Hoodoo Butte, home of the Hodag
It's been a pretty slow year. I've been waiting for it to snow since we went to Bachelor back in December. Willamette hasn't opened due to lack of snow, so it's Hoodoo, Bachelor or Hood. Bachelor and Hood are too far for a day trip.
The good news is that it snowed 14" overnight and I cleared my schedule by emailing everone at 6am that I wasn't going to be able to meet today. Hookey day at Hoodoo!
The drive, as always, was beautiful. Hoodoo is 30 minutes further each way. I left around 7 and pulled into the parking lot right at 9. Not quite early enough to get first run, but close enough.
I. First ride up in a long time
II. Looking over towards Three Fingered Jack
The sun started coming out, which was a bonus.
III. Black Butte
IV. Due South from the summit of Hoodoo Butte
V. The trees got flocked (sounds dangerous, no?)
VI. Towards Mt. Washington
VII. The broad view towards Black Butte
VIII. Mt. Washington
IX. A better view of Mt. Washington
Got home and found out that Willamette threw in the towel on the season:
March 1, 2018
Tim Wiper, Owner
Contact: snowinfo@willamettepass.com
Willamette Pass Resort operations remain suspended for 2017-18 season.
Regardless of the excellent new snow over the last week, it has turned out to be “too much too late” to save the 2017-18 season for our resort. We have evaluated the Ski Area every day this season to assess the conditions and what can be offered. As the owner and operator of the resort, I take the responsibility for the complete operations and offerings we can provide for our guests. As of this date I no longer have the staff or resources available to provide the quality and safety expected. It is not appropriate to offer an experience that would be substandard at this time. It is with great disappointment that Hundreds of our staff were not able to provide their skills and service for the enjoyment of our skiing and snowboarding guests this season. For more information on your options if you purchased a product from our online store, please click here.
To everyone that calls Willamette Pass Resort home I want to thank you for your continued support. I look forward to serving you in the 2018-2019 season.
Tim Wiper, Owner
Contact: snowinfo@willamettepass.com
Willamette Pass Resort operations remain suspended for 2017-18 season.
Regardless of the excellent new snow over the last week, it has turned out to be “too much too late” to save the 2017-18 season for our resort. We have evaluated the Ski Area every day this season to assess the conditions and what can be offered. As the owner and operator of the resort, I take the responsibility for the complete operations and offerings we can provide for our guests. As of this date I no longer have the staff or resources available to provide the quality and safety expected. It is not appropriate to offer an experience that would be substandard at this time. It is with great disappointment that Hundreds of our staff were not able to provide their skills and service for the enjoyment of our skiing and snowboarding guests this season. For more information on your options if you purchased a product from our online store, please click here.
To everyone that calls Willamette Pass Resort home I want to thank you for your continued support. I look forward to serving you in the 2018-2019 season.
SKI IT, RIDE IT, LIVE IT!
Not this year. No skiing it, no riding it, no living it. What a sad state of affairs. It is becoming increasingly evident that our low elevation resorts will become unviable due to the rise in snow elevation because of climate change. This is the second season in the past five Willamette was unable to operate. Before that, it was 1976.
Hoodoo, while only 30 miles north, and a full 500' lower, seems to be holding on.
With any luck I'll get some more days in this year. I'm not holding my breath.
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