[HoboMaster]

Hey everyone! I've come back from the dead on this site, and have just recently moved to Vancouver, WA for a job. Of course, the first thing I looked up when I moved here was a place to get a season pass...

Since I don't really ride park Timberland is off my list, so my options are between Skibowl and Meadows. I need honest opinions on what's the better mountain for terrain - I like steep shit, drops, trees and lots of powder.

I've heard mixed things about both -Skibowl is lower elevation and gets a lot of rain, and Meadows can be super overcrowded. The one thing I do like about Skibowl is they're on the Powder Alliance deal, so I could ride at my home mountain during Christmas (Schweitzer) for free.

Also, how bad do the roads get? I've ventured many treacherous adventures in my RW-D Volvo with snow tires, but is 4WD pretty much a requirement?

Would love to hear how much you love/hate Meadows/Skibowl!

 

[NWBoarder]

From my understanding Ski Bowl has a shorter season and only operates for night riding. Meadows does days and nights, and has a longer season. I'd choose Meadows. It's a blast to ride. Also consider White Pass in WA. I believe the travel time is about the same.

 

[Triple8Sol]

Have you considered WA resorts like White Pass and Crystal?

 

[airblaster503]

White Pass and Crystal are twice as far of a drive than Meadows from Vancouver. 80 miles to meadows vs about 150 to White pass. Ski Bowl is Nights only for early in the week then they open up for days from Thursday-Sunday. Has the best steep terrain on Hood in the Outback, but lack of reliable snow since it's lower on the mountain is something to think about.

Fusion pass is good because you can choose from Timberline or Ski Bowl. Meadows is alright, it is a fun place with some nice short steeps but gets way to crowded especially on weekends.

 

[Argo]

I would take that last advice and do a fusion pass. Timberline is pretty decent and you can access some great side country from it. I have only been in summer but the lower terrain you can get to looks like a lot of fun. Upper mountain is summer fun. From posts on here, ski bowl is the best in powder days. I have only hiked around and the terrain seems nice. I have also hiked meadows area, it looks nice too. I would rather have upper and lower access though......

 

[509-pow]

i have only been to Meadows once and it seemed like a bad ass place to ride. the conditions were very icy so i didnt get to really explore much, but it seemed like a pretty big resort. I ride at white pass. the season pass isnt that much and the mountian is a pretty good size. it also has some backcountry but i have yet to step foot out there. this will be the year tho. last year there was maybe 2 to 3 days out of 35 that i would say was busy. its almost never busy and if it is half of the people stay on one side of the moutian and the other half ride the other. I was riding pow thru april. i do plan on hitting meadows at least twice this year.

 

[tortoise]

I'd get a pass at Meadows and a night ski pass at Ski Bowl if you have the time to do night skiing.

 

[ShredLife]

ski bowl is cool but its way too low to be reliable to try and ride all year.

the gnarly shit there is also well, too gnarly for alot of people.. its also small and has old, slow lifts. no quads i'm pretty sure. 1 3chair, mostly doubles.

Timberline only makes sense if your primary focus is either leaving the resort for bc, riding park; or riding flat, boring, unchallenging terrain. their park is legit but a spring pass is only 100 bucks or so

meadows is pretty sweet. the crowding is pretty much only on the weekends and really only affects people that don't know the mountain well except for a few times a year... when it does get super crowded and everything has lines it can be pretty suck tho. but its rare.

just about 1000% better terrain at meadows once you figure shit out. its not very straight-forward to learn tho.. the good stuff is kinda hidden here and there, tucked in and shit. get with people who know and you can learn it all much quicker.. gotta learn where the features are and the runs that hit em well.

the answer is meadows. get 2 for 1 tickets from Shell for night riding at ski bowl a few times a year and maybe get a spring pass to tline.

i hate rear wheel drive in the snow but its really up to you.. just take your time when the road gets really crowded cuz everyone will bottleneck after Rhodie regardless.

 

[HoboMaster]

Thanks for the replies guys, purchased my Meadows season pass this morning, it seems like the obvious choice. :thumbsup:

If anyone would be interested in riding, I'm planning on being up there most weekends this winter on Sunday or Monday. Would be nice to have buddies to ride with who know the terrain. My last mountain was the same way: you could get really fucking lost really quickly, but if you knew your spots it's fresh pow lines alllll day.

 

[jml22]

Meadows is wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy better there's no comparison

Make sure you take advantage of the cascade lift when it's open

 

[NWskunkAPE]

Meadows waaaaaaaaaaaay over rated. Although the terrain is nice in some areas you rarely get to hit them before they get destroyed by moguls. What you usually get are long lines expensive prices and alot of skiers. Also you have no lodging and have to pay for ski check which is ridiculous!

Also Cascade and Vista are almost never open on peak storm days. They are the worse on MT hood and park maintenance as well. Dont drink the cool aid. Timberline is the better all around package. just avoid the flatter areas and hit a tree run.

 

[bear7]

Fusion

I know you said you already bought your meadows pass but you should've done a fusion pass. Timberline and skibowl. It's the way to go

 

[ShredLife]

Meadows waaaaaaaaaaaay over rated. Although the terrain is nice in some areas you rarely get to hit them before they get destroyed by moguls. What you usually get are long lines expensive prices and alot of skiers. Also you have no lodging and have to pay for ski check which is ridiculous!

Also Cascade and Vista are almost never open on peak storm days. They are the worse on MT hood and park maintenance as well. Dont drink the cool aid. Timberline is the better all around package. just avoid the flatter areas and hit a tree run.

you don't know what the fuck you're talking about.

 

[Nein11]

I wouldn't get a pass for skibowl but if you every have a day off when they have gotten a good dose of powder I would make it a priority. They have some great (albeit short) steep chutes and drops and have way fewer people. Still one of my most epic days I have had anywhere on hood was riding a pow day at skibowl. I like meadows but when I lived in portland I was on Mt. Hood Volunteer Ski patrol and Meadows would not allow snowboarders on patrol so I didn't ride there most of the time (have ridden there many times when I lived 4 hours away tho)

 

[Triple8Sol]

Anybody go up to Meadows on Xmas day or since? Was originally planning to ride there on Saturday but not sure if it will just be a sheet of ice by then.

 

[airblaster503]

I'll be going up tomorrow so I will post back here. Hopefully it is warm and softens up. Might ride t-line then go to meadows later in the day and evening but I will post back what the conditions are like.

 

[airblaster503]

Meadows was pretty crappy. Snow on the groom was a loose spring snow with solid ice underneath. Off the groom was straight up ice.

The parks sucked in comparison to what t-line has right now as well if you are interested in that at all.

 

[NWskunkAPE]

you don't know what the fuck you're talking about.

I been boarding on Hood since 1996.... Nice troll boy

 

[Triple8Sol]

Anybody going up this weekend? Checked the snow reports today and decided to head down for the weekend. Will be at Meadows on Sat and Timberline on Sun.

 

[HoboMaster]

I'm planning on hitting Meadows Saturday, finally get some powder in. If you want someone to ride with, PM me. Been riding solo so far this season.