
- The Nordic Center will be open from 9 AM – 4 PM Thursday – Sunday
- Meadows After Dark - In addition to the daily lift schedule, evening operations continue
Wednesday through Sunday nights from 3 – 9 PM through March 27.
3/15/2011 6:15:00 PM
by Meadows Team
in Connection, Media Center
| 0 comments
Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort has set two fundraising nights to assist Mercy Corps’ Japan disaster relief efforts. Wednesday and Thursday, March 23 and 24, the resort will offer a special $15 evening (3 – 9 PM) lift ticket, which is normally $29. $5 from each of the tickets sold at the resort those evenings will go to Mercy Corps' Japan relief fund.
Meadows is also advance-selling the ticket for $10, but still $5 will go to the relief fund. The ticket can be used either Wednesday or Thursday, March 23 or 24.
Meadows is also accepting contributions at its restaurants for those wanting to donate as little as $1 towards the relief efforts. Season pass holders, 10 time pass holders and other prepurchase ticket holders will be able to ride the lifts those evenings without purchasing the special ticket.
The resort extended its night operating schedule through March 27 this season. Resort executive director of communications Dave Tragethon anticipates a good turn out, saying, “It’s Oregon spring break and families especially are looking for fun things to do. With the reduced lift ticket price and a contribution to help the great people of Japan who are in dire need of assistance, we are confident we can raise a lot of money. Mercy Corps representatives are already on the ground in Japan providing relief services to victims, and since Mercy Corps is local, this fundraiser will provide instant relief directly to the victims.”
The devastating tsunami spawned by the strongest earthquake to ever strike Japan has killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands. Thousands more are missing. Mercy Corps is working to help survivors of Japan's earthquake and tsunami with its longstanding partner, Peace Winds. Donations will be used to meet immediate and longer-term needs of earthquake survivors.
Those wishing to contribute directly to the relief efforts can do so here.
Mt. Hood Meadows will continue its restaurant fund raising through the rest of the season. The resort is scheduled to operate daily through late April, and then possibly weekends in May depending on weather, snow conditions and turn out. The operational schedule is subject to change, check our conditions page for details.
3/14/2011 8:10:00 PM
by Parks Crew
in Parks Blog
| 3 comments
The jam just keeps getting better! Here's a video from the March 11 session produced by M-Comm's Pierce Hodges.
The final Friday Night Rail Jam is coming up Friday, March 25 in Shipyard. See you there!
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…………..
3/12/2011 8:00:00 AM
by Beth
in Guest Stories, Guestimonials
| 0 comments
Richard is our favorite Lift Operator. He's assertive and keeps people moving. Thanks Richard for helping us every Saturday at Hood River or Mt. Hood Express!
-- Beth
3/10/2011 10:59:00 PM
by Meadows Team
in Connection, Media Center
| 12 comments
Sometime in the morning of March 10, 2011 prior to 0815 a large avalanche ran through the Clark side of Heather Canyon.
The slide scoured the sides of the drainage, deposited a significant amount of debris in the gut which extended well past the confluence of the Clark/Heather drainages and the bottom terminal of the Heather Chair.
The bottom of the Heather Chair can be seen in the distance
Deposit at the bottom of Jack's Woods
The track and debris extend to historical trim lines. Further investigation is underway. The origin of the slide is unknown at this time. There are no known casualties or structural damages at this time.
The Canyon will remain closed until further notice. We ask that only authorized personnel access the Canyon – please respect all closures.
For reference, check out our blog from January 2010, "The Anatomy of an Avalanche" when a similar event occurred.
3/10/2011 8:45:00 AM
by Parks Crew
in Connection, Media Center, Parks Blog
| 0 comments
Oregon's top high school snowboarding athletes are competing at Meadows this week in the
OISA State Championships. Thursday the venue is our
Banked Slalom course for Banked Slalom and Boarder Cross events. Friday the action moves to the Rose City Park for the
Slope Style competition. Saturday events conclude at the
Super Pipe.
Congratulations to the teams and individual athletes who are competing.
3/8/2011 7:00:00 PM
by Rich
in Guest Stories, Guestimonials
| 0 comments
We (CSRT) had our ski-a-thon as Cooper Spur Saturday. We also had an impromptu charitable collection for one of our members with a serious lung disease. Your employee at Cooper Spur (Deno) pledged a significant $ amount to one of our ski-a-thon kids! AND, one of your parking attendants at cooper spur (red hair/beard - Deno will know him) contributed to our charitable collection! This was an amazingly fond and praiseworthy act by both of these folks. Things like this by the Cooper Spur staff go way over the top of expectations and really set it apart as a family focused area. I just wish we could count on snow there! I hope you find a way to praise / acknowledge these guys - thank you.
-- Rich
3/8/2011 3:30:00 PM
by Mike
in Guest Stories, Guestimonials
| 0 comments
Your crew working the Mt. Hood Express lift is doing a great job. In general your lift operations have greatly improved. Give them a yell. Cheers.
-- Mike
3/7/2011 9:30:00 PM
by Sandi, Keeley and Mckenna
in Guestimonials, Guest Stories
| 0 comments
Kudos to Patrick Billings, ski instructor. My daughters finished their make-up lesson today. Lauren B. was able to have him come up extra to teach a make-up class and the girls loved being able to finish off their sixth session with Patrick. Continuity is valued by parents and loyalty is well establish with young ones. Patrick took several little girls who had never been on skis and had them progress from the ballroom carpet on day one to Mt. Hood Express-Ridgerun, Beavertail, South Canyon etc today. I'm so excited and thankful. I appreciate all the ski lesson crew for their hard work and due diligence! Also kudos to Scott in rental for going the extra mile. One day last month, he insisted on coming up to the ballroom carpet to make a binding adjustment when I failed to bring my daughter & boot in with the ski! He was happy for a little fresh air and I was appreciative that it saved time. Again, thank you for your team work.
- Sandi (mother), Keeley (7) and Mckenna (6)
3/7/2011 7:51:00 AM
by Meadows Team
in Connection, Media Center
| 2 comments
Okay. We are all excited about the Spring Pass kicking off today. But in all of our spring, sunshine, corn, hero snow enthusiasm, let's not forget that it's still winter. Here is an awesome video by M-Comm's Adam Fleck featuring an awesome week of powder at Meadows. Enjoy!
3/6/2011 10:00:00 PM
by Rogan
in Guest Stories, Guestimonials
| 0 comments
I want to praise Aileen at the Concierge desk for going far out of her way to help me today (Sunday, March 6th). She was extremely helpful and saved me a great deal of stress, expense, and possible illness -- the batteries in one of my medical devices unexpectedly died, and the retailers were out of stock of the AAAs I needed. Somehow she was able to find some quickly enough that I was able to continue with my day as planned, instead of making an emergency trip back to Portland.
I am impressed and very grateful!
-- Rogan
3/6/2011 2:00:00 PM
by Phillip
in Guest Stories, Guestimonials
| 0 comments
After a long day of snowboarding on Thursday I could not get my vehicle started. It was cold, it was snowing hard. I was distressed. The concierge desk called in the lot attendants, the lot attendants got a mechanic involved and together we eventually got it started and I safely got of the mountain. Everyone involved was so helpful and cool about it. Can't thank them enough. Meadows has an A+ crew top to bottom. I'm truly impressed at the operations in general this year. Thanks again.
-- Phillip
3/5/2011 6:00:00 PM
by Meadows Team
in Connection, Parks Blog
| 0 comments
Blake McCoy took top honors at the 2nd annual Mt. Hood Meadows Film Festival, presented Saturday at Meadows. Blake and a solid core of riders took full advantage of the late February powder draped over Meadows' spectacular steep terrain in his submission entitled, "Mt. Hood Shreadows".
Meadows showed the top 10 finalists of the Film Festival, transforming the Vertical Restaurant into a theater. A crowd of 200 packed the theater and cheered on the film makers. All 10 finalists won a prize package including a logoed Columbia Sportswear backpack, a $50 Meadows gift card, a KEEN footwear certificate, vitaminwater®, Full Sail attire and Rollic hat and water bottle..
Winner Blake McCoy Celebrates with the MC.
The top three finalists also received Go Pro HD helmet cams. Blake's entry edged out Tommy Ellingson - who had some of the most amazing point of view camera footage of big mountain powder riding at Meadows, and Evan Applegate who produced "Hood Love", an upbeat well edited feature which used time lapse photography and fun riding in tribute to Mt. Hood. Blake also received the $500 cash prize.
Top 10 Finalists from left to right:
Evan Applegate, Blake McCoy,
Anthony Leone, Celeah Norris, Chris Bright, M.C. Dave Tragethon and
David Panton. Not pictured: Tommy Ellingson, Grant Abbett, Jacob Oberlander and Jeremy
Carples.
All of the finalists entries can be seen in our
Film Festival gallery.
3/4/2011 2:52:00 PM
by Lawrence
in Guestimonials
| 0 comments
I love the grooming you are doing this year. I was disappointed in the lift offerings last Friday (March 4th). The other lift operators were very helpful however in answering questions regarding the reasons and timing of them returning to service.
-- Lawrence
3/3/2011 4:53:00 PM
by Meadows Team
in Connection, Media Center
| 15 comments
MT. HOOD, OR (Immediate Release) -- Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort announced the Unlimited Spring Season Pass price is $139, providing daily lift access beginning March 7 through the rest of the season. The popular pass is available
for purchase online and can also be purchased at the ski resort.
The spring pass can be used every day that Meadows is open through the 2010/2011 season. The resort is scheduled to operate through May 1 and is considering extending its season on weekends into May, depending on snow conditions and business levels.
Meadows has received more than four feet of snow this week from a major winter storm, increasing its base to 119” – the most of the season, which should provide excellent spring riding conditions for March and April.
The resort has also announced that it is extending it’s night operating schedule through Oregon Spring Break – ending March 27, at least on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. Officials will announce whether it will operate Wednesday and Thursday evenings as well on its website SkiHood.com.
Pass holders receive discounts of up to 25% on ski school lessons, adult clinics, children’s lessons, day care; and 10% off full retail purchases at Outer Limits Sports and the High Performance Center. Children six and under receive FREE SPRING SEASON PASSES when their parent or grand parent purchase an unlimited spring season pass for $139.
Resort Executive Director of Communications Dave Tragethon says the extraordinary price and the benefits that go with it is all part of a spring mental well-being package. “The snow conditions are exceptional so those purchasing the spring pass will get a good taste of mid-winter riding as well. We have one of the longest seasons in the country – with lifts scheduled daily through May 1. This incredibly priced season pass provides both a great deal and the incentive people need to get out and recreate this spring to plunge in the powder or take turns in the sunshine on spring corn snow. We hope everyone who’s ready to ride takes advantage of the Unlimited Spring Season Pass!”