Bachelor/PNW Recs

Mt Hood Meadows has some really solid terrain as well as ski bowl. I think both are pretty underrated in what they have available. If you just judge their normal frontside terrain it's easy to discount both, but their gated terrain is really pretty good. I would say the average skier probably utilizes a very small portion of what is available, and then complains that there is nothing rad.

Honestly everywhere seems to be getting a bit blown out... minus a few places I refuse to tell anyone about..

Having lived in both the Front Range and Oregon, I can offer my knowledge...

the trouble with the PNW is there are some limits on terrain access.. You have all these volcanos and they tend to be spaced out, so everyone aims for the nearest one..

Bend sorta just sends everyone into Mt. Bachelor and Tumalo. It is a bit more removed from big cities but it gets slammed like anywhere else. The backcountry scene is busy enough that youll be crossing tracks unless youre down to drive or work. Just like anywhere really. Granted, you do usually get a long spring, and after February, the crowds coming in from out of town do seem to die down... so you could end up with a mountain less than an hour away with a bunch of excellent spring snow to play with and sunny days.

Then with Hood, PDX just funnels everyone into it. 26 becomes as much a hot mess as i70 on a Saturday morning and reminds me of hwy 50 in California going up to South Tahoe, or any of the mountain highways in Wasangeles... It becomes a big red snake when its busy, and it really doesnt die down all year.

All told, Oregon is a tough call. I lived in both Bend and Southern Oregon, and while Southern Oregon was really cool, with great terrain and gorgeous mountains, the snowfall was inconsistent or meager at times and you would end up either hiking Shasta all the time, or driving 5 hours for worthwhile lifts. Bend was great, but then that was 10 years ago so I cant definitively say much about how it is in 2021.

Up north, you have more or less the same issue as PDX. i90 is a zoo on a weekend due to big trucks crossing the country and sometimes getting jack-knifed. Its like i80 in California with wetter roads. Im less familiar with Washington, but from what I do know, if you go Central, you can avoid all the traffic getting to the same ski areas as Seattle, but also have access to some other rad stuff like Mission Ridge... or you can just go all the way out east and get 49 north, and Mt. Spokane... not to mention relatively close access to some seriously rad stuff in BC. The tradeoff is you have to live in the weird part of the state.

Session. I would say the average skier probably utilizes a very small portion of what is available, and then complains that there is nothing rad.

I this not what you're supposed to do?

DingoSeanHonestly everywhere seems to be getting a bit blown out... minus a few places I refuse to tell anyone about..

Having lived in both the Front Range and Oregon, I can offer my knowledge...

the trouble with the PNW is there are some limits on terrain access.. You have all these volcanos and they tend to be spaced out, so everyone aims for the nearest one..

Bend sorta just sends everyone into Mt. Bachelor and Tumalo. It is a bit more removed from big cities but it gets slammed like anywhere else. The backcountry scene is busy enough that youll be crossing tracks unless youre down to drive or work. Just like anywhere really. Granted, you do usually get a long spring, and after February, the crowds coming in from out of town do seem to die down... so you could end up with a mountain less than an hour away with a bunch of excellent spring snow to play with and sunny days.

Then with Hood, PDX just funnels everyone into it. 26 becomes as much a hot mess as i70 on a Saturday morning and reminds me of hwy 50 in California going up to South Tahoe, or any of the mountain highways in Wasangeles... It becomes a big red snake when its busy, and it really doesnt die down all year.

All told, Oregon is a tough call. I lived in both Bend and Southern Oregon, and while Southern Oregon was really cool, with great terrain and gorgeous mountains, the snowfall was inconsistent or meager at times and you would end up either hiking Shasta all the time, or driving 5 hours for worthwhile lifts. Bend was great, but then that was 10 years ago so I cant definitively say much about how it is in 2021.

Up north, you have more or less the same issue as PDX. i90 is a zoo on a weekend due to big trucks crossing the country and sometimes getting jack-knifed. Its like i80 in California with wetter roads. Im less familiar with Washington, but from what I do know, if you go Central, you can avoid all the traffic getting to the same ski areas as Seattle, but also have access to some other rad stuff like Mission Ridge... or you can just go all the way out east and get 49 north, and Mt. Spokane... not to mention relatively close access to some seriously rad stuff in BC. The tradeoff is you have to live in the weird part of the state.

PDX to Hood and back isn't bad if you go early and leave early. 50 days this year. Never once sat in traffic.

SessionPDX to Hood and back isn't bad if you go early and leave early. 50 days this year. Never once sat in traffic.

Thats not bad... even on weekends? I always remember it being pretty brutal, but then I have skied hood in winter on only 5 or 6 different occasions and it was usually a bit of a slog like i70 can be, and it was nuts on a powder day. As usual.

Also as mentioned it seems like almost everywhere is blown out or working on it. If this continues I might just ditch powder and go back to skiing the east coast or something.

How early?

the missus and I are planning to head to Vancouver, wa in the future so I’m curious

SessionPDX to Hood and back isn't bad if you go early and leave early. 50 days this year. Never once sat in traffic.

SessionPDX to Hood and back isn't bad if you go early and leave early. 50 days this year. Never once sat in traffic.

Or just go up for the nights and skip the traffic

BradFiAusNzCoCaHow early?

the missus and I are planning to head to Vancouver, wa in the future so I’m curious

During the winter, I would purchase a seasons to Meadows on Hood and I would take either Hwy 14 or I-84 to Hood River from Vancouver. I would leave my house around 7am and would arrive at the HRM parking lot around 9ish for a good parking spot. I would rather be constantly moving than starting and stopping for hours. For summer skiing at Timberline I would take I-84 to Troutdale and Hwy 26 up. Traffic is a little more fast paced during the summer so no stop and go like the winter driving. Let me know if you have any questions about the area, I lived in Vancouver, WA for 6 years.

BradFiAusNzCoCaHow early?

the missus and I are planning to head to Vancouver, wa in the future so I’m curious

oldmanskiDuring the winter, I would purchase a seasons to Meadows on Hood and I would take either Hwy 14 or I-84 to Hood River from Vancouver. I would leave my house around 7am and would arrive at the HRM parking lot around 9ish for a good parking spot. I would rather be constantly moving than starting and stopping for hours. For summer skiing at Timberline I would take I-84 to Troutdale and Hwy 26 up. Traffic is a little more fast paced during the summer so no stop and go like the winter driving. Let me know if you have any questions about the area, I lived in Vancouver, WA for 6 years.

Real talk these days is that prime parking is full by 8 pretty much at any place on Hood. I can't speak to the current situation in the HRM lot, but a few years ago I was usually aiming for 8 during the week to get a good spot, and be on first chair

I live in Hillsboro and aim to be in the lot no later that 7 because I want to be front row, and deal with ZERO traffic. but I am a little crazy. I snatch a nap in the parking lot.

Oh that would be great. I think I follow you on insta too so I can just reach out there, as well. I will have a million questions I’m sure!

oldmanskiDuring the winter, I would purchase a seasons to Meadows on Hood and I would take either Hwy 14 or I-84 to Hood River from Vancouver. I would leave my house around 7am and would arrive at the HRM parking lot around 9ish for a good parking spot. I would rather be constantly moving than starting and stopping for hours. For summer skiing at Timberline I would take I-84 to Troutdale and Hwy 26 up. Traffic is a little more fast paced during the summer so no stop and go like the winter driving. Let me know if you have any questions about the area, I lived in Vancouver, WA for 6 years.

Ah shit so busy like every other location e.g. Tahoe, wasatch Utah, front range Colorado?

SessionReal talk these days is that prime parking is full by 8 pretty much at any place on Hood. I can't speak to the current situation in the HRM lot, but a few years ago I was usually aiming for 8 during the week to get a good spot, and be on first chair

I live in Hillsboro and aim to be in the lot no later that 7 because I want to be front row, and deal with ZERO traffic. but I am a little crazy. I snatch a nap in the parking lot.

BradFiAusNzCoCaOh that would be great. I think I follow you on insta too so I can just reach out there, as well. I will have a million questions I’m sure!

Ah shit so busy like every other location e.g. Tahoe, wasatch Utah, front range Colorado?

I will say that since we have vastly less parking, and no lodging the lines aren't as bad as those places.

That’s a welcome relief. I have skied timberline in summer and meadows/ski bowl in winter but it’s been a few years so I don’t quite remember the traffic.

Front range Colorado was by far worst I’ve ever seen. Thank god my previous job took me over the range to western Colorado. I truly think I’d lose my mind in those lines

SessionI will say that since we have vastly less parking, and no lodging the lines aren't as bad as those places.