Meadows Online Community

Winter Forecast A Good One for Skiers and Snowboarders (with Video Podcast)

DaveTragethon — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 19:58:00 GMT

The Oregon chapter of the American Meteorological Society held its 16th Annual Winter Weather Meeting Friday at OMSI. This is the event where meteorologists and climatologists predict what the winter will bring to the Northwest. And there is great news for skiers and snowboarders. Play the video to listen to the experts share their winter forecast.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

The experts examine the patterns of current data and indicators to create analogs – to find winters in the past that shared these characteristics going into this winter. They then review those winters and predict when the cold weather should arrive, whether the season generally will be above or below average in temperature and precipitation, and take a guess at any extraordinary weather events which may occur. There is a lot of educated guessing, but it’s all based on science.

Steve Todd, the Meteorologist In Charge for the National Weather Service in Portland says strong La Nina conditions last season produced a record breaker in terms of snowfall on Mt. Hood – Meadows accumulated 780 inches from October through May. Going into this winter the ocean temperatures are dropping again, moving from neutral to weak La Nina. La Nina is defined as unusually cold ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific. La Ninas historically produce winters with above average snow pack in the mountains and more consistent snowfall throughout the winter season.

Kyle Dittmer is a Hydrologist – Meterologist for the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. He says this will be a great winter for salmon and snow sliders. He predicts a “wild” opening to the season with a heavy blast in November and above average snowpack this winter. Kyle also speculates that we could have our first back-to-back La Nina winters since the 1970s and that “we’re way overdue.”

Pete Parsons Meteorologist for the Oregon Department of Agriculture says the years that have had a similar tropical ocean temperatures to this year saw above average snowpack in the mountains. Pete also predicts a big start to the season with significant mountain storms opening Mt. Hood Meadows before Thanksgiving.

George Taylor, retired State Climatologist and Founder of Applied Climate Services also sees an early start in November this year for the ski season which should have an above average snowpack in the mountains. He also sees a long-range cycle of Pacific Ocean cooling which he believes will produce above average snowpack for our mountain for the next 15 to 20 years!

For more details you can download the individual presentations from the AMS website.

The expert consensus is a strong early (pre-Thanksgiving) opening to the season which will have above average snowpack. What more could we ask for?

So now that you’ve heard from the experts, what do you think will happen this winter? Let’s have some fun here – take a guess on the following:

What day will Meadows open for the season, and what will the snowpack measured at the telemetry at the bottom of Mt. Hood Express be?

How much snow do you think we’ll get total this season at Meadows – remembering that we set a record of 780 inches last year, well above our average of 430 inches.

We look forward to hearing from you, and, based on what the expert forecasters say, we will see you on the mountain soon!

Meadows Team

Mt. Hood Meadows SuperPipe Rated Top 10 By Transworld Snowboarding Magazine

DaveTragethon — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 13:47:00 GMT

MT. HOOD, OR (October 15, 2008) – Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort’s in-ground SuperPipe has made Transworld Snowboarding’s Top 10 List. The publication has honored both the 500-foot-long Olympic-sized SuperPipe, as well as the park crew and groomers which construct and maintain it as one of the Top 10 Pipes in North America. It’s the second year in a row that Meadows’ pipe has made the Top 10 List.

According to Transworld, “Meadows, with its 500-foot-long, eighteen-foot-high pipe, provides a flawless playground for blasting consecutive hits. The frame is mined into the ground to provide the earliest opening possible when the Northwest flakes start flying while sculptors Jason Stankevich and Josh King have the accuracy and muscle to keep it polished. This past season’s heavy snowfall also kept this giant crevasse open late, and if that’s not enough to satisfy your pipe dreams, it’s lit up at night.”

Meadows Executive Director of Communications Dave Tragethon says the resort is proud to have received the award. “This acknowledges the efforts made by our incredibly talented and hard working parks crew to present fun and innovative terrain features at Meadows. The SuperPipe represents a substantial commitment to freestyling and it is both satisfying and inspiring to receive this recognition.”

In addition to the SuperPipe Meadows “Paradise Parks” crews design and maintain up to five different terrain parks on the mountain, including the legendary “Park Place”, one of the first officially designated terrain parks at a ski resort which was originally built during the 1996/1997 season.

Meadows has a rich history in park and particularly halfpipe design. The resort hosted a pro snowboard event in the early 90s called the “Wide Open” which combined halfpipe and slalom competitions. It was one of the first halfpipe competitions in the country, built the old fashioned way – by hand without the benefit of the shaped pipe cutting technologies used today.

The resort uses an 18 foot Zaugg SuperPipe Cutter to shape its pipe attached to Prinoth 350 snow cats all with terrain master tillers and blades.

Progress Report - Improvements Update and a Video Blog

DaveTragethon — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:53:00 GMT

Hi Folks.

We're pleased to present this blog in a video format. The viewer below is a gallery of Blog-related videos. Click on the gallery icon in the lower left hand corner, and then select the video you want to watch. The one that goes with this blog post is called Improvements Update. Or you can scroll down and read the blog in a more traditional way. Either way we know you'll enjoy the update and we look forward to hearing back from you.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

There’s a lot of interest in the expanded expert terrain next to Private Reserve. We’re opening 160 acres of double black diamond terrain through a gated access basis in the area we call S&R Cliffs.

It’s called Search and Rescue Cliffs for a reason – it’s gnarly in there, thick trees, cliff outcroppings, steep drop offs. It is definitely double black diamond expert terrain which only the best skiers and snowboarders should venture into. We strongly suggest riding or skiing with a partner and carrying a beacon, probe, and shovel and the knowledge to use them. And as always obey the closures.

There’s also an additional 20 acres of terrain to the skier’s right of Tamarack off of Hood River Express which is being opened for experts as well. This is very steep tree skiing – the name is “Far Right Trees” or FRight Trees for short. Again, experts only please.

Our plans to have a military weapon for avalanche control in Heather Canyon march forward. The platform has been constructed and the Howitzer is on property. Training will proceed and if all goes as planned we should have the Howitzer ready for control work this season. The weapon will allow for a higher level of safety for our patrol staff, which in the past has had to deliver the explosives by hand. The Howitzer will make the delivery of explosives more efficient which should lead to more consistent operations in Heather Canyon.

Our in-ground SuperPipe has made Transworld Snowboarding’s Top 10 List. The publication has honored both the 500-foot-long Olympic-sized SuperPipe, as well as the park crew and groomers which construct and maintain it as one of the Top 10 Pipes in North America. Kudos to the Paradise Parks crew and especially Jason Stankevich and Josh King for their exceptional work.

Updating some of the other projects:

The medical clinic is progressing nicely – the exterior walls are up, the roof is on and we’re drywalling. When completed it will provide a new facility for the Providence Hood River Mountain Clinic at Mt. Hood Meadows and it will also house our Ski Patrol Headquarters.

The towers have been erected for the new totally enclosed Wondercarpet conveyor in the Fun Zone. And we have the network and equipment set up and tested for our new scanning system at the lifts. We’ve also repaved the main lot in preparation for this season.

Indoors the most noticeable project will be the Schuss Grill. This is more than a facelift – we’ve gutted the kitchen and are replacing all the equipment with energy efficient appliances. The queuing and ordering area has been reconfigured to make ordering and then picking up food faster, so you can get your food fresh and hot more quickly.

The Mt. Hood Meadows Job Fair is October 24 and 25 – that’s a Friday and Saturday. You only need attend one day. Our managers and supervisory staff will be on hand to talk to you about the job that is the perfect fit for you at Mt. Hood Meadows. There are plenty of great jobs – offering a variety of experiences. Come to the Job Fair October 24 and 25.

Season passes are on sale through our web site – the group deals are phenomenal and we hope you take advantage of the special 4xr4, 3x3, 2x2 or Group of 10 – 10 Time Pass offers before the November 16 deadline.
We’re taking pictures from 11 – 4 Wednesday through Saturday at the ski area and at our Clackamas Sales office, with extended hours on Wednesday evenings until 7 PM at our Clackamas office. Mark these dates on your calendar – we’ll be in Hood River Sunday, November 2nd taking pictures at the Hood River Inn. And as always we’ll be at the Portland Ski Fever and Snowboard Expo taking pictures November 14th – 16th at the Portland Expo Center.

Meadows Boutique is open Wednesdays through Saturdays – now is the best time to shop for equipment as we have the greatest selection and variety in jackets, ski and snowboard clothing, accessories and gear. We also have great deals on last year’s demo ski and snowboard equipment in the High Performance Center. You can see the inventory on line at our web site www.skihood.com.
We’ll see you at Mt. Hood Meadows soon for some Pure, Mountain, Fun!

--Meadows Team

Meadows Season Passes Represent Best Value in Oregon

DaveTragethon — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:29:00 GMT

Hi Folks!

We’ve announced our season pass pricing for the 2008/09 season. And in response to your overwhelming request we’re pleased to tell you that we’re continuing the season pass and 10 Time Pass group offers again this season. These offers make Meadows season passes not only the best value, but also the most affordable unlimited season pass price of any major resort in Oregon. Passes will go on sale on our web site September 1.

The 4buy4 (4 adults age 23 – 64) is $444 each; the 3x3 (3 between the ages of 15 – 22) is $333 each and the 2x2 (2 passes between the ages of 7 – 14) is $222. These deals represent a savings of more than 50% off the regular adult unlimited pass price, and nearly 50% off of the other age groups. It’s a substantial savings. You just need to get your groups together and complete your purchase online before the November 16 deadline.

The program essentially stays the same – organize your group, create a group online by inputting all the group members and then purchase at least one pass. That qualifies everyone to come back and receive the group deal on his or her pass. All group members must complete their pass purchase before any pictures can be taken or passes issued.

We are committed to the “form a group structure” – we believe it gets people talking and “stoked” about the upcoming winter. We also see people socializing more before, during and after the season. Creating this kind of buzz on a skier to skier, snowboarder to snowboarder level is key to this program, which is why we’re dedicated to the group program.

We are also offering the group of 10 or more deal on the 10 Time Pass, which is greatly improved this year. It has a picture and you’ll be able to go direct to the lift, avoiding a stop at the ticket window. The normal price is $399, but in a group of 10 the price is just $330. Group organizers receive a free lift ticket for putting the group together, and for every 20 purchased in the group we issue a complimentary 10 Time Pass. There is one change this year – the 10 Time Pass will no longer be shareable at the end of the season as it has been in past years. But the direct to lift convenience should more than make up for that.

We’re also holding the price on our off-peak adult lift ticket at $54. Peak times (primarily weekends and holiday time frames through the first weekend of March) the shift ticket will be $69. So the group pass deals are a tremendous value, which we hope you’ll take advantage of. Season passes go on sale September 1 right here on our web site.

We’d like to hear back from you, particularly if you’re excited about the upcoming season. Is the fall weather that August has been bringing getting you in the mood for winter? Remember, you need to join the community in order to post a comment.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Onward! And see you soon - the snow will be here before we know it!

Meadows Team

Mt. Hood Meadows Group Season Pass Deals

DaveTragethon — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 06:32:00 GMT

MT. HOOD, OR (August 26, 2008) – Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort has announced pricing
on its season passes for the 2008/09 season. The resort will again offer the popular group deals
which allow adult skiers and snowboarders to purchase passes on line at savings of more than
50% off the price of individually priced passes.

The group purchase plan price for adults (age 23 – 64) is $444 each when purchased online in
a group of four. The regular individual adult season pass price is $900. The 3x3 unlimited pass
offer for ages 15 – 22 is $333, compared to the individual season pass price of $600. The 2x2
unlimited pass offer for ages 7 – 14 is $222 each, compared to the individual season pass price
of $400. These prices are good through November 16, 2008 when purchased through the
resort’s web site www.skihood.com. Meadows season pass group deals are the most affordable
season passes on Mt. Hood, offering the greatest value.

The 10 Time Pass group offer returns, allowing a group of 10 or more to purchase the pass for
$330 each, a savings of $69 off the regular price of $399. The group organizer also receives a
free lift ticket for putting the group together, and one FREE 10 Time Pass for every 20
purchased in the group. The 10 Time Pass has been upgraded this season – it will have a
picture on it allowing the passholder to go direct to the lift, instead of having to stop at the ticket
window each day as in the past. The 10 Time Pass is non-transferable.

Meadows gives free season passes to ages six and under whose parent or grandparent
purchases an unlimited season pass. Senior passes for ages 65 and over are priced at $300,
and for just $100 more includes 8 bus trips to the resort on the popular midweek bus program.
The Platinum Pass returns at the same $2000 price as last season. The unlimited season pass
includes season ski check, a season locker and up-front reserved parking space all season
long. This season Nordic track privileges at both Meadows and Cooper Spur Nordic Centers
and a Cooper Spur season lift and tube pass have been added.

Meadows is holding the price on its off-peak lift ticket price at $54 to encourage more midweek
and low-season business. On peak days $15 is added to the lift ticket (weekends and holiday
time frames from opening through the first weekend of March). The night ticket price of $25 is
the same as last season (good 3 PM – close).

Link to Season Pass Pricing

Link to PDF Release

Mt. Hood Meadows Improvements for 2008/2009 Season

DaveTragethon — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 03:31:00 GMT

MT. HOOD, OR (Immediate Release) – Whether it is access to new off-piste terrain or the new ticket scanning technology installed at the chairlifts, improvements at Mt. Hood Meadows this season will enhance the guest and staff experience on the mountain.

Medical Clinic & Patrol HQ Improves Medical Capabilities
The most ambitious and noticeable project is the construction of a new medical clinic and patrol headquarters in the base area. The building will double the space of the current medical clinic and supply additional space for the growing ski patrol department. The project is following LEED standards in construction and is a testament to the resort’s commitment to safety and sustainability. The building will also house the transportation department – a place for shuttle drivers and parking lot greeters to call home.

Howitzer Military Weapon Enhances Avalanche Control
Meadows is moving forward with the acquisition of a 105 MM Howitzer military weapon to enhance avalanche control work. The project includes obtaining the weapon as well as constructing a firing platform and magazine building. Resort officials are working closely with the U.S. Forest Service to move the project through the process in hopes of having the Howitzer ready for this season. The weapon will improve avalanche control work by getting in bounds terrain – particularly Heather and Clark Canyons – and increasing safety for ski patrol crews.

Direct to Lift Scanning Technology
Meadows lift attendants will be equipped with scanning devices to more efficiently validate tickets. The technology will also allow direct to lift access for 10 Time Passes and other products, no longer requiring a trip to the ticket window.

More Off-Piste Access
Nearly 200 acres of off-piste advanced terrain will become accessible this season. 150 acres skier’s left of the Hood River Express lift will open up gladed runs, steep chutes and cliffs, similar to the adjacent Private Reserve which is also managed with control gates and is for experts only. Another 20 acre area located skier’s right of the bottom of Hood River Express lift featuring similar terrain will also be opened for experts only.

Schuss Grill Remodel Reduces Wait Time While Improving Quality and Energy Efficiency
Meadows’ busiest food service outlet the Schuss Grill in the south lodge is undergoing a major remodel, completely replacing the kitchen with more energy efficient appliances and totally redesigning the front counter to reduce the serve time from order to pick up. All the food and beverage areas are undergoing general equipment upgrades and equipment replacement designed to improve quality and service for the guest as well as allowing the resort to become more energy efficient in those operations. The Alpenstube will have a fresh warm look with new carpeting.

Sunkid Wondercarpet Conveyer Makes Fun Zone More Enjoyable
Meadows is replacing the rope tow in its Fun Zone kids and beginner’s area with a WonderCarpet skier/rider conveyer. The 280 foot long track will be fully enclosed and far more comfortable uphill conveyance. The whole length is supported on a deck that can be raised and lowered with the snow depth allowing us to open this lift reliably on time, regardless of snowfall. It is more efficient to operate and provides a more comfortable, less intimidating ride, especially for kids.

Resort Lighting Enhances the Evening Experience
The resort is continuing its slope lighting project, replacing fixtures with brighter more energy efficient lamps, and increasing the lighting on the South Lodge Deck.

Bathroom Remodels Provide Efficient Water Flow Management
The 2nd level North Lodge bathrooms will be completely remodeled similar to the improvements made to the 1st floor bathrooms last year. Low flow toilets will conserve water. A new unisex bathroom is being constructed in the Season Locker Room.

Integrated Technologies Upgrades Improve Communications
The resort is significantly upgrading its season pass and customer relations management software, allowing greater flexibility for picture taking and products in the future. A new email server and phone system will improve communications both within the company and with guests.

New Rental Equipment
Meadows has essentially replaced its entire fleet of rental ski and snowboard equipment during its three year partnership with Salomon, including about a third of its inventory of rentals skis and snowboards for this season.

Three New Snowcats Add to Its Fleet
Meadows is purchasing three new Prinoth 350 snow cats all with terrain master tillers and blades to replace older cats. Meadows continues to differentiate itself from other ski resorts with one of largest and current snow cat fleets, and highly skilled team of professional groomers who are also riders and skiers.

The combined result of the summer improvement efforts will be to improve the guest and staff exprerience at Meadows, improve safety and help contain costs through more efficient operations, allowing the resort to provide a quality, affordable winter recreational experience.

Download PDF Release

Mt. Hood Meadows Receives Two National “Heads Up” Safety Awards

DaveTragethon — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 03:10:00 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (May 30, 2008) -- Today the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) honored six member resorts with its annual Heads Up National Ski Area Safety Awards at its National Convention and Tradeshow held at the Hilton San Francisco, Calif. Each season the awards recognize those resorts that have done an outstanding job of educating employees and guests about skiing and snowboarding responsibly.

Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort received awards in two categories for "Most Impactful Safety Message" AND "Best Use of Web in a Safety Campaign." In a letter informing the resort of the awards, NSAA Director of Education Ann George wrote, “It is one thing to Know the Code it is another to Live the Code. This message became clear through the materials the resort provided us. It is obvious through Matt’s Blog that the Code is lived daily at your resort, which is why we felt it was important to also recognize you for having great use of the web. The youth generation is using technology more and more and what a better way to reach them than through online communication. You can see Matt is passionate about his answers to the public.”

It was the second consecutive year that Meadows received a safety award from NSAA. Meadows CEO Matt Drake, who coined the phrase “Live the Code”, was pleased that the resort’s safety education initiatives and efforts were acknowledged. “Safety education of our staff and guests is a priority at our resort and we are honored that these efforts have been recognized by our industry association. The mantra ‘Live the Code’ became part of our vocabulary this season and reinforced the importance of personal responsibility on the slopes.” The phrase refers to the “Responsibility Code” – which promotes seven rules of conduct that skiers and snowboarders should follow to increase safety on the slopes. The code can be seen at the resort web site www.skihood.com.

The “Live the Code” Safety Partnership included Monster Energy Drink, Fuel TV and the Anheuser-Busch “Responsibility Matters” campaign. For more information on the NSAA safety programs, including the other awards recipients, visit www.NSAA.org.

Download PDF Release

Summer Improvement Update

MatthewDrake — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 03:44:00 GMT

Hi Folks.

Here’s a midsummer update of the projects we are currently engaged in as we ready for the upcoming season.

The big construction project is the new Medical Clinic and Ski Patrol HQ – which is located in the main base area between the bottom of Daisy and the vehicle shop. The new building will double the space for the Medical Center and provide a state-of-the-art facility for medical response. It will also house a larger base of operations for our expanding ski patrol operations. There will also be room for parking and transportation offices. The building is a significant upgrading that will provide improved working environments for our clinic, patrol and transportation staffs. We are following LEEDS standards in the construction of the new building, which furthers our commitment to sustainability and to safety.

The Schuss is undergoing a major remodel. The front counter has been redesigned to move the line more efficiently and reduce the order to pick up time. We’re replacing the equipment and appliances in the kitchen and the tables out front. All the food and beverage areas are undergoing general equipment upgrades and equipment replacement designed to improve quality and service for the guest as well as allowing us to become more energy efficient in those operations.

We are also remodeling the North Lodge bathrooms on the slope level, similar to the improvements we made to the 1st floor bathrooms last year. Speaking of bathrooms – our season locker holders will be glad to hear that we are installing a unisex bathroom in the locker room. No more having to run upstairs.

There’s some big news in the “Fun Zone” – we’re replacing our rope tow with a WonderCarpet skier/rider conveyer. It’s 280 feet long and is fully enclosed. It’s a far more comfortable uphill conveyance than a standard WonderCarpet and certainly the rope tow it replaces. The whole length is supported on a deck that can be raised and lowered with the snow depth allowing us to open this lift reliably on time, regardless of snowfall. It will make the first-time experience for beginners and especially kids even more enjoyable.

It is a very busy summer for our I.T. department. We’re significantly upgrading our season pass software, allowing greater flexibility for picture taking and products in the future. We’re also installing direct to lift access with a scanning system at our chair lifts. Our lift attendants will have scanners to read tickets and passes. This will allow certain products – such as the 10 Time Pass – to bypass the ticket window and go direct to the lift. We’ve also changed over to a new email server and phone system – internal improvements that ultimately will improve communications both within our company and with our guests.

We’ve placed a significant order for new rental equipment – Salomon skis, snowboards, boots and bindings. We’re in our third year of partnership with Salomon and have basically replaced all of our rental equipment during the partnership.

We've purchased three Prinoth 350 snow cats all with terrain master tillers and blades to replace older cats. Meadows continues to differentiate itself from other ski resorts with one of largest and current snow cat fleets, and highly skilled team of professional groomers who are also riders and skiers.

Our web site skihood.com is undergoing a redesign that eventually will improve social networking capabilities on the site. It will still provide our guests with the most updated mountain information, as well as the place to purchase season passes and eTickets.

Over at Cooper Spur Ski Area we are building a new ticket office – which will expedite ticket lines. In the past all business had to go through the rental shop – now those that only need lift tickets will be served much faster.

This is just a quick listing of the more visible projects we are working on this summer. This is over and above the general lift and facilities maintenance that occurs every season, which is also considerable.

Season passes will be going on sale September 1, just a month away, so get ready. The season will be here before we know it!

Onward!

Your Meadows Team

The New SkiHood.com

MatthewDrake — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 11:18:00 GMT

Hi Folks.

You may have noticed from the front page of the web site that we are undergoing a web site revision project. We’d like to get your feedback about what you’d like to see skihood.com become, and have established this link for you to participate in this survey:

http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB227TJJWZH4R

We have learned a lot through this blog, particularly how important your involvement and participation on this site is. It brings a freshness, new perspective and makes it more interesting. Through this survey we are looking for your suggestions on how to make skihood.com more functional, interesting and a better experience for you.

You can also use this blog to share some of your ideas and impressions of our web site. Let’s have a discussion on how we can make it better.

I hope you’re having a great summer. We’ll be updating the site this summer to discuss some of the projects we are working on.

Onward!

--Matt

Meadows Blog

MatthewDrake — Fri, 16 May 2008 19:18:00 GMT

Hi Folks!

I wanted to take some time to discuss with you some of our new plans for this blog. These plans have been in the works since last July. This blog is a critically important communication tool that allows guests to provide feedback and insight regarding our operations. The comments, suggestions and constructive criticisms posted on this blog have and will continue to impact the decision making process at Mt. Hood Meadows.

I have enjoyed the many good conversations and want to continue this opportunity to facilitate constructive, meaningful, two-way dialogue between our guests and other management team members.

In order to make the blog more effective, we’re making some improvements to the blog itself. First – the name is now Meadows Blog. I’ll still be involved in posting special topics and associated responses. We are, however, expanding the opportunities for input from the very talented members of our management team to formulate some of the responses to your posts. This will improve Meadows Blog in two important ways. First, responding thoughtfully and consistently to the sheer volume of people posting comments -- which is awesome. Since July 2007 there have been more than 2,000 posts to this blog – that is an incredible amount of activity particularly when you consider that each post is read and responses are published to the many posts that are on topic. The second, and more significant reason, is because this blog has evolved to the point that many of your posts are well thought out, asking detailed and challenging questions that demand a thoughtful response. In some cases, we may take a little longer to provide a thorough response, or so that we can organize responses that adequately address similar posts. In this way we will improve the quality of the conversation – your good questions deserve well thought out and detailed answers.

The blog has become a part of the Meadows community. In fact, it may be a key instrument which is helping to build that community, at least virtually. The blog will never take the place of a good face-to-face conversation, but it does provide a way for those who care about Meadows and want to see it improve to express their concerns, ideas and great suggestions in a productive and constructive way. To further advance this concept we will ask you to join the community before posting.

This is a simple process – you select “Join” in the upper right hand corner of this page. You provide as much or as little information as you want – you don’t have to give your real name or set up a profile. You will need to provide an email address to receive and confirm your password. Once you are a member of the community, the “post a comment” box will appear at the bottom of each topic page, allowing you to post freely as you have done in the past. You only need to join the community once, when you come back simply “Sign In” and the page will recognize you – and the “post a comment” box will be visible. Those who aren’t members or haven’t signed in will be able to read the blog topic as well as the posts of others. Many of you have already joined – you do not need to join again, just keep using your current sign in. There are other benefits that this community can provide those who join that we will be exploring further.

Let’s discuss the rules for posting. The two main rules have been that the comment must be on topic and refrain from using profanity in order to be posted.

We would also like to refrain from rude or misleading statements intended to insult other guests or our employees. If you don’t like something about MHM or its operations – express it, but not without a specific suggestion for improvement.

Also, we’re not going to post comments, which are basically advertisements for other ski areas. While providing examples of how things are done at other areas can be helpful, a blatant commercial isn’t going to be posted. Again, we are more concerned about the members of our community who want to make Meadows better.

Through these changes the Meadows Blog serve its purpose – providing a forum and a resource for improving the experience for our guests and staff members. So join the community and have a terrific summer!

Onward!

--Matt

Season Ends Sunday, May 11, 2008

MatthewDrake — Sat, 10 May 2008 22:36:00 GMT

Hi Folks!

Well, all good things must come to an end and so it is with our historic 40th Anniversary Season here at Mt. Hood Meadows. Sunday, May 11 will be our last day of operation for this epic season.

We’re basing the decision on many factors, but primarily due to the quality of the experience that we would be able to offer if we were to continue the season on past May 11, 2008. The forecast is calling for increasingly warm weather through the week and beyond, into the 70s during the day at MHM, and not even down to freezing at night. Clearly not a good forecast for setting up spring corn and maintaining quality riding terrain.

We wanted to make this announcement today for those that would want to join us on our last day of the season on Sunday, May 11, 2008. We appreciate those that joined us last weekend, and those who came out today. But now it is on to summer and all the great recreational and outdoor pursuits Mt. Hood and Oregon have to offer. Here on the mountain we will be busy with many improvement projects which will make the Meadows experience even more enjoyable next season.

We want to thank everyone who has made our 40th anniversary season a real celebration of “Making Winter Fun”, and an historic season in terms of guest participation and snow fall. I would particularly like to express my sincere appreciation to our guests who made Meadows an important part of their winter this season. I would also like to thank all of you bloggers out there who participated in the many lively discussion we carried out on this blog. Mt. Hood Meadows benefitted greatly from your input, and I think you will see the tangible results of much of that input at MHM next season! Most importantly, I want to thank the incredibly talented and hardworking MHM Team for just an awesome effort this season. You consistently and successfully served more guests, under uniquely challenging (and epic) weather conditions, than we have ever done in our 40 year history! You continue to impress and amaze me with your talent, enthusiasm, love for the mountain and constant commitment to our guests.

I will be updating the Blog through the summer with topics that we’ve been discussing. For now I’d like to hear from you, our loyal Bloggers, about this season. What are some of your personal highlights about this amazing season here at Mt. Hood Meadows?

I look forward to receiving your posts, and thanks again for helping to make this an epic season at Mt. Hood Meadows!

Onward!

--Matt

Meadows Will Operate May 10 and 11, 2008!

MatthewDrake — Tue, 06 May 2008 00:18:00 GMT

Hi folks!

Congratulations on the great turn out this past weekend – particularly on Sunday! The first weekend of the May Challenge is in the books and we are a “GO” for next weekend, May 10 and 11. Lift operations will again be from 9 AM – 3 PM.

Based on the lift and trail usage we saw this past weekend, here’s the lifts we’re scheduling for this weekend:
Mt. Hood Express, Cascade Express, Buttercup, Daisy and Heather. Of course this schedule can be affected by weather and snow conditions.

Adding Daisy serves three purposes – it provides an additional lift out of the base area, it serves the Rose City, SuperPipe and Shipyard parks, and it is a quick connect to Cascade. The traffic on the Shooting Star terrain doesn’t warrant running that lift, as Heather is accessible from Cascade, particularly Upper Heather which had the best conditions in the canyon on Sunday.

Hopefully the weather will give us more of what we saw on Sunday, and less of what we saw last Saturday! Spread the word – Meadows is open this weekend.

Onward!

--Matt

May Challenge Saturday and Sunday May 3 and 4

MatthewDrake — Thu, 01 May 2008 17:24:00 GMT

MATT'S NOTE: We had a great turn out in the sunshine Sunday, enough to continue the season next weekend May 10 and 11!

The post below is regarding May 3 and 4. I'll be updating the blog shortly.

Hi folks.

Are you up for the first weekend of the May Challenge? We are. Here are the scheduled lifts for the weekend:

Mt. Hood Express
Buttercup
Cascade Express
Shooting Star Express
Heather

That’s right – both Shooting Star Express and Heather are scheduled. Should be some great off-piste off both lifts this weekend. As always Heather and Cascade will be conditions permitting. Vista would operate as an alternate to Cascade, but I’m really looking forward to the wide open expansiveness and corn snow on Cascade!

On the freestyle front – Rose City Park, the in-ground SuperPipe, Shipyard and the Cascade Park (weather permitting) will all be open.

Our lift hours will be from 9 AM – 3 PM each day. Lift tickets will be discounted to $44 for adults, $25 for juniors (age 7 – 14) and seniors (age 65 and older) and $9 for children 6 and under.

The Retrofits will play both Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 PM at the Paradise Sundeck the perfect place to bask in the spring sun after a day on the mountain. We’ll also have the Schuss (including the full breakfast menu for those looking for the popular Meadow Muffin and hot breakfast) and Alpenstube open. Meadows will continue to offer ski school services for adults and children, daycare (reservations required for daycare), ski and snowboard rentals. You’ll want to check out the special in our retail shops – up to 70% off in our spring splash – liquidation sale, and skis and snowboards (both new and demo) are marked 50% off.

We’ll see you this weekend on the mountain. It’s going to be great!

--Matt

May Challenge is ON

MatthewDrake — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 11:05:00 GMT

Hi folks.

Thanks to all of you for your posts to my May Challenge revisited topic. I am pleased (and stoked) to announce that we are moving ahead with the May Challenge again this season on a weekend-to-weekend basis.

Daily operations will end Sunday, April 27, but we will reopen for Saturday and Sunday May 3 and 4 for sure. Then we’ll determine whether we’ll extend the season and reopen the next weekend based on the turn out that weekend. The snow depth and surface conditions at MHM are still pretty epic so I hope that you all will be able and interested in taking advantage of the awesome conditions!

Our lift hours will be from 9 AM – 3 PM each day. Lift tickets will be discounted to $44 for adults, $25 for juniors (age 7 – 14) and seniors (age 65 and older) and $9 for children 6 and under.

Meadows will continue to offer ski school services for adults and children, daycare (reservations required for daycare), ski and snowboard rentals, retail shops (which are featuring sales on merchandise up to 70%; and demo equipment at half price) and the Schuss, Alpenstube and the always popular Paradise Sundeck and Grill – the perfect place to bask in the spring sun after a day on the mountain. We’ll have entertainment lined up to perform on the deck in the afternoon, so plan on soaking up the sun (and some suds) and enjoying some delicious BBQ!

We expect to operate Mt. Hood Express, Cascade Express, Buttercup, Shooting Star and Heather* although lift operations are conditional based on weather. We plan to continue operating terrain parks and the current superpipe, although as this season has demonstrated those plans can be affected by weather. We can get a little more specific as we check the weather and conditions going into each May weekend.

To those that have requested we extend operations to midweek, I regret that the business levels we have seen midweek in April just don’t allow us to justify midweek operations in May. It’s been a good April, but not as good as April two seasons ago the first year we offered the May Challenge.

So the May Challenge is ON! Spread the word and get a lot of people headed to MHM May 3 and 4. See you on the mountain!

Onward!

--Matt

*Shooting Star and Heather added Wednesday at 9:25 PM

Avalanche Control - A New Approach

MatthewDrake — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 02:09:00 GMT

Hi folks.

For the past year, Mt. Hood Meadows has conducted extensive research on developing an improved avalanche control (AC) program that will provide for the safety of our employees conducting avalanche control, and to better serve skiers by getting our in bounds terrain – in particular Heather and Clark Canyons – open more frequently and routinely after storm cycles. This blog is a continuation of prior blogs addressing snow safety at Mt. Hood Meadows and is intended to:
• Review our in bounds terrain and the associated avalanche threats,
• Inform about current options to mitigate this threat, including current procedures,.
• Present the option we are most likely to pursue and the approvals process required for implementation,

The Terrain

The terrain in Heather and Clark Canyons is big, varied (convex slopes, rock cliffs, steeps, trees, etc.) and uniquely spectacular. Combine this terrain with an ample supply of northwest snowfall and you have the recipe for some incredible skiing, snowboarding, and avalanches. Mitigating avalanche hazards in this varied terrain is challenging, particularly during storm systems. It’s hard to get to -- the Cascade Express chairlift is frequently crippled by a large volume of rime ice and it can’t run early, if at all.

Snowmobiles and snowcats are ineffective in pulling the patrollers uphill through deep snow and whiteout conditions, so patrollers must climb on skis or wade uphill with heavy packs of explosives to reach their control objectives. Under such conditions, more patrollers performing snow safety work is not the answer. In fact, such a strategy would further compound safety and productivity challenges in this area.

Our current avalanche control program is one that we have used effectively, for many years and includes a series of both passive and active measures. Passive methods include avoidance and closure. While there are areas within our permit area which we avoid altogether, we use gated ropelines to manage our avalanche closures, as the map below indicates.

Unfortunately, temporary closures are only respected if they are infrequent and of short duration. Long delays in opening Heather Canyon after a storm cycle frequently lead to closure violations. The threat of lost skiing privileges, a fine or possibly death if overtaken by an avalanche, apparently are insufficient deterrents. Safety of our employees and the public is the primary concern of Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort and the Mt. Hood National Forest.

Control Zones are often used to help define the terrain in avalanche control programs. Typically, multiple avalanche paths grouped within one zone may have similar terrain features, similar weather patterns, and require similar hazard reduction measures. You can see the different zones on the map below. Each zone generally requires its own unique approach and technique.

Mt. Hood Meadows ski patrol routinely provides active control measures into these areas, including the use of:
• Compaction – Primarily skier compaction, which works best in Lower Heather Canyon, but must thoroughly disturb every snow layer in order for skier/rider compaction to be effective
• Ski Cutting – A major staple of most ski patrol control teams, but is not suitable for hard or deep slabs on the unconfined convex slopes that prevail in Heather & Clark Canyons,

Deep slabs are possible as shown here in A-zone, beneath the Basalt Cliffs

-- you definitely wouldn’t want to try ski cutting this slab.
• Explosives – Using hand charges is the most common method of Avalanche Control delivery in use at Meadows today. Individual explosive charges weighing from two to ten pounds each are thrown, suspended or placed onto the avalanche path by our control teams.

Despite the inherent and obvious hazards associated with handling explosives, using them can reduce control team members exposure to avalanche hazard.

The sequence below shows the effective use of hand explosives to release a slide in A-zone.

Sometimes a 10 pound explosive isn’t enough so a larger explosive is delivered by tethered sled precisely into a control area.

We also use an avalauncher (like the one pictured) which uses compressed nitrogen to throw a 2.6 pound explosive charge designed to explode on impact. Avalaunchers are often times not effective during storm periods as the light-weight charge can be blown off course. And during storm conditions visual confirmation is not possible to determine whether avalauncher “shots” have been effective.

Here’s one of the key challenges of avalanche control work in Heather and Clark Canyons: Because they both funnel into Lower Heather Canyon all of these zones have to be controlled before the terrain below them can be opened. Our crews have to blast their way from one zone to the next, first controlling the Basalt Cliffs, then Upper Heather ridge, on to Clark Ridge and down to Accordion Bowl.

This also means that all the explosives for this trek must be carried in, so our patrollers are performing this work wearing 70 and 80 pound backpacks filled with explosives. Meanwhile, other teams are controlling Heather Ridge, Clark Canyon and Jacks Woods.
The lower canyon can only be opened once the upper potential avalanche areas have been controlled.

Control teams that climb the ridge to reach the upper Basalt starting zones are faced with a very big challenge. These starting zones are huge unconfined convex rolls that get steeper the farther out you go. These are some of the most dangerous types of slopes for control teams to be on. Control teams here are also frequently hampered by high winds and poor visibility. The snow surface is often wind packed and very firm which requires the hand charges to be tethered to keep them from rolling down the slope. “Tippy-toeing” out onto a huge convex hard slab, in a “whiteout”, to tether a five pound booster to your ski pole is extremely dangerous. There is rarely a safe route, and there is no place to hide.

I have the greatest amount of respect for our patrollers who serve on our control teams. They perform their work professionally and precisely, in extreme and inhospitable conditions, with no margin for error. The graph below shows the number of patrollers on the Basalt and upper Heather Ridge routes conducted over the past several seasons.

So that brings you up to speed on our current avalanche control program.

There are other options to performing control work used in other parts of the country. After careful consideration we’ve determined that most don’t deliver the margin of safety or accuracy that we need here in our challenging environment. For our situation, the safest and the most effective avalanche control measure is a military weapon, an option we are currently studying with the intent to acquire and install. Specifically, a M101A1 105 MM Howitzer like the one pictured below, located at Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort.

The 105 MM Howitzer has the ability to deliver appropriate payloads of explosives to remote and inaccessible starting zones with precise targeting, even during adverse weather conditions. That means that control work can proceed during storms, even in whiteout conditions, confidently and precisely. That will enable any required hand throwing or cutting by teams to proceed more directly to those areas. This means we can open Heather and Clark Canyons more safely and potentially more quickly following storm cycles, depending on the weather and snow conditions. It also means less risk to our patrol crews. These weapons are administered by the US Army Tactical Command based at the arsenal in Rock Island, IL. The army “loans” the equipment to another government agency such as the Forest Service or a state highway department with the cost of equipment refurbishment borne by the proposed user which, in this case, would be Mt. Hood Meadows. Military weapons are used for snow safety programs at other ski areas such as Mammoth, Alpine Meadows, Taos, Jackson Hole, Alta, Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard and by highway departments in Colorado, Wyoming and Washington.

The acquisition of the Howitzer and construction of the building is a top priority for Mt. Hood Meadows. In addition to the normal USFS permitting procedures, which includes environmental analysis in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, our plan must also comply with and be approved by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Army. We are working closely with Forest Supervisor Gary Larsen, pursuing a plan which could allow us to construct the firing platform and magazine, and acquire the weapon for use as soon as the 2008/2009 ski season, provided USFS permitting can be achieved in the near future. Here is his perspective:

As Forest Supervisor, I was asked to add my perspective to this blog. I have never blogged before, but welcome the opportunity. While every ski area avalanche management situation is unique, there are a set of factors that need to be well-addressed in the administration and management of any ski area avalanche control program. Among them are:

• the level of avalanche risk the public is exposed to and how public exposure to the risk is managed,
• the level of risk assumed by ski area employees and the ski patrol in controlling avalanches,
• the interaction between weather, avalanche risk, and opening of potentially threatened ski runs,
• environmental effects, and
• cost and difficulty of administering and managing the avalanche control program.

We (MHM and Mt. Hood National Forest) have become increasingly concerned with the level of risk the ski patrol and MHM employees are facing in their current routine avalanche control. MHM has explored a variety of methods for control. Representatives from the Mt. Hood National Forest and MHM visited Snowbird ski area in Utah a month ago to examine their avalanche control program because theirs is one of the best in the nation.

We found out that indeed MHM employees and ski patrol are exposed to greater risk than Snowbird employees and ski patrol. We discovered a high level of public acceptance of the use of military weapons and a very effective system for communicating with the public about risks, planned avalanche control times, and a high degree of management of public exposure to avalanche hazard and control. We also discovered that the environmental effects of military weapon use are smaller than with other techniques because of increased accuracy and significantly smaller dud rate. Lastly, we affirmed the importance of using a multi-faceted approach to controlling risks associated with avalanches and avalanche control — a comprehensive avalanche control program.

MHM has made a proposal to the Mt. Hood National Forest to improve its avalanche control program in several respects, the most significant of which is the proposed use of a military weapon. As we have evaluated their proposal, we find it to be comprehensive and well-thought through. If we approve implementation of their proposed program, risks to the Ski Patrol and MHM employees will be reduced very significantly, risks to the public will be significantly reduced, response times after large snow-dumping storms will be shortened significantly allowing use of some of the best runs while snow conditions are still excellent. The overall environmental effects will be less in comparison to their current methods. The one-time initial capital investment required for the proposed avalanche control program will be high due to acquisition and refurbishing the weapon and construction associated with its shelter and explosive storage. The annual operating costs will also be higher than the current approach due primarily to the training requirements necessary to safely operate the weapon. MHM is also including investment in other avalanche control tools as part of its new comprehensive plan.

The only environmental effect changes that will require analysis are for the installation of the new weapon shelter and explosive storage — an analysis that we will conduct under a categorical exclusion. MHM and the Hood River Ranger District are consulting with stakeholders and local officials as MHM finalizes its proposal. We will look forward to considering the proposal when they submit it after having made changes as the result of their consultations. The Hood River District Ranger has indicated to me that she would solicit additional comments from stakeholders when we receive the final proposal before she makes her decision. From my perspective, this proposal by MHM represents a significant long term investment in the safety of the Ski Patrol, MHM employees, and the public, as well as an investment in providing high quality services to the public.

-- Gary Larsen, Forest Supervisor, Mt. Hood National Forest. April 2, 2008

May Challenge Revisited

MatthewDrake — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 03:31:00 GMT

Hi folks!

We’ve already announced our operational schedule for this season – daily through April 27 then weekends after that for the May Challenge. We started the May Challenge two seasons ago as a way to collaborate with those guests that wanted the season to continue. So long as our skier visits tally 4,000 or more on a weekend, we’ll commit to open the following weekend. Season pass holders are included in this amount – we calculate the skier visit tally based on the number of cars parked in the parking lot, minus a factor for employee cars, times 2.5 people per car.

Two seasons ago we extended the season into the first weekend of June. Last season we went through the third weekend of May with the May Challenge.

So here’s the question.

We’ve used the May Challenge to extend our season the past two years. What are your thoughts about it? Is it really working? Should we continue it? Any suggestions as to how we could improve on this concept?

Extending the season a week at a time does pose a certain amount of operational issues. It’s difficult to keep key employees who really don’t know when their season will come to an end and have to move on to their summer jobs. We want to make sure we present the correct balance of operational and service levels as we extend the season. Weather tends to be the most influential factor – if the weekend lines up on wet spring storm it really drives the numbers down and can bring a brisk end to an epic season at Mt. Hood Meadows!

Give some thought about the May Challenge and then post your comment. We are experiencing an amazing season – receiving March storms with incredible powder conditions. With more than 15 feet at the base area – we will have great conditions through the end of our season (whenever that is)!

We look forward to hearing from you!

Onward!

--Matt

Unlimited Spring Season Pass Starts Saturday, March 1

MatthewDrake — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 01:42:00 GMT

Hi Folks.

Just a quick note to alert you that we are again offering our Unlimited Spring Season Pass beginning this Saturday. The pass is just $119 and will be good every day from March 1 through the rest of this season. Our schedule now is to operate daily through April 27, and then continue with weekends through May as part of the May challenge. Who knows, with this year’s snow fall we may even go into June. Night operations continue Wednesday through Sunday evenings through March 9.

There are some other spring specials you should be aware of. Beginning March 7 groups of 15 or more can receive $34 lift tickets by making a reservation in advance. Group members also qualify for discounted lessons and equipment rentals. Spring really is a great time to bring a group to the mountain. And if you can come midweek we’ll offer you the $49 “Uplift Special” which includes lunch and a lift ticket, or a beginner special for the first timers ages 13 and older. We’ll also return to our 40th anniversary special pricing for our learn to ski or snowboard packages – beginner lift ticket, equipment rentals and a 2 hour beginner lesson for just $40 beginning March 3.

Spring weather brings out the best at Meadows – the upper lifts are open more consistently presenting fabulous spring corn in the sunshine. Heather Canyon is spectacular.

Spring is also a great time for kids – so we extend a free season pass for ages 6 and under when their parent or grand parent purchases a Spring pass. We hope you take advantage of it. We’re also kicking off our three-week March programs for Sno-Blasters (elementary school age) and Trailblazers (middle school). The sessions are offered Saturdays, March 8, 15 and 22; or Sundays, March 9, 16 and 23. The sessions are reasonably priced and include a season pass for those purchasing packages with lift and lesson components. We also offer our three-day Kids Camp March 24 – 26 during Oregon spring break, and again March 31 - April 2 and a freestyle camp on those same days.

I said this would be a quick post. But let’s not forget that we have over two full months of winter remaining. Meadows traditionally receives some mid-winter storms in March and April, so don’t hang up the powder skis yet. Having said that, I look forward to your comments – what is it about spring skiing and riding at Meadows that you enjoy the most?

Onward!

Matt

Extra Extra – What About IT!

MatthewDrake — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 02:36:00 GMT

Hi folks.

Let’s talk about IT! What’s IT? Well, that’s what we’d like to know. Let’s not talk about skiing and snowboarding for a bit. Let’s talk about other activities, events, entertainment or competitions, which would make you interested in visiting Meadows, over and above the ski and snowboarding experience.

This February we have some major events – the Burton Demo Tour Super Stop returns for its second season. This is an international event – last year Meadows set a single day and event weekend record for the most equipment demoed at any tour stop ever held in its previous three year history. Perhaps that’s why Burton decided to make Meadows one of only six locations for its Burton Am Series – slopestyle and halfpipe competitions – the winners of which earn a spot in the U.S. Open. We also have the USSA Revolution Tour this month – featuring SBX, Slopestyle and Halfpipe competitions. These are amateur events, but will feature some major talent as national points are awarded for those trying to earn spots on the U.S. Snowboard Team. In March we’re hosting the NorAm Finals which will feature members of the U.S. Snowboard Alpine teams carving for championships.

Of course we have several local events as well – the Cancer Ski Out to raise funds for cancer research and to support patients, the Oregon High School Ski Racing State Championships, the Full Sail Banked Slalom return in March. April includes Vegetate – skiing and snowboarding for native wildflowers, Snow Jam Bike Jump and the Sno-Kona Pond Skim contest.

Is that IT? That’s my question to you. These are fun events and competitions, but is that what you want to see or experience at Meadows? More entertainment (be specific – what kind)? Competitions – serious or fun? Activities? More demos?

Or perhaps you would prefer to be not IT! That is, you don’t want this additional excitement, attraction or distraction at the slopes.

Here’s your chance to tell us what would influence your decision to come to Mt. Hood Meadows apart from the incredible snow we have received so far this season.
Remember, this is not slope related; we’re not talking about more lifts, more terrain, grooming, parks, etc. We’re looking for events, activities, competitions or entertainment that we could provide that would make your experience more enjoyable, fulfilling or memorable.

So TAG - You're IT! I’m looking forward to seeing your comments – and perhaps we can even take action on these items yet this season!

Onward!

--Matt

How Are We Doing?

MatthewDrake — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 15:47:00 GMT

Hi Folks!

This has been an amazing season. The snowfall has been astonishing – both in quantity (a base depth that has led the country through most of the season) and in quality – epic powder. The 40th anniversary celebration has been fun – we gave away the big 40 year pass on Sunday in front of a big crowd who braved yet another big Mt. Hood storm system. It was quite the scene, and we still have midweek drawings for a 2007/08 season pass Monday through Thursday through January. It’s exciting to see our guests and staff interacting and involved in these fun events.

We’re also promoting safety on the slopes more vigorously this season, with an effort to educate our guests and staff on the seven rules of the Responsibility Code. The MHM mantra – “Live the Code” has become one of the most popular slogans for the season among our guests and staff.

As you may know Meadows won the outstanding guest service award from the National Ski Areas Association last May. We also won a national safety program award from NSAA (National Ski Areas Association) for our “Are You Aware” skier and snowboarder education program. We’ve made no secret of our goal to win those awards again – using it as both a challenge and a measure to our staff to improve in both areas this season.

So I have a question for you. How are we doing? I’d like to get your feedback. What are your observations and experiences at Meadows this season? Anything you noticed that you would consider to be exceptional by a staff member who provided service beyond your expectation? Have you seen any systematic changes at Meadows which have made your experience more convenient or enjoyable?

What areas would you like to see us improve in? I realize that I’m opening us up for some criticism here which is OK, but I would appreciate it if you offered it constructively, and included a suggestion for improvement, how the problem or issue could be resolved, mitigated or eliminated.

I’m also looking for feedback regarding the “Live the Code” and “Are You Aware” programs. Much of the focus this season has been on boundary management and deep snow issues, because of the nature of our snowfall, but generally, how are we doing in terms of making our guests more aware while on the slopes?

Our intention is to use your comments and feedback to reward and recognize those that have been providing exceptional guest service, and make adjustments to our guest service and safety programs in those areas that need improvement, based on your observations and suggestions.

We are on a journey of continual improvement in all aspects of our operations and you play a key role. If we are successful and win awards again, we will dedicate them to you our guests for helping us to become a company that provides exceptional guest service and safety programs.

Onward!

--Matt

Tom Spangler Named New Mt. Hood Meadows General Manager

MatthewDrake — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 05:32:00 GMT

Hi Folks.

I am very pleased to announce that Jackson Hole Chief Operating Officer Tom Spangler will be the new General Manger at Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort. Tom has been at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort since August of 1998 as Vice President General Manager, Chief Operating Officer. During his tenure his responsibilities included overseeing all winter and summer operations.

During an exhaustive six-month search for this position, I interviewed more than fifty candidates for the General Manager position. These were executives, managers and directors from ski resorts throughout the United States and Canada. There were many talented, and very well qualified ski resort executives who pursued this position with great interest. But, along with the MHM Director Team, I can assure you that Tom is not only the most qualified candidate in terms of operational expertise, but also the best fit for Mt. Hood Meadows -- our entire team, our guests and our community. Tom has a vast amount of experience in the alpine and nordic recreation industries. He has been directly responsible for operations, expansion projects, USFS relationships, and environmental programs at several major day ski resorts and one destination ski resort in the US. I believe Tom possesses the operational knowledge, leadership skills, innovation, drive, character and passion needed to realize Mt. Hood Meadows’ mission of becoming the ‘Best in the West’ in employee and guest loyalty. I am really excited to have the opportunity to work closely with Tom on site at MHM for the balance of this season and beyond.

Tom is a life-long skier who also snowboards. He has spent his entire career in this industry. He knows first hand what it takes to improve the guest experience, from both guest satisfaction and safety perspectives. With his experience he will help us achieve our guest service and safety initiatives that we have made clear are very important to us. He will be a great mentor for our directors, managers and staff. We are excited to have Tom become a part of our Team as we continue on our journey to build this great resort on spectacular Mt. Hood.

Tom is very excited about joining this team, and helping both Mt. Hood Meadows and Cooper Spur Mt. Resort achieve their full potentials. His experience at Jackson Hole the last nine years will be extremely valuable as we pursue completion of our master plan, guest service and safety initiatives.

I would also like to take this opportunity to again thank you for your input on this blog. Late last summer I posted a blog regarding your thoughts on the qualifications, background and character that MHM's next General Manager should possess to help propel us forward aggressively. At the risk of putting too much pressure on Tom, I don't think you will be disappointed!

As you might expect, Tom has projects that he is finishing up at Jackson Hole, but he will be on-site here at Meadows next month. You'll have plenty of chances to meet him - he'll be on the slopes and in the lodges, learning about our operation and talking to staff and guests.

I hope you'll join me in extending a warm Oregon welcome to Tom as he becomes a key member of the Meadows management team, and thanks again for your input and continued passion for quality recreation at MHM.

Onward!

--Matt

What About The Parks?

MatthewDrake — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 14:21:00 GMT

Hi Folks.

Mt. Hood Meadows was one of the first ski resorts to build a terrain park – Park Place was constructed way back during the 1996-97 season. The year prior we built the venues for the inaugural Vegetate event – a boarder cross, half pipe and big air – and knew we needed to have a park for – at that time – mainly snowboarders to freestyle on. We are proud of the tradition and the reputation we have when it comes to building the best terrain features in the west.

So, why with a 104 inch base in the first week of January don’t we have these parks? Incredibly, we have received too much snow too fast to be able to effectively construct quality terrain features quickly. Our incredible crew continues to make good progress, despite the 170 inches of snow we received since December 15. Before that date our crew’s expertise was showcased by building a hugely popular rail park on just 3 feet of base, most of which was harvested from the parking lots. And as I look at the forecast – we’re going to get up to another foot-and-a-half of snow in the next 48 hours. Not exactly your primo park building stretch of weather.

OK. Enough venting. We have an awesome plan and we are working through it. We have begun building the superpipe – pushing huge amounts of snow up out of the gut so that we can tier off the walls. The pipe acts as a natural snow fence during storms so it is likely to fill right back up again after this storm, but we will continue to push the snow out and further sculpt what will be a truly magnificent spectacle of righteous verticality.

It is very important to build the super pipe walls to the correct grade of between 16 and 18 degrees. We build the skier’s left wall, the sunny wall, a little thicker than skiers right wall, the shady wall, to compensate for the melt factor. After we build the walls, we then take a cat through the gut to begin rough shaping the walls. Then we run the almighty Zaugg down the walls so they ride just smooth and rhythmically. Depending on the amount of new snow we receive while building the superpipe, we are aiming to open it by January 10th.

Park Place currently has one butter box, three table tops, and one hip, although we face the same problems constantly battling large amounts of new snow. During these heavy snow cycles, our hardworking crew spends many hours hand digging and re-setting rails. Jumps need to be rebuilt when the landings and take off’s fill in. The Parks crew pretty much starts over during and after every storm -- this is what makes the features not only ride well but makes them easier to properly maintain.

I was looking at the snow conditions at some other resorts across the country. I think I’ll quit whining about the snow, set some dates and work like hell to hit them. So here goes:

The Zoo and Shipyard – Open and continue to maintain and expand features daily.
Rose City – Open and continue to maintain and expand features, perhaps increasing the size of the jumps a bit.
Park Place – Built to completion January 10.
BoarderCross (on Wallflower) – January 10.
Superpipe – January 12.
Forest Park (now on Tamarack) – January 19.

Our Grooming and Parks departments are committed to do their best to meet or beat these deadlines. As always this is dependent on how much snow we receive. I figure we can’t lose. If it keeps snowing we’ll continue to have the best snow in the country. And if it stops we’ll have the best parks in the country. Hopefully, with just a little break in the weather and an enormous effort by our talented and dedicated parks and grooming crews, we’ll have both. So let us know how fun you find the parks and superpipe.

Onward!

--Matt

Massive Snow Requires Even More Awareness - When Will Heather Open?

MatthewDrake — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 19:40:00 GMT

Hi Folks.

This snow fall has been incredible – not unprecedented by any means – but to have two straight weeks of continuous snow accumulating more than 11 feet is simply spectacular. And this is the good stuff – light, fluffy, POWDER, comparable to the champagne associated with Colorado and Utah. It is worth celebrating and enjoying, but we must offer this cautionary note as well.

There is a massive amount of new snow at Mt. Hood Meadows. Our base went from 38 inches on December 15 to 102 inches December 28. This unconsolidated snow pack is creating some hazards that you need to be aware of.

These hazards are most evident in ungroomed areas with trees and less skier compaction. Significant accumulation of unconsolidated snow aka POWDER increases the risk of deep snow immersion. The tree canopy diverts snow from around the tree trunk, creating a well. Tree wells are a common hidden danger on the slopes. When you're out enjoying the snowy wilderness, you may encounter trees that are partially buried. Equally important are trees that have been completely covered in snow. The boughs of the trees create air pockets which can pull you down into the snow if you step on them or fall on them. Tree well information is addressed on our web site at this page: http://www.skihood.com/Mountain/Safety/TreeWells/

Ways to prevent tree well and deep snow accidents:

Avoid deep snow and treed areas
Skiing or riding in treed areas and deep snow is a choice
Ski or ride with a partner and keep them in sight
Always stay in visual contact so that they can see you if you fall
Stay close enough to either pull or dig you out
Remember, if you lose visual contact with your partner you could lose your friend
Ski and ride defensively
Choose areas of widely spaced trees
If you are a skier, remove your pole straps before heading down an ungroomed powder slope
As you ski or ride avoid looking at the trees. Rather look at the areas in between them
If you are sliding toward a tree well or a deep snow bank, do everything you can to avoid going inverted into the snow
Carry a transceiver, shovel, probe and whistle
Fight to survive
Resist the urge to struggle violently
Make a breathing space around your face
Stay calm

There is an entire web site dedicated to tree well and deep snow safety: http://treewelldeepsnowsafety.com/

Now on to the unstable snow conditions in Heather Canyon, which is directly related to its opening.

With all this new snow it is only natural that our most avid skiers and snowboarders want to know when Heather Canyon is going to open. Heather offers some of the best advanced terrain in the northwest. It’s wide open expansiveness feels like a ski area all its own. The sustained steep pitch propels you from one turn through another, creating an exhilarating rhythmic dance with the mountain. Heather is especially appealing after a powdery snowfall, such as the ones we’ve been receiving.

But all these features that make Heather so attractive for skiing and snowboarding also make it prone to avalanches. The snowfall we have been receiving over the past two weeks has added a different twist to both the science and art of avalanche control work in Heather Canyon. We do not have our normal maritime snow pack and there are layers of deep instability with in the current snow pack. There has been significant natural slide activity recently through out Heather Canyon, as well as in White River Canyon.

So thanks to the abundant snowfall we’ve been able to complete some of the groundwork for getting Heather Canyon open. Most importantly, however, is the remaining avalanche control that has been complicated by the snow pack received to date this season The current storm cycle has prevented us from performing our normal systematic and methodical avalanche control routine. You can’t control what you can’t see, and this series of storms has been raging for two weeks, reducing our avalanche control work to basically “lobbing” explosives into the canyon from the ridge line. This tactic is used to trigger smaller avalanches to prevent the snow from building up to a major, uncontrolled release. Because of the size of the canyon, a variety of techniques are used including hand charges, ski cutting, and gas propelled avalauncher explosive devices.

Our patrollers and Snow Safety personnel go into the canyon during storm cycles on a limited basis and only when necessary due to visibility and safety concerns. Currently Heather Canyon is extremely dangerous, with limited or no visibility and highly unstable conditions. So we must wait until the end of the storm cycle to conduct the required and necessary control work before opening the canyon to the public.

There are other “control” issues - rope and bamboo closures down in the canyon have to be set (and reset as they get knocked down due to heavy snow or by avalanches). The lower terminal requires massive re-grading by cat. It’s a sequential process also. Certain things have to be completed before other tasks can start.

We fully understand how important Heather Canyon is to our guests. We remain committed to providing the resources necessary and the encouragement to our staff to get the Canyon open as quickly as reasonably possible. Ultimately, our professional patrol department makes the decision when the canyon opens and when it closes – and I’ll always respect and support their decision. We must treat Heather Canyon, and all of the terrain at MHM with the respect that it commands – particularly under the current conditions.

NEVER, NEVER ski Heather Canyon, or any other terrain at MHM, when it is marked “CLOSED”. Our staff may be doing control work above when you’re thinking its time to duck a rope and get some freshies. The results could be deadly. The intent of avalanche control work is to increase slope stability by pre-releasing unstable conditions. Why would you want to jump into the Canyon when the very nature of the work above you is to cause an avalanche? When the canyon is closed, it’s closed for a good reason. Additionally, your thoughtless tracks into marked closed areas may inadvertently encourage others to follow you, putting them in harms way. Equally important, if you elect to exercise some very poor judgement and disobey closure signs and/or roped off areas you are potentially placing our dedicated and highly trained patrol personnel at considerable and completely unecessary risk as they attempt to either find or rescue you. Obviously, this behavior is unacceptable and will be dealt with swiftly and severly.

So, when will Heather Canyon open? We anticipate near the end of this current snow cycle, when our Patrol professionals are presented with the conditions necessary to access, assess and accomplish the appropriate avalanche control work. Our commitment is that we will conduct this work as soon as possible and as professionally as possible, so that we can all enjoy Heather Canyon. Please have patience, exercise good judgement, and remember, this whole process repeats after every storm cycle.

As always, have fun, but Be Aware and Live the Code!

--Matt

FOLLOW-UP: Peak Day Parking at Mt. Hood Meadows 12/20/07

MatthewDrake — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 16:43:00 GMT

Hi folks!

This blog posting is a follow-up to the early December 2007 blog asking your thoughts about Peak Day Parking at Mt. Hood Meadows.

We received some really great input, and enjoyed a healthy dialogue with you, regarding Peak Day Parking. I want to thank you for taking the time to participate in this dialogue. Your feedback is very important to us and has a real impact on shaping our short and long-term planning.

I also want to reiterate that we are focusing mostly on Peak Day Parking at MHM. To review, Peak Parking Days at MHM occur December 22, 2007 through January 6, 2008, then weekends through March 2, 2008. However, some of the great ideas we received can improve parking and the overall experience at MHM at ALL times! Other suggestions focused on transportation issues to/from MHM. Parking and transportation challenges at MHM and on Mt. Hood are vitally linked, and so are their potential solutions. Most writers agreed with our objective of working to find a combination of solutions for peak day parking that most benefited our guests, our environment and our community. Some of the suggestions we received included concepts that we have been studying, and others were great new ideas. Some ideas we can implement right away, others will take more time, effort, and resources. Let’s focus on the suggestions that we can and will implement right away. As you are reviewing these please keep in mind that we will need to fine tune and make adjustments as we go along. This is how we evolve:

Keep Traffic Moving: This was an often repeated suggestion. While this is intuitive, there are a few things that we can and will do starting with this blog to help educate our guests on how to improve traffic movements to and from MHM parking lots:
a. Make sure that you and your vehicle are well prepared for mountain weather: wipers clean and in good condition, windshield washer tank full with de-icer/cleaner, battery fully charged, battery cables tight and in good condition, complete auto safety kit in your vehicle, heater/defroster working correctly.
b. Make sure you have traction devices in your vehicle and know how to use them, and/or have traction tires.
c. Use the designated areas to put your traction devices on in advance as opposed to waiting until you spin out and clog traffic for everyone else.
d. Check the road conditions before you leave. For current road condition information in Oregon, call 511 or (800) 977-ODOT (6368). Reports are available 24 hours/day. Visit www.TripCheck.com for information on road and weather conditions, incidents and traffic delays.
e. Drive slowly and defensively, we will all get there faster: Slow down in advance of shaded areas (especially curves) and bridges, do not pass sanders or plows. If your vehicle loses traction, slow down by taking your foot off the gas – do not slam on the brakes. Mountain driving is NOT the place to practice stunt driving.
f. Maintain good distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you. This will give you more room to brake and maneuver, and help save your windshield from rock dings and cracks.
g. Purchase your Sno-Park permit in advance or in the MHM parking lots when you arrive. A Sno-Park permit costs $4 for the day or $22 for the season when purchased at MHM.
h. On peak days take Highway 35 north through Hood River, and I-84 back to Portland. Avoid the traffic jam that can occur between MHM and Government Camp.
Car Pooling -- MHM Employees Lead by Example: Most MHM Employees members already either carpool or use the MHM bus service to get to and from the resort. We have expanded our employee bus service significantly this year to accommodate the increasing numbers of MHM employees who wisely choose to ride the bus. Employees who choose to carpool on Peak Parking Days will receive incentives.
Encourage Guests to Car Pool: We aim to help educate our guests on the benefits of carpooling and encourage them to do so. On Peak Parking Days we will be issuing raffle tickets for a drawing for ten $50 MHM Gift Cards to drivers that park in any of our lots in vehicles arriving with three or more (driver and two or more passengers) on Peak Parking Days. Look for our dedicated Parking Lot Crew members who will be issuing these raffle tickets in the parking lots to drivers arriving with two or more passengers in one vehicle on Peak Parking Days. All carpool drivers need to do is to write their name, phone number and email on the back of the raffle ticket and deposit in the Suggestion Boxes located at the Concierge Desk (South Lodge, level one), Salomon Rental Shop (North Lodge, level one), Black Diamond Wraps (North Lodge, level two), or the main desk at the Hood River Meadows Lodge. Daily drawings will be at 2:00PM and the Concierge Desk will contact all winners. Winning carpool drivers can pick up their MHM Gift Cards at the Concierge Desk (South Lodge, level one) any time this season after being notified.
Continue to Aggressively Promote Busing Options: Mt. Hood Meadows has one of the most comprehensive busing programs in the ski industry. Up to 25% of our guests arrive via bus on our peak days, compared to an industy average of 6%. But we can do better. We encourage our guests to sign up for our multi-week neighborhood ski and snowboard bus programs from their neighborhoods. You can find these buses and the dates they run at this link: http://www.skihood.com/SkiSchool/contacts_youth_multiweek.aspx
Meadows also operates Park&Ride buses on weekends and holidays. Reservations must be made in advance through our eTicket system, and Meadows will continue to add buses to this service as reservations dictate. For more details visit: http://www.skihood.com/GetHereStayHere/Transportation/ParkandRide/default.aspx
Expand Guest Communications: We will be expanding guest communication capabilities on both the website and Snow Phone to include current parking lot status, in addition to weather conditions and lift operations status -- particularly during the morning and swing shift time frames. We will also be adding more truck-mounted digital reader boards at MHM to help provide current travel and parking status information to our guests upon arrival to the MHM parking lot access roads and upon departure. The Concierge Desk will also continue to be another excellent source of current information and status.
Continue to Expand Intra-Resort Transportation: We will continue to expand our intra-resort transportation capabilities to reduce shuttle wait times to a maximum of fifteen minutes. Our goal is to have more shuttles running continuously throughout the day to achieve shuttle wait times that are fifteen minutes or less. Of course the bottom line remains, when traffic is moving -- the shuttles are moving on time. So let's all work on keepin' it moving!
Continually Improve Parking Lot Operations: From parking to Sno-Park permit sales, we will continue to look for means and methods to improve the efficiency of our parking lot operations. These efforts will include additional parking lot staff, training and attention to guest service details – including the implementation of our carpool education and incentive program. Look for our Parking Lot Crew in the orange and tan uniforms, waving flags and wearing smiles while quickly directing you to your parking spot. They are there to help you park, greet you and answer your questions, make sure you have a Sno-Park permit (and sell you one if you don’t), help guide you to one of many shuttle pick-up points, and make sure that your day at MHM starts off on the right foot.

There is no one magic solution to parking and transportation issues at MHM. We are confident, however, that the combination of these Peak Day Parking initiatives and opportunities for cool incentives will help provide positive steps toward improving parking and transportation to, from and within MHM. We will continue to refine and expand these initiatives based on our experiences and your continued feedback as to how we are doing.

Thanks again for your input. Stay tuned for upcoming blogs including an exciting post regarding our 40th Anniversary celebration starting in January 2008. In the meantime, on behalf of the MHM Team, I wish you all a wonderful holiday season!

Peace.

-- Matt

ARE YOU AWARE?

MatthewDrake — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 03:53:00 GMT

Hi folks!

This blog focuses on our continuing safety education efforts on the hill at Mt. Hood Meadows. Many of you may already be familiar with our award winning “Are You Aware? – Skier / Rider Safety Education Program”. Our consistent implementation of this program has helped skiers and snowboarders become more aware of slope safety, the Skier/Rider Responsibility Code, and how their actions and behavior on the slopes affect those around them.

This season we are bolstering our “Are You Aware?” program with a renewed focus on the Skier / Rider Responsibility Code. You will see “Know the Code. Live the Code.” messaging frequently along with a listing of the seven provisions of the Skier / Rider Responsibility Code:

The Skier/Rider Responsibility Code is common sense. The Code was developed in the 1950’s by the National Ski Patrol and the current Code is officially endorsed by the NSAA and is in use through out North America. Yet it is surprising to us the high percentage of our guests that are not aware this Code exists. Tough to practice what you do not know. We are confident that the more guests that know the Code, the more they will practice it routinely, and perhaps even help mentor others to do so along the way!

As with the industry as a whole, MHM actually has very few accidents per skier visit. Nationwide the chance of an injury on the slopes leading to serious injury or fatality is right around 1 in a million. Statistics indicate that the injury rate for skiers is about 2 in 1,000 a little higher for snowboarders. Just under 7% of all reported accidents on the slope are due to collisions with other skiers or snowboarders. However, a percentage of these incidents is a result of one or more guests not following the Code. So we are increasing our efforts to educate our guests to “Know the Code. Live the Code.” when skiing and riding at MHM. If you have questions about the Code at MHM, please seek out one of our many well trained MHM Patrollers or on mountain Guest Hosts, or go to the brand new Patrol Headquarters (“PHQ”) near the top of the Blue Chair – you can’t miss it!

We are spreading the word on the mountain with safety awareness banners, displays, safety cards that you can put in your pocket, in the trail map and even on the peel off back of our lift tickets. At the recent Portland Ski Show we asked that guests tell us at least one of the seven provisions of the Code before we stamped their coupon book. January 19 - 25, 2008 has been designated "National Ski Areas Associating Safety Awareness Week" and we'll be celebrating safety during a safety fair in January. Use the opportunity to find out more about mountain safety and awareness, have some fun and win some prizes.

One other safety concept that we require all of our guests to comply with is reducing speed through our slow zones at all times. We post these signs for a reason - and it is expected by all that you'll check your speed in these areas. This really is important, to the point where last year we pulled many day tickets and season pass tickets from guests who were traveling too fast through these zones. Although they do not wish to be put in a position to have to do this, MHM Patrol is fully prepared to do the same this year -- so PLEASE BE AWARE OF THE SLOW SPEED ZONES. When you see the slow sign - slow down, and be super aware of those around you.

There are many ways to help spread this education effort and broaden our “Are You Aware” program -- in addition to this blog, on mountain messaging, and guest mentoring. What are your thoughts regarding other means to broaden our “Are You Aware?” Program, including “Know the Code. Live the Code”? We look forward to hearing from you on this important topic.

Know the Code. Live the Code.

-- Matt.

What are your thoughts on peak parking days at Mt. Hood Meadows?

MatthewDrake — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 07:20:00 GMT

Hi folks!

Can we talk parking -- specifically, peak day parking at Mt. Hood Meadows? As many of you know, MHM has limited parking capacity. We continue to study the possibility of a limited parking area expansion in the future. Even with a limited parking expansion MHM will generally have challenging parking conditions on peak days. So what is a “peak parking day” at MHM? Typically, peak parking days are the major winter holidays (between Christmas and New Years, MLK and President’s Day weekends), sometimes Spring Break, as well as most weekends in January and February. Those peak parking periods add up to approximately 28 days during an average season.

We have had many lively email and verbal discussions both internally and with you about parking issues in the past. Many interesting ideas have emerged from these on-going dialogues, including pay for parking schemes, raising lift ticket prices significantly to reduce peak day demand, constructing more parking, and carpooling. Over the past few years, we have debated the advantages and disadvantages of each of these potential solutions and/or combinations thereof. Internally, we defined an objective to work to seek a parking solution that most benefits our guests, our environment and our community.

We would love to know your thoughts on this challenging issue. What are your suggestions to reduce parking congestion on peak parking days this season?

While you are pondering this weighty topic, a few tips for making your trip to and from Mt. Hood Meadows easier so that you can help be a part of the solution rather than part of the problem:

1. Make sure that you and your vehicle are well prepared for mountain weather.

2. Make sure you have traction devices in your vehicle and know how to use them, and/or have traction tires.

3. Use the designated areas to put your traction devices on in advance as opposed to waiting until you spin out and clog traffic for everyone else.

4. Drive slowly and defensively, we will all get there faster.

5. Maintain good distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you. This will give you more room to brake and maneuver, and help save your windshield from rock dings and cracks.

6. Purchase your Sno-Park permit in advance or in the MHM parking lots when you arrive. A Sno-Park permit costs $4 for the day or $22 for the season when purchased at MHM.

7. On peak days take Highway 35 north through Hood River, and I-84 back to Portland. Avoid the traffic jam that can occur between MHM and Government Camp.

8. Work on carpooling -- it helps to save fuel costs and reduce emissions, as well as improve transportation efficiency to and from Mt. Hood Meadows. Here is a link to www.carpoolmatchNW.org – they have been hooking up riders to MHM for the past 4 seasons.

Travel Oregon has produced "The Oregon Driving Guide" which provides valuable information about driving in winter conditions. You can also find current road information on Trip Check.

As always, we look forward to your responses and will continue to respond to those that are on topic and do not use profanity

-- Matt

P.S. We're getting so many responses that I'm going to start posting without comment (unless there's some specific questions). It's more important that our bloggers see each others responses than my commentary on them =0}