Fellow Mountain People,
The end is not near.
At the risk of sounding a bit philosophical, we have snow - therefore we are. We say "let the people rejoice - and revel on Oregon's alpine icon". There is no reason to bring this great season to an end!
As you can see on the home page, we've got a new schedule for May. The snowpack is holding up very nicely and we're in the mood to have some fun!
Based on what we have, we're thinking that making it through the first weekend of June is in the cards - if you keep coming. We may close for a scheduled day here or there in May if it rains but we'll just reopen as the clouds part and the sun's rays or Uhlr give us the goods.
Mt. Hood Meadows has so many loyal and dedicated riders and skiers now - there is no reason to deny any of us from enjoying what Mother Nature has given us. We are so fortunate to have Mt. Hood. This wonderful resort has been developed - let's enjoy it. I say - come one, come all!
The special events continue to amaze. Next weekend, April 28 and 29 we introduce "Hawaiian Days". Hawaiian BBQ on the deck serving Ahi Tuna Sandwiches, Hawaiian Style Pork Back Ribs, Teriyaki Chicken Halves and Shrimp Skewers. Retro Active Gamma Rays play surf music both days - and the Sno-Kona Pond Skim is Sunday!
Yours truly will be climbing into the dunk tank on the sundeck on the afternoon of Sunday April 29th so if you want to raise some coin for Columbia Riverkeeper (www.columbiariverkeeper.org), come send me into the splash!
Come on - you know you've always wanted to flush me down the drain! I dare you. I double dare you!
Other slightly over-committed and demented management personalities from Mt. Hood Meadows also will be subjecting themselves to this friendly and tropical debauchery that afternoon. Oh yeah!!
My assistant, Heidi Logosz, has volunteered to get in the dunk tank for Riverkeeper but wants to go first,, something about clean water,, I'm not sure how to take that?? =) She did a wonderful job helping to organize our Earth Day Celebration last weekend and also put together the Riverkeeper fundraiser. You'll want to dunk her for sure!
Rumor has it that Jami LaMaita - Director of Human Resources, is going to purchase a wetsuit with a faux fur collar and head for the dunk tank. My guess is that many a staff member and guest will line up for that!
Dave Tragethon, my marketing partner for more years than either of us are willing to admit is going for the dunk tank also. I'm planning on investing in a few balls for that one! bruuhaaahaaahaaa. Trag's the one who has been brainstorming these wonderful events so you all need to come show your love and send him into the water at the dunk tank Sunday afternoon.
I'm thinking we need some patrollers in the dunk tank - what do you think? ... hehehe
We're going to line up some other victims, er, volunteers also.
The Sno-Kona Pond Skim on April 29 will surely generate some test pilot tendencies, creating the cornerstone of Hood Meadows celebration :)~ You've got to see this one! Check out the website (http://www.skihood.com/Events/PondSkim/Default.aspx) for details on how you can win a free trip to Hawaii!
Cinco de Mayo (arriba!!!) follows on the first weekend of May, with Moe Dixon and more (that's code for the fact that we're still trying to figure it out but we'll get it together on time)! If you've never seen Moe Dixon play at the "Super Beer Garden" at Mt. Hood Meadows, you simply have not lived life to the fullest... Block that time out in the schedule now! I guarantee you'll be thinking - "hey, why do I need to fly to Cabo when I can drive to Meadows"?
Admittedly, we're having fun. You see, Mt. Hood Meadows is kind of going through a renaissance (rebirth). After 39 years, we're realizing that life is just too short. I'm not sure if it's totally obvious on the outside but big things are happening internally. A little less emphasis on the bottom line and a little more emphasis on fun at the resort.
I figure the bottom line will take care of itself if we take care of our employees and our guests... How profound...!
Uh oh, I'm sharing the trade secrets now :)
- Dave
Hi Folks,
As I bump into friends in town and at the mountain invariably people ask, "it's been a pretty good season for you guys, hasn't it?" It's more of a statement than a question though. It feels like at this time of year people are kind of drawing a mental line and totaling up their experiences. Overall, everyone seems very pleased with the season on many levels - at least that's what I'm hearing.
Now I consider myself a very positive person - but I have had this urge lately to complain about the lack of snow this year. Last night I was sitting at the bar at Brian's Pourhouse with my wife and found myself launching into a mild diatribe: "yeah, after we got past the November Glacial Outburst road problem, it turned out to be a good year but it seems to be a low snow year to me. We didn't get much snow in March."
Why the heck would I say something like that? This is odd because the pacific northwest has had the best snowpack all season over every other region in the country - and possibly the best in the world.
I thought to myself as I drove to the mountain today - have I become a snow snob? Do I now require a minimum of 4" of fresh in order to put the boots on? Oh my GOD - IT'S TRUE: I'm becoming a pacific northwest SNOW SNOB!
You see, I've always complained that northwesterners are so spoiled with copious amounts of snow that unless we're getting our normal one or two feet per week some people don't come to the resorts.
We've all got to get over this. The skiing and riding at Mt. Hood Meadows is great in the sunshine, great in the corn, great on the corduroy, as well as great in the pow. Maybe I'm being too selective. Maybe we're all being too selective.
We've clearly had enough snow to build some nice sized jumps this year:
The rail parks don't like deep pow anyway:
A sunny day at Mt. Hood Meadows is better than going to the mall or cleaning the house:
Demos in the base area allow you to try all sorts of cool equipment for free. Today, Signal Sports offered some women specific skis. Salomon has had some hugely popular Super Demo Days this year at Mt. Hood Meadows.
Skiing in Heather Canyon on a winch-cat groomed run can put a smile on your face after a long week at work. Just spending time with friends at the mountain is worth it - even without knee-deep freshies.
Left to right: Paul Jones - Ticketing Manager, Woody Hoye - Director of Resort Operations, Paul Thomson - Information Systems Manager, Chris Kastner - Director of Ski & Snowboard School, Jeremy Riss - Adult Ski and Snowboard School Manager, and your's truely, all getting ready to drop into everyone's favorite canyon:
Special Events always add to the fun:
Okay, I've decided that I'm not going to be a pacific northwest SNOW SNOB any longer!
...Although I am looking forward to some freshies in April and May... ;-)~
See you on the slopes! - Dave