[pdxrealtor]

Great conditions minus some strong wind. It's been so long since we've had powder I forgot that some lines just don't work in the stuff. Did a lot of unstrapping and strapping.

Here's some pics....... Wolfie showed me absolute magnitude, Jacks Woods, and more Private Reserve, which I've decided for me is not worth it. Too short, too many cliffs, and too much walking when you're at the bottom.

Day two I spent a lot of time in Fright Trees. That's my new favorite run for now........

 

[pdxrealtor]

Last pic is of the wind blowing like crazy.....might be hard to tell from the photo, but I thought it was worth a pic!

 

[NWBoarder]

Jacks Woods and Fright Trees are sooo much fun! I need to make my way down to Hood still this season. Meadows is looking real good right now.

 

[pdxrealtor]

Jacks Woods and Fright Trees are sooo much fun! I need to make my way down to Hood still this season. Meadows is looking real good right now.

Ya.... what I like about Fright Trees ( a side from the run itself) is it's a great run from the top of the HRM lift through the park, through some trees to a short cat track, and you're there...... then it drops you off right at the lift line.

 

[NWskunkAPE]

I actually left Meadows for a couple years to go back to Timberline to avoid the high prices and long lift lines, I came back because I felt I missed the terrain at Meadows and wanted to try the ew lift and RFID gates, Ugh Im not impressed, The lines on a peak day are almost worse now and prices are still high, to top it off the new lift is short and not all that great. Unless you can hit Heather Canyon before the skiers ruin it with moguls.

Which brings back to the point of Meadows being a let down, Its 80% skiers it seems which is fine nothing aginst them but it does ruin the bowls with their tiny s turns.

To sum it up Meadows is not as great as I remember, Timberline has won me over for good. My opinion anyway, Im sure some agree but alot dont.

 

[pdxrealtor]

I hear you brother...... on top of all the reasons you mentioned Meadows is short and steep. The mellow terrain is shit, whether it be because it's tracked out by skiers or because it's just short steep.

I just got back from Utah and those lift chairs, the HS quads, go so high up you have time to drink a beer and smoke a bowl and then relax a bit.

I'm seriously thinking of taking the fam to tline next year. Hell if i need steep I'll ride the ski bowl chair and still have time to drink and smoke.

 

[Triple8Sol]

Damn these pics are really making me want to come down again this season!!

 

[pdxrealtor]

Well dude with regard to Ski Bowl, it is not that the lift is long, it is painfully slow. I only ride that lift once just to get to the upper lift or over to the Multipor chair. Don't get me wrong I love Ski Bowl and it has the sickest inbound terrain of all three when you ride the Outback! I also like the vibe at Ski Bowl and nothing beats it on a powder night.

Now, to be fair here and you know that I love Timberline and Ski Bowl, I think your perception is a bit skewed and I think you may just be bored with riding the same place. When you look at the actual data, Meadows is not unusually short compared to not just Timberline but to Snowbird and Powder Mountain as well. Here are some of the stats:










Here is the data from Utah:






Not knocking those other places at all but just showing that Meadows is very comparable to the other places that you mention and this idea that it is unusually short just isn't the case when you really look at the numbers. From the top of Cascade to the bottom of HRM can be made into an incredibly long and diverse run going from wide open alpine bowls, through technical steeps and cliff drops, down a few groomers, through a large terrain park and finally through dense timber to the lift and that run while listed as 3 miles can be stretched to nearly 4 if you know the lines to take.

In my search, I was in fact startled to see that Meadows has more vert that Alyeska (my favorite resort) and is 1/3 larger with longer runs. Bottom line for me is Meadows is right in the middle range of average for most western resorts. I like Timberline a lot as you know, but if you are bored with the terrain at Meadows, Timberline will drive you to tears by the end of a season. For me Timberline is a great break from Meadows and my springtime goto resort and is my launching platform to access the backcountry like White River, Zigzag and obviously the summit of Mt. Hood but Meadows blows Timberline away when it comes to inbound terrain.

Having said that, I have my spring pass for Timberline and will get letters to ride skibowl at night now that Meadows is done with nights.....:thumbsup:

Maybe I am just board of riding Meadows, and part of it is I've been riding 3-4 hours days then a couple hours at night when the longest two lifts shut down, along with the rest of the mountain and all that's left for a long decent run is the face.

I'm not going to verify all the stats you posted up, I believe you :thumbsup: , but you can have the same vert and acres to ski laid out completely different. Meadows is known for being short and steep. I've been told that since before the first day I ever went there, and it's a fact. It's all about how it's laid out.

If the upper mountain is closed the lower mountain mellow runs are shit. HRM is a chopped up mess, shooting star is so short it get's boring real quick. I'm talking groomer days, not pow days.

The longest ride up at Meadows is 1400 ft. HRM or 1391 ft. Cascade. And that 3 mile run is fun, but it ain't no ride the chair up and take an easy relaxing 3 mile route down. I'd be willing to bet, and I'm sure you know, that in some knee deep pow that 3 mile run would give you problems in a couple places.

In comparison some of Bachelor's shortest chairs are damn near as long as Meadows longest chairs. And they're two best chairs drop you off on straight runs with options to weave in and out of trees etc.... not the option of how to figure out what turn to make next . Those are 2 + mile runs back there and in the deep pow you're not stalling out, anywhere.


Snobirds almost 3k feet from base to top when on the tram line. And the Peruvian chair lift right next to it is just slightly less. And those are one line trails that lead down.... none of this turn right or you'll end up having to take another lift to get your 3 mile run in. And don't get me wrong.....snowbird was cool, but It would be the last place I ever bought a season pass at. It's LONG and steep.

The great western express run at Brighton is 1745 approx. rise. That's one chair lift and 345 ft longer than Meadows longest chair, HRM. And you might say so what is 345ft.... it's nothing really. It's how it's laid out. The great western chair at Brighton is laid out over some beautiful runs, and options.


I don't get why Meadows doesn't extend MHX up and over Elevator to the A-zone path. Then upgrade the blue line for those who wish to or aren't ready to head to the top. Hell, there is always a green run down. Oh wait, hardly any at the upper mountain at meadows. Because it's short and steep!

Or extend shooting star up along the outer limits. Shooting star is 940 ft rise for Christ sake. And for boarders you have to unstrap half the time just to get there. Sure there's some great drops when it's fresh but on a groomer day it just seems so redundant.

Ok..... Tell ya what... .I've got the ski track app. I used it in Utah. I'll run it next time we go out at Meadows and then send you the data. It'll speak for itself.

I'm headed to buy a Tline pass now..... Can't wait to hit those trees.

 

[pdxrealtor]

Learn park??? lol... you know me better than that!

I tell ya what I'm going to learn.... and that's skis.

Touch base in the morning, Ski Bowl sounds good and I can't wait to hit timberline this year.

Don't forget about Bachelor should the snow fall....... we'd love to have ya! I could show ya what a real run is like..... lol...... kidding bro....

 

[NWskunkAPE]

Like I said, not knocking anyplace or you. I just don't feel it like you do and this my 9'th year riding there 2-3 days a week from noon till close usually. Don't know what to tell you about being bored; might be time to start learning park. I had a blast in the Pipe Friday night. I love riding at other places and will hit up Sunrise and Snowbowl again in Arizona if still open on my trip, but I just always seem to find things to do to keep me entertained.

By the way, unless its raining I plan on riding at Ski Bowl Thursday night after riding at Meadows in the day. If you're interested, I will show you around Outback before dark and then lap some upper bowls/Multipor chair later. Not lapping that slow as fuck lower chair....:thumbsup:

Also looking at White Pass on the 27'th or 28'th. planning on splitboarding St. Helens next week. If you want to get over being bored and get long runs in, time to grab a splitboard; that's where it's really at.

Well I watched your you tube videos and you look like your not even close to park riding... Sorry calling as I see

 

[pdxrealtor]

Well I watched your you tube videos and you look like your not even close to park riding... Sorry calling as I see

Without even reading Wolfie's entire reply I'm gonna call you a straight up dick. There's no need for that kind of talk here.

Wolfie is one of the nicest, most respectful people I know. I've never once seen or heard of him being a park expert. In fact it's the exact opposite. He stays away from park because he's past that point in his life, as am I.

I ride with Wolfie almost weekly....... that a side.

His videos are nothing short of spectacular. I pretty much learned how to snowboard based on those videos. My wife got her start watching those videos.

If ya want to say a guy isn't a park master fine, but have some respect about what you say and how you say it.

 

[Clayton Bigsby]

Gotta love those Pacific Northwest tree runs, those trees look a lot like one of my favorite runs at Stevens Pass, they call it "Meryc woods" (not sure of the sp?), we call it Lakeside Park (it's a RUSH thing) and also known as "the Bakery"

 

[pdxrealtor]

I actually left Meadows for a couple years to go back to Timberline to avoid the high prices and long lift lines, I came back because I felt I missed the terrain at Meadows and wanted to try the ew lift and RFID gates, Ugh Im not impressed, The lines on a peak day are almost worse now and prices are still high, to top it off the new lift is short and not all that great. Unless you can hit Heather Canyon before the skiers ruin it with moguls.

Which brings back to the point of Meadows being a let down, Its 80% skiers it seems which is fine nothing aginst them but it does ruin the bowls with their tiny s turns.

To sum it up Meadows is not as great as I remember, Timberline has won me over for good. My opinion anyway, Im sure some agree but alot dont.

I got my timberline spring pass 2 days ago. While I do love the timberline vibe it will never compare to meadows. Itr's like kiddy slope vs. real adult slope.

As I said in a previous post............. if I had to ride tline all year I'd jump off the the ski lift chair into the ice. Meadows is where it's at.

 

[pdxrealtor]

The way to go for someone who is not interested in Meadows is the Fusion Pass that gives you unlimited access to both Timberline and Skibowl. You get the great vibe of Timberline, long gentle well groomed cruisers, nice glades and the best parks on the mountain. At Skibowl, you get great free ride terrain that ranges from easy to highly technical. It`s terrain is every bit as gnarly as Meadows, just not as much of it in square acres. Then of course there is the aspect of the largest night skiing area in North America. Skibowl on a deep powder night is epic. The real downside to Skibowl is it`s elevation. It gets less snow that either Timberline or Meadows and often it is pouring down rain while both Meadows and Timberline are getting fresh snow.


While not as expansive as Meadows, the upper bowls at Skibowl are longer than Meadows` Bowls but not quite as steep. What is nice about the upper bowls at Skibowl is they all funnel you right down to the lift and warming hut. Lap the bowls for an hour, ride up to the warming hut and grab a beer by the fire, then go back for more. Skibowl on a powder night is really unbeatable. During the day, the Outback is a free ride utopia if you like a combination of open bowls, chutes, cliffs and trees. Depending on how far north you want to go, you will have to hike a bit to get to the final drop, but the views on a clear day make it more than worth it. You can see Hood, Jefferson, St. Helen's, Adams and Rainier from the top of Tom Dick and Harry mountain. There is a terrific series of chutes out there ranging from easy to highly technical

I wish that the three ski areas could all sit down and agree to offer a true Mt. Hood Fusion Pass that gives full access to all three resorts similar to the Epic Pass in Colorado that gives you access to all Summit County resorts. For years, there has been talk about a tram from government camp to timberline to replace that old Skiway Tram:

This old newsreel video of this thing is awesome:

In addition, there has been talk about a tram linking Timberline lodge to Vista Ridge at Meadows. This would make Mt. Hood a truly epic destination resort area and even though it would attract more visitors overall, I think it would reduce the shit show that Meadows becomes on peak days by giving people the option to spread out without having to buy a lift ticket at one resort when they have a pass at another.

I don`t know where the obstructionism to these concepts is coming from. I have heard rumors that it is the shareholders of Meadows that will not go in on a three way pass and I have heard rumors that it is RLK Corporation that does not want to include Meadows. As for the tram and overall development of Government camp, I have heard there is a lot of resistance from the local people who don`t want it to turn into a major shit show like Whistler and then there is the whole USFS issue since White River Canyon is technically withing the Mt. Hood Wilderness Area and a tram violates the wilderness ethos. Weather would also have to be a huge factor. I can see how maintaining a tram in safe operating order over that canyon and on Vista Ridge would be next to impossible with the fierce PNW storm we get on Hood.

Still, we need to get a three way Fusion Pass approved by all resorts somehow!

That vid is freakin awesome!! So it actually took you from govy to the lodge?

I've never in my short career had a better night than at skibowl when it was dumping like crazy. I miss those dumps. Haven't really had a good one all year. March is here though, and it better be dumping soon.

 

[CassMT]

me bro at MHM said today was pretty epic, 13" of new? that'll do

i was out there a month ago or so, spring conditions, but it seems like the hill and terrain, and parks / lifts, etc are kickass....look forward to hitting some big pow there one day, next season for sure....

 

[pdxrealtor]

Yep! That thing left from what is now the Huckleberry Inn in Government Camp. The Alpine Trail from Timberline goes right down the clearing that thing used. In summer, you can see the old concrete footings used for the towers. Before it gets too late, I need to take you down the Glade and Alpine trails. Leave one of our rigs at Huck`s and then drive up to Tline.

Ya I've wanted to take those trails. Which one is which? I know of the one at the bottom of Jeff flood.

Timberline got 17" I read. Also read meadows lifts were down all day due to wind.

 

[jtg]

NOAA National Weather Service

Tuesday Night Snow. Low around 28. Windy, with a south wind 13 to 23 mph increasing to 23 to 33 mph in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 44 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 7 to 11 inches possible.
Wednesday Snow showers. High near 31. Windy, with a west wind 32 to 37 mph, with gusts as high as 55 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 10 to 16 inches possible.
Wednesday Night Snow showers. Low around 15. Windy, with a west wind 31 to 39 mph, with gusts as high as 60 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 7 to 11 inches possible.
Thursday Snow showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 26. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

mg:

Is that reliable? It's linked from the Meadows site. If it is, I am driving down Wednesday night. That's like 3 ft in 24 hours!

I'm not familiar with the area, never been to Hood. Girlfriend and I were going to go to one of the WA resorts Thursday, but that's enough snow to make me change plans a bit. She is going to get a beginner ski package, I'm gonna go off and do my own thing. I'm only an intermediate, but I like finding powder stashes that don't require adventuring into places that I don't belong (Snowolf gave me a few places to check out in a previous thread, saved those). So between that for me and a good beginner area for her, are we better off at Meadows or Timberline?

Edit: Judging by the trail maps, it seems like Meadows might be better for us. The runs at Timberline are pretty narrow so I'm guessing it will be totally groomed unless you go exploring in the trees. Meadows seems to have some open areas off blue runs on the left side of the map which should allow some off-piste lines. But trail maps can be deceiving, so let me know if I'm out to lunch

 

[jtg]

Cool. I was interested in a private lesson with you, but it would be a crime to waste a powder day like that, so that will have to be another time

She actually just got a cold this morning, so I'm not sure if she will be up for it now. We'll see how tomorrow goes I guess.

We had a nice Sunday at Stevens Pass too. 5" was expected but we woke up to a fresh 15". It was fun but wow does that ever get cut up fast on the weekends!

 

[CassMT]

hope there is something left to that storm by the time it gets over here....

 

[pdxrealtor]

Here's some pics from yesterday. Wolf and I rode until I couldn't ride any longer. Guy has amazing stamina. :thumbsup: