MikeFromTheBay

Mt. Hood in the summer: good or bad?

Aim or message me your info because im really looking forward to hitting it up this summer.

Jordan

what's open in the summer?

Snowolf

On Mt. Hood, Timberline Lodge is the place for summer riding. In Fact it is the only lift serviced place in the United States to ride in the summer. High above the lodge is the Palmer Glacier where snow remains year round. Depending on winter snow pack and spring /summer temperatures it can remain excellent all year round, or can become slim pickings come late July. This year, thanks to La Nina, we have a record snowpack and the spring and early summer is expected to be cooler than normal making for an epic season of summer riding.

After the inititial transition from winter snow to true summer slush, the sticky snow phenomenon goes completely away and it is some of the finest corn snow you can ride on. The area for riding varies in size depending on snow cover, but is generally pretty decent with at least one decent terrain park. They maintain a decent half pipe as long as they have the snow on hand to keep a pipe open. The weather and scenic nature of Mt. Hood in summer are added bonuses. Definitely worth the trip to ride in the summer.

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MikeFromTheBay

Hey thanks a bunch wolf. One thing to add, I have heard of other resorts on Mt. Hood such as Mt. Hood Meadows.

Is that not open during the summer? If so, is Timberline a better bet? Is Timberline good for park, jibs, and jumps, etc.?

Simply^Ride

I am flying to Oregon this coming Monday. In summer the only resort open is timberline they manage to maintain it open because of Palmer glacier (snow pack). Meadows is now closed weeks days, they are going to open only Saturday and Sunday, till the snow melts or people stop coming. But the odds are that they are going to be closed by summer due to lack of people, since snow is endless this year .

There are also some camps there in timberline you might be interested in exploring, I believe they have their own terrain in the resort with their own park for them to ride.

Of what Snow has written here it looks like Timberline is a good bet, it has some nice terrain to explore and it has a mellow vibe going on. They also build good parks for all abilities and levels. The map looks like most of the resort is blue and green runs, but let me tell you something. For late April they have some insane conditions, I can't wait to get up there .

Mirax H

I'm looking at possibly making a trip either over the July 4th weekend or possibly July 24-27th. What days of the week are they open and what hours are they open during summer?

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Simply^Ride

^^^^ of what I understand every day, but lets wait for Snow to verify that.

MikeFromTheBay

Hey Ride:

Thanks a bunch for the info.

Sounds like my summer trip will be well worth it.

:]

Snowolf

I am an instructor at Mt. Hood Meadows. Our season ended April 27`th but we are doing our "May Challenge" on weeknds through May. If we get 4,000 customers each weekend, we will open the following weekend.

Meadows has the best, most advanced terrain on the mountain and is the largest area in square acres. Timberline has the best parks in my opinion, they really excell at making and maintaining them. Timberline has mellow terrain, but also has the best backcountry access policy on the mountain. The terrain than can be access from Timberline is some of the most challenging and spectular terrain found.

Ski Bowl is right in Government camp and is the lowest in elevation so conditions there can be hit or miss. On a good year such as this it has been epic. Ski bowl has incredibly advanced steeps, cliff deops and chutes. it is a freeride paradise. They have less than stellar parks however and the chairlifts are old, slow doubles. The up side of this is on a pow day, things do not get tracked out nearly as fast. Ski Bowl`s claim to fame is they are the largest night skiing area in North America.

All three resorts are within about 15 miles of each other. Meadows is on the east flank of Mt. Hood and enjoys more sunshine and colder temps being on the east side of the Cascade Range. Timberline is on the wide, flat southern flank. It is built upon the debris apron form the last pyroclastic flow from Mt. Hood`s most recent eruption. This gives Timberline the most wide open and gentle terrain of all three resorts. The views from Palmer in the summer are simply spectacular. On a very, very clear day you see Mt. Shasta in California with binoculars from here.

All of this terrific terrain is an hour`s drive from downtown Portland Oregon where world class food and lodging can be found for the right price. Portland also has a thriving alternative culture.

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Snowolf

In summer it is open 7 days a week from 7:30 Am to 1:30 PM with the parks open till 3:00 PM for hiking and then you can download on Magic Mile to the parking lot. Hiking is permited anytime since this land is part of the Mt. Hood National Forest. There are no access restrictions other than a request for filing a backcountry permit whish is free and can be filled out right at the day lodeg any time of the day or night. Climbers usuallt begin their ascent shortly after midnight on summer nights. There is nothing like a midsummer night with a full moon on Mt. hood!!!

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