Hi folks!
Summer has been beautiful at Mt. Hood Meadows. As Labor Day approaches, some of the foliage is starting to change and there is a chill in the air in the late afternoon that is heralding the start of autumn on Mt. Hood.
It has been a very busy summer at Meadows! Several important improvement projects are well underway and are on schedule for completion by fall – by which time of course it will be snowing! The following is a brief rundown of a few of the more significant improvement projects our team has been working on this summer:
New Patrol Headquarters Building -- Located near the upper terminal of the Blue Chair at the top of South Canyon, this two story 1,240 square foot structure will house the new Mount Hood Meadows (MHM) Patrol Headquarters. Patrol dispatch and a larger professional patrol staff will call this attractive and functional new facility home. This will be MHM’s first LEED’s ("Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design" green building rating system) certified building and will be a real milestone in our continuing environmental sustainability efforts. You can see the top of the Mt. Hood Express terminal in the second picture below, and the Mazot in the third picture.
Remodel North Lodge First Floor Bathrooms – Updated fixtures, finishes and new lighting and HVAC (Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning) will create more attractive and welcoming ladies and mens rest room facilities on the first level of the North Lodge. This will definitely provide a more pleasant multi-sensory experience!
Yellow Chair will get new chairs, a variable speed motor as well as a new name. The “Stadium Chair” will honor all of the race and special events presented on the Stadium run. New “bail style” chairs (no center pole and galvanized – no longer yellow) are being installed on Stadium which are more comfortable and easier to load/unload. Safety restraint bars are also included. The new variable speed drive will also improve loading and unloading while reducing stoppages.
The Portland Sales and Marketing Office and incredibly dedicated and talented team moved to Clackamas Promenade Plaza across from Clackamas Town Center. The office provides unlimited parking access and is very easy to get to – just off exit 14 on Sunnyside Road. We’ll be taking season pass pictures at that location in October.
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.
There are a variety of on-going projects to improve the guest experience and guest safety in Patrol, Lift Maintenance, Lift Operations, Race, Food Services, Security, and Retail. Some of the improvements you’ll notice and others are behind the scenes, but they will all help our staff provide better guest experiences at Mt. Hood Meadows this upcoming season and beyond.
Some of you have visited our sister resort, Cooper Spur Mountain Resort, on the north side of Mt. Hood. We’re expanding the deck at the Log Home at Cooper Spur – this is the perfect setting for weddings, family gatherings or other small group events – providing an incredible view of Mt. Hood. It’s a beautiful place and we hope you get a chance to visit there this fall and winter.
Those are just a few of the many improvements we are chipping away at this summer and fall. As always, we welcome your thoughts and comments on these and suggested future improvements. Please remember the “Blog Rules” -- no profanity and stay on topic.
Look for the next blog this fall regarding our 40th Anniversary Season – 2007-2008 "40 Years of Making Winter Fun!"
-- Matt
Hi folks!
The search for our new General Manager is in full swing, and we are looking for your feedback. Interest in this position is strong and we have had the pleasure to have discussions with dozens of qualified candidates. Some may potentially be a good “fit” for Mt. Hood Meadows, and some may not.
Our selection criteria for this position is focused on ski resort management experience, environmental stewardship, guest service, collaborative relationship and team building, open communication, personnel development, finance, creativity and the ability to provide inspirational leadership. A challenging combination of skills, background and attitude to be sure. For the right individual, however – an awesome and exciting opportunity to work with the finest ski resort management team in the west!
In the spirit of this Blog, we would welcome YOUR thoughts concerning what kind of individual you feel we should be looking for. What kind of background, experience, character, leadership and personal qualities should this person bring to Mt. Hood Meadows? What should we be thinking about as we implement this search?
We are on a journey with no certain time frame. Actually, the conclusion of this journey will not end with the ultimate hiring of a new General Manager. We understand and respect the notion that it takes a broad spectrum of community including loyal guests and employees, local residents and community activists, the environmental community, US Forest Service, political leaders, industry vendors and the MHM Management Team to develop and refine a truly effective General Manager of Mt. Hood Meadows – no matter how much experience they may have. Of course, this process will take time and is its own journey.
What are your thoughts on this important issue?
As always, we welcome and appreciate your input,
n Matt