(Photo courtesy of thenewschronicle.com)
By PJ Marcello Staff Writer marcello13@up.edu
Whether you are a skier, snowboarder, diehard snowshoer, or toboggan enthusiast, Oregon has a cornucopia of options for satisfying your snow fix.
Mt. Hood and Mt. Bachelor offer a multitude of runs suitable for everyone from beginners to pro skiers and snowboarders.
"I like different places under certain conditions, but I would say my favorite is the upper bowl at Ski Bowl (Mt. Hood)," business professor John Schouten said. "It's the steepest run on Mt. Hood, and if the snow is fresh and not crappy it's pretty fun."
For those who prefer easy downhill runs, Timberline at Mt. Hood offers the smoothest ride.
"All the groomed runs are great here," senior Andrew Hudak said. "Timberline is definitely the flattest and most groomed run on Hood."
Riders interested in changing it up with more diverse runs would appreciate Mt. Hood's Meadows.
"It's a nice park with varied terrain," Hudak said. "Coming from Montana, (Meadows) is more similar to the skiing I'm used to back home."
For others who seek less extreme ways of traveling through the mountains, there are many options for the more casual snow goers.
"Downhill skiing is nice, but when the snow is crappy I'm just as likely to throw on some snowshoes and explore the trails," Schouten said.
Others who prefer observing rather than participating may enjoy some of the festivities offered for the more reserved mountain visitors.
"Mt. Hood has a lot of rail jam competitions that are fun to watch," Hudak said. "There is also a bar if you want to get sauced but I've never done it so far."
If you do choose to engage in alternative activities, make sure to have a designated driver or give yourself plenty of recovery time before heading home.
"The biggest thing to keep in mind is to get sober before you get off the mountain, or make sure you have a DD because the road coming off Mt. Hood is dangerous," Schouten said.
Adult single-day passes for Hood and Bachelor are $69 and $73, respectively. However, rates vary for group and multiple-day package deals. Bachelor also offers a season pass for $469 and Hood has a number of different deals for seasonal, midweek, night and Nordic passes. Mt. Hood is an estimated hour and 45 minute drive from campus while Mt. Bachelor is about a three and a half hour drive.
