MEADOWS BLOG

Great, I will definitely be coming up at least one day this weekend, and you can include about 5 more coming with me. We have enjoyed the park and the beer garden. I am looking forward to a very well maintained park with a lot of variety, as there has been on these last two weekends. TRY and do some advertising in Portland so that we can be open until Memorial Day Weekend and beyond...

Thanks Dave for giving us at least another weekend. My daughter and I were up Saturday and it was awesome. Since the wife or "Mom" isn't into snow sports we couldn't make it today. She gave us one of those "you can go if you want" replies, but we all know how that would have went over. See you both days next weekend. Thanks again......

Thats great news your keeping the lifts running another weekend; Just went up today, no crowds,, no lines and awesome parks. Lets keep er going

Thanks again Dave! BTW, it was FABULOUS today! Make sure to get your sleds & boards waxed while you're here. For only $10 and about 15 minutes you can get a hot wax.
Doubtful I can make it next week...but if the rest of you show in my absence I will be back for the following week.

It has been a great season this year due to weather, patrons and the resorts efforts for a better relationship with the customers.

If this was my last ski of the year...until next season all!

Another great weekend at Meadows. I came up on Saturday, and it was beautiful. Lot was almost full, and everyone was having a blast - there was lots of terrain open (thanks for keeping Heather running!), and nice new parks and rails for everyone, along with plenty of beautiful groomers. Nothing better than good snow and good sun. Keep those lifts running, and we'll be back until they stop. Thanks Dave!

I'm living in colorado now, doing my spring skiing at the basin, but it is great to see meadows is still going strong. There have been lots of complaints in recent years about how cheap meadows is, and that they dont care about the customers as long as they can turn a profit. This spring challenge has changed my perception of meadows, and I think it will do a lot of good for its future image.

I saw Simon Dumont on Sat and Sun~ The mtn's been so sick! The Cascade Park is outa control!

Thanks Dave, I had a great time up on the hill today. I loved the groomed track down 2 Bowl, although by noon it had been run to death. I wish a few more of the black diamonds that are rough and have very few recent tracks could get a grooming. The pipe on Cascade was better this weekend than last. The jump park is amazing, though I'm not good enough to try them myself. It is fun to watch though. :) I'll be back Sunday unless it rains and I'm gonna try for all three days memorial weekend if you are open.

Unfortunately, I can't make it next weekend. I was there Saturday and it was awesome. Hope we can make it to Memorial Day Weekend.. Ohhh I hope.

I was up there on Sunday, oh what a day!! Lot's of blue sky and sun.

I've got front row seats at the Trojan Implosion on Sun, but I'll be up there on Sat. Thanks for staying open Dave!!!

Thanks Dave...we really appreciate your support of keeping the lifts open with the snow. I finally mad e a pass pay. Saturday was fantastic. We spent $200 in the Gear Box and took some product off your hands. Thanks again!

OK, so I'm as psyched as anybody that we're still open in May, and probably into the first week in June -- amazing! I was up Saturday with my kids and it was wonderful. But come on! The lot was full Saturday -- including from what I could see the Auxilary lot was being utlized. Additionally, from what I hear Mother's day was even more busy. I know it's not like a full-on winter weekend with Raz buses spewing deisel fumes all over the lodge, and people falling all over each other. But, it's as busy as any weekday in February. Quit pour-mouthing alreay, huh!? If kissing your a** is what it takes to stay open this time of year, I'll be the first in line to plant my lips, otherwise, let's just enjoy the windfall -- we'll rip it up until Summer, and you keep all the beer money! LOL.

Dave's reply: What? We never touched the annex lot either day this weekend and Mother's Day was much slower than Saturday. We've got lots of labor all week long that ramps up big time on Friday all just to run Saturday and Sunday when over 70% of the people here are season passholders. I'm not complaining but please know that what appears to be quite simple and cost effective is just not so this time of year. If that were the case, why do most all ski areas in the west close in early spring with plenty of snow on the ground to ski and snowboard? Anyway, I've tried to communicate all though the spring so that everyone from our guests to our employees know what we're doing and why. Thanks for taking the time to share your comments, I always appreciate it. - Dave

Another thanks for staying open for another weekend Dave. Based on the parking lot yesterday, we didn't think it was going to happen. Kudos to you and your team for taking care of us this year. See 'ya Saturday!

Thanks Dave, Saturday was one of the best days I've had in a long time. Road the Mtn. with my friends, drank tasty beers in the beer garden, and then went Disc Golfing on the way home. It was one of those Oregon Rules Days!

I'm looking forward to next weekend. Hopefully the weather will be just as nice.

Oh and can you do something about the DJ? I'm sure he's a nice guy, but the Prom Music has gotta go. Reggae, Beer, Sunshine, and Mtn. Vibes go hand in hand!

I had a great time on Saturday. Coming from Washington State was not problem. I'll be there next weekend with weather permiting. After reading your blog and looking at people's comments about the last two weekends, you'll expect more people when it is either sunny or there are no "special" days like Mother's day to upset the apple cart. With this coming weekend, there might be a chance of showers on Saturday. Please don't gage this coming weekend (if it rains) to stay open on Memorial day weekend. People do read your
blog and get updates. As a suggestion, I recommend closing the resort on rainy days and keeping people informed on your blog for rain cancellations. Maybe, promote the blog as an information portal at the resort. Rain cancellations are a part of our culture, just look at Major League Baseball.

saturday, the 13th, was spectacular. you can count the 3 of us in next sundays numbers.
thanks for your efforts extending the season.

What a great day on Saturday! Please keep heather open. We will see you next weekend.

gulch park jumps are sick... open at 8 so it doesn't get soft so quick.

deal?


thanks brah!

If I am not mistaken, were the parking attendants counting heads as opposed to using the 2.5 per car formula? They were parking cars awfully late so I think that was there actual purpose, which is how you got the number 2078, because 2.5 does not go into 2078?I think it is better to count heads anyways.

I saw someone mention a "pro" spotting on the mountain earlier. Anybody else see anyone? People are coming out of the woodwork for snowboarding and skiing in May, especially with all the different terrain features, and people waiting to go on all of them. REMEMBER, a consistant theme for your park and even a name for your late season park will do wonders and bring people in from all over.

As I mentioned I would list the resorts up and down the West Coast that are still open with either the same or less snow base than Meadows. The following are the resorts still open with SEVEN day a week operations:

Besides Timberline obviously, Mt. Bachelor, Mammoth, Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows, and Whistler.

All have less of a snow base and full seven day operations. Just put that in perspective. I am talking only West Coast (Oregon, Washington, California, and British Columbia) and not including Colorado and Utah and everything else. These are the only ones I was able to look up, there might be more. And actually, the with Mt. Hood Meadows, the city of Portland has the largest population of any city that is the closest big city to any of these resorts. The point is that ski resorts can and do sustain late season operations,(many of these resorts are open beyond memorial day, and up to July 4th), even perhaps 7 days a week.

I noticed any interesting psychology as well...I have friends that, when the closing weekend of April 30th was announced, that they got it in their minds that it was going to be there last weekend of snowboarding, and got out of the "mode" and into the fishing, biking, gardening mode, or whatever. By not announcing a date, and keeping the momentum going, maybe giving a one week or two week notice for the sake of employees, and having a "soft", tentative, closing date that is completely ignored in the case of having a 20ft base in May, it keeps employees from looking for new jobs, and it keeps people in the "mode".

What is funny, is that we can be having all of this discussion and debate, and next season could end up being like last season and there could be no snow at all by this time next year. GLOBAL WARMING SUCKS, and so does $3.00 a gallon gas for that matter. Speaking of which, I would imagine in light of these prices, people are looking for alternative methods of reaching the mountain because it is so expensive just to drive up there these days.

Anyways, see you all this coming weekend, you can find me in the park, and then on the beer deck.

Sincerely,
M.S.P.H.C.A

On saturday at 3 oclock we need to all be in the beer garden for the worlds biggset snowball fight!! When I throw a snowball at you,you betta throw one back:} Thanks for staying open for what should become an anual event.

Dave's reply: That may not be the best idea. We'll end up with people in the clinic.

Once again thank you Dave & all the people at Mt. Hood Meadows for keeping the Spring Skiing going!

2.5 does go into 2077.5 though!!!

Just wanted to say thanks for staying open, It has been a great season (although wet) and it is nice to get some clear days in. I also wanted to say ignore the one guy who complained about this challenge the rest all really appreciate what your doing besides countless others who dont comment. Thanks again dave

ps. I dont think people realize that mt hood is a business not a charity

Thanks Meadows. And Dave, great job communicating throughout this Challenge. It's what the public needs.

I think that people do realize Meadows is business, not a charity. The ones who have spent $50 on a lift ticket, $5 on a beer, $XXX amout of money in the gift shop, or $400 on a season pass, both this year and last. It is fair to say that some, possibly many people did not get their $400 worth last year, and this year is offering ample opportunity and snow to make up for it. I think that there is a middle ground with customer good will, profitability, and it just makes sense to stay open with 17 feet plus. I think if Meadows could start this season, knowing what they know now, they would be even busier now.

So yes, anyone that has spent money up there and expects some value in return realizes that it is a business. I feel that taking care of customers IS an investment in the future, even if it is 4000 loyal skiers and snowboarders that have options where they spend there winter recreational dollars.

$10 Beer
$30 Gas
$35 Lift Ticket ($25 if you know anyone)
$50 Gift Shop & Food

Mt. Hood Meadows still open in May - PRICELESS!

Can't wait to get in some great runs this weekend and hopefully next weekend as well. Ski in the morning, windsurf in the afternoon & drink beer all night long.........Once again Priceless.

Keep up the great work and hopefully next year we can get a gypsy to predict that there is still going to be great snow in May!!