waltt@tekecs.UUCP (Walt Tucker) (11/06/85)
I posted this back in mid-'84, but it seems now is a good time for a reposting.
If I remember correctly, a lot of this information came out of a Ski section
of the Portland Oregonian. I've updated where appropriate (new lifts,
facilities, etc).
-- Walt Tucker
Tektronix, Inc.
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<swoosh,swoosh>
There are a number of ski areas around Oregon, probably about 20
to 25, counting all the little ones. Many of the bigger ones are
very good (of course, my skiing experience is limited to Oregon, Washington,
and Idaho). Certainly not Colorado skiing, but still pretty respecable.
In my opinion, Bachelor is the best in Oregon, but limited by the lack
of night skiing. U.S. Ski team trains at Mt. Hood and Mt. Bachelor
during the summer.
I live about 15 miles south of Portland and about 50 miles north of
Corvallis. I usually go up to Mt. Hood if I am just going for the day,
since it is close (1 hr to 1 hr 15 mins or about 55-70 miles, depending
on which ski area you are going to; add 50 miles from Corvallis).
(note: the Corvallis references were originally for H-P people - Walt)
Mt Hood has these major areas:
Timberline -- 5 chairlifts. 3500 vertical feet. Top elevation 8500 ft.
Night Skiing. The Palmer lift is open in the summer and
allows you to ski on the Glacier, providing year around
skiing. The old lodge is a national historic landmark.
Very picturesque. Brand new day lodge. All lifts open
Mid November to Mid May. Snow pack ranges from 100-200
inches.
Mirror Mountain (formally Multipor/Ski Bowl) -- 4 chairs, 1 T-Bar.
1375 vertical feet. Lowest of the ski areas on Mt. Hood,
the top elevation is a little over 5000 feet. Night Skiing.
Shuttle bus between the two main ski areas. Can ski the two
areas on one ticket. 2 day lodges. Since it is the
lowest ski area, it sometimes closes for lack of snow. It
is amazing what a difference about a thousand feet in
elevation can make on the snow quality. Snow pack ranges
from 30 to 70 inches.
Mt. Hood Meadows -- 8 chairs. 2775 vertical feet. Top elevation 7280.
Night Skiing. Good, varied terrain. Between 40 and 50
runs. Nice, wide open snowfields at the upper elevations.
Lodge. Snow Bunnies. Season is Mid-November to Mid-May.
This is my personal favorite for Mt. Hood, and most of the
people around Portland. Snow pack ranges from 100-200 inches.
Saw it up to 225 inches one year.
In addition, there is a small beginner's area on Mt. Hood that has 1
chair called the "Summit Ski Area" (400 vertical feet, day skiing only).
If you follow the highway past Mt. Hood Meadows, on the back side of
Mt. Hood is an area called Cooper Spur. It has one T-Bar and one rope
tow with 400 vertical feet.
Other ski areas (central Cascades):
Mt. Bachelor -- 10 chairs. 2850 vertical feet (according to my map,
sorry Rich). Top elevation is 8950. Base elevation
6100 feet. Season is late November to Mid-May for all
chairs. Summit lift stays open through the summer.
No night skiing, but excellent snow and terrain. Tree
skiing. 4 lodges. Lots of lodging about 20 miles away in
Bend (population 17,000). About 2 1/2 hours or 140 miles from
Corvallis. Snow pack about the same as Meadows and
Timberline (100 - 200 inches), but usually drier snow and
better weather due to being on the east side of the cascades.
Mt. Bachelor has become a destination resort for the
west coast (Oregon, Washington, California).
Hoodoo -- 3 chairs. 1035 vertical feet. Top elevation 5700.
Night Skiing. Although not the best, awful convienent
from Corvallis. About 60-70 miles, and about halfway to
Mt. Bachelor. Lodge. Snow pack is slightly better than
Multipor/Ski bowl. Could easily go up after work to ski
the evening.
Mount Baily - Snowcat Skiing. Snowcat takes you to the 8363 foot level
for a run of 3000 vertical feet through fresh powder.
For the more experienced skier. I've never gone, but I've
heard it's great. Cost is about $50/day. Never more than
about 100 people out a day (capacity of snow cats). Located
about 150 miles south of Corvallis near Diamond Lake (next
to Crater Lake). Lots of snow and powder. Minimum group
of 10 to a snowcat.
Willamette Pass -- They just put the first chair in here in '82 and the
second chair in '84. The expansion plan calls for a total
of five chairs (3 new) over the next decade. Brand new
lodge, which is over-capacity for two chairs, but will be
just about right for five chairs. The longest chair has
about has a 1525 foot vertical drop (not bad). Top elevation
is 6700. 17 runs. Cheap lift tickets ($9.00) to build up
business. Night skiers get off at a midstation. About
110 miles from Corvallis, and 70 miles from Eugene. This
ski area is being developed to tap the Eugene market (Eugene
is about 110,000 population). I've heard from people that
have skiied up there that it is going to be a good'un.
Other ski areas (Eastern and Southern):
Anthony Lakes -- One chairlift with 900 vertical feet. Top elevation is
8000 feet. Not much for facilities or varied runs, but
everyone says it is the best powder in the state. Close
to Idaho border.
Spout Springs -- Two T-Bars serve 500 vertical feet. Located near Pendelton.
High Wallowas -- 3700 foot vertical (dependent on adequate snow). Not
open this year (owned by the same guy that has Anthony Lakes
-- he's not doing real good this year). But anyway --
Top elevation is about 8000 feet. If snow is lacking, you
can take a gondola ride to the top and ski near the top using
a rope tow. Oregon's only Gondola. Six or more people can
request the Gondola be run any day. Day skiing only. As
you may have guessed, it is really out in the Boonies, 70
miles away from the nearest large (9500 people) city
(LaGrande). The scenery is some of the best in the state,
though. If you don't make the high Wallowas in the winter,
camp there in the summer. It's great. Beautiful Scenery.
Mt. Ashland -- 3 chairlifts, 1 T-Bar. 1150 vertical feet. Top elevation
of 7530. Lodge. Virtually no easy runs, except for a couple
off the rope tow. It is basically an intermediate and expert
mountain. I went down last year and had a good time for
a day of skiing. It could get old if you spent over a couple
of days there, but it has some good challenging runs.
Located next to the California border, about 7 miles off I-5.
I caught all the big ski areas and gave you an overview of some of the
smaller ones. I neglected to mention some of the other smaller areas
such as Dixie Mountain, Warner Mountain, Tomahawk, etc. They are typically
rope tows T-Bars, with only a few hundred vertical feet. A lot of them
are located at lower elevations and don't get that good of snow (the two
years I lived in Klamath Falls the Tomahawk ski area never did open).
I also didn't mention the Washington ski areas. There are some really
nice ones, all within a days drive. Crystal mountain comes to mind
(10 lifts, 3100 vertical feet, excellent terrain). Crystal mountain
and Mission Ridge are the only two Washington areas I've skied at, but
I would heartily recommend them both.
-- Walt Tucker
Tektronix, Inc.
Wilsonville, OR