Look for improved grooming at Timberline Lodge & Ski Area thanks to the addition of two new PistenBully groomers.
October 20, 2017 — Another La Nina is forecast for Oregon this season, which translates to plenty of fresh powder snow and a deep snowpack across the state. Oregon is already on track for an early start to the ski season—Timberline Lodge & Ski Area claimed the coveted title of the first ski area to open in North America for the 2017/18 season, and Mt. Bachelor has already received over 30-inches of snow. It’s still only October!
Beyond the exciting snow forecast, visitors to ski areas across Oregon can expect to find plenty of improvements including new lifts, enhanced grooming and park builds, lodge renovations and improved facilities. Oregon ski areas come in all sizes, from destination resorts to idyllic non-profit community-focused ski areas to backcountry cat ski operations—there’s something for every type of skier and snowboarder. See below for an overview of what to expect this winter!
Mt. Hood Meadows is celebrating its 50th Anniversary season, and the resort has made several improvements ahead of the season. Beginners will find huge improvements including the new Buttercup beginner chairlift, which was replaced with a new SkyTrac fixed grip quad with an easy-loading ChairKit carpet, easing the loading process and increase the hourly capacity by 70-percent! Innovative terrain learning features including berms and rollers have also been added to further enhance the new skier experience. Meadows also added two new groomers to its fleet, with one dedicated to improving the resort’s award-winning terrain parks.
The resort improved facilities over the summer including expanded seating and dining options at the Hood River Meadows Lodge, as well as a remodeled demo center featuring an all-new demo fleet and a new tuning machine.
Mt. Hood Meadows will be celebrating its Golden Anniversary all season with special events and deals as well as a huge party on January 27, 2018, with the awarding of a 50-year season pass!
Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort in Eastern Oregon is furthering its reputation as a family-friendly ski area with the addition of the new “Parent Swap Lift Ticket.” The $40 shared ticket is for parents of children not of skiing age, allowing them to take turns taking turns throughout the day. ALMR also added a new 24-foot warming yurt at the top of the Rock Garden chair. The yurt will be hosting early-morning yoga classes throughout the winter.
Mt. Bachelor in Central Oregon has invested $2.5 million in improvements following the recent addition of the Cloudchaser chairlift and terrain. Improvements include widening and grading to the Cloudchaser terrain. Bachelor also added three new snowcats (PistenBully ParkPro) to the fleet, which translates to improved grooming and park terrain. Nordic Skiers will notice smoother trails with a new tiller allocated to the Nordic center.
Visitors to Mt. Bachelor will also enjoy improvements to the food and beverage services thanks to investments in kitchen upgrades and the hiring of a new executive chef.
Mt. Hood Skibowl added major upgrades to the snowmaking system installing over 2,000 feet of specialized snowmaking piping and power underground. The twelve hydrant locations are expected to provide snowmaking coverage to the entire Westside base area. Skibowl also made improvements to the popular tubing area with the addition of a second tube conveyor lift on the main hill. The ski area also expanded parking on the Westside with the addition of 50 new spots and is offering a free shuttle service between the Eastside and Westside locations on weekends and holidays.
Timberline Lodge & Ski Area on the slopes of Mt. Hood, introduced a new $149 Discover Pass for beginner skiers offering unlimited access to the Bruno chair combined with unlimited beginner rentals. Timberline added a “rail trailer” to store Conway’s Terrain Park rail features, which will allow the park crew to operate more efficiently and open the park earlier each day. Also look for a new waterfall rail in the park this season.
The ski area added an additional two new PistenBully ParkPro Snowcats to their existing fleet of five, for improved trail grooming and terrain park builds.
Mt. Ashland in Southern Oregon completed a $1.7-million upgrade of its main lodge adding 1,000 square-feet of indoor space. The remodel includes a new Granite Grill café and bar and all new furniture throughout the lodge. The rental shop has also been relocated to the main floor of the lodge to consolidate skier services and improving the first-timer experience.
Mt. Ashland also added a new snowcat with plans to build bigger terrain park features, and improved the gladed tree skiing. The non-profit ski area is also celebrating its recent STOKE certification, becoming the first certified sustainable ski area in the U.S.
Cooper Spur Mountain Resort, nearby Mt. Hood, has made major improvements to the guest check-in experience with the addition of a new front lobby. The new lobby also includes expanded retail and food concessions.
Hoodoo Ski Area in Central Oregon announces a family-friendly new policy allowing kids 7 and under to ski and ride for free with no restrictions. The Hoodoo Ski and Ride School will also now have its own rental department where visitors will be able to buy lift tickets, schedule lessons and rent equipment all in the same area. This service will be available weekends and holidays. Hoodoo is also starting its Friday and Saturday night skiing half an hour earlier beginning at 3:30 pm.
