MEADOWS BLOG

Dave, thank you again for your continued patience, forbearance, and incredibly wise open-mindedness. It's flexible, attentive people like you that turn customers into advocates. I've been telling my friends about your amazing plan to keep Meadows open as long as there's enough people to make it feasible, and been bringing people up as often as possible.

Thanks also for making sound judgement calls about when to close...poor weather makes even some die-hards throw up their hands and sleep in instead of forging up to the mountain, so skipping this weekend is smart business and reinforces your committment to providing the best possible experience on the mountain.

Keep up the awesome work!

Too bad about the weather. It's good to see you guys being flexible here and responding to the weather. I think it's the right call to wait for next weekend. Best to save the investment for a time when you have the hopes of success. Maybe you guys can work on getting Heather open for the holiday weekend?

Dave! I was so looking forward to riding in the blowing rain on this Saturday! I was even going to buy a beer and a burger... but now I don't know what I'll do with Saturday. Looking forward to getting back to Meadows... as soon as you are ready for me. Please let us know if you change your mind this weekend!

nooooooooo. We were looking forward to ripping it up all weekend. Dang it...

With Heather closing, it looks like it's time to hang up the boards. Thanks for a great season. I especially appreciate your williness to keep the season open. Also, I once again found your staff very friendly and helpful.

Now, for next season I'd like to make a few suggestions.

1. Give current season pass holders the 4X4 3X3 & 2X2 rates without requiring them to form a group. Only require people who didn't have a season pass this season to get a group together. This would provide an incentive to keep your pass year to year and eliminate the annual hassle of cobbling a group of people together, all of whom had a pass the year before anyway.

2. Run a shuttle from the back of the HRM lot to the HRM lodge.

3. Have lift operators (Primarily on Cascade) post Estimated Opening Times. I personally hate always having to ask and I'm sure the operators are tired of having to respond.

4. Firgure out how to serve food faster. It's a bummer to have to stand in line for 30 minutes for your $9 cheeseburger.

I guess if this is all I can complain about, it's not too bad now is it?

Thanks again.

Well at least that means you will be open Menorial Weekend (weather permiting). Nice grooming last weekend, not sure how people skied off the groomed area.

this sucka! i wish it wasnt raining...

Thanks for not closing for the rest of the season due to bad weather. I really wanted to go riding for my 30th B-day on Sunday. I would of come in the rain. My attitude is everything you do in Portland in the winter rains anyways. But see you next weekend and every following weekend. You can always count on me. I have gone 60+ times this year.

good idea not to stay open.. we ran in from the thunder storms at Timberline today, it was SOAKING.

Thanks Dave, for your wisdom on not being open this weekend, and the foresight to be open next one. You have changed the way we look at spring skiing, and given us a reason to push our seasons out with N.W. pride and abundant snowpack. Salute'

Dave's reply: Thank you very much. We'll do a little dance for some sun next weekend - or maybe even some powder ;) It has happened before this time of year!

Sooo.This way Sucks...Soo Wishing to get some time up there this weekend.!! Glad that you've got out intrest in mind though!! Safe is the only way.

Thanks!
Sarah

In regards to Dave's comment. Do you all remember about 8 years ago, skiing on closing day (May 15) with 14" of fresh snow? The line at the bottom of MHX reminded me of any good powder day mid-season with all the usuals chatting and barking at each other, waiting for Patrol of give the OK ... ah the memories ... thanks for keeping the mountian open!

Hey, im excited to hear that you guys are planning to stay open memorial day weekend because ive been planning a trip to meadows with some friends for that weekend for some time now, so we'll be up there:)
Bart

Dearest Dave,

Yes, I would love to post a comment about closing on May 20 and 21.

I do appreciate your devotion to the safety of your guests and staff regarding severe weather and the operations of Meadows. However, it was a real SHOCKER to see blue skies and that huge bright burning yellow star in the sky today, Saturday, May 20, 2006. Ooohhh, that was some scary weather! Come on!

We had worse weather this winter with freezing rain/sleet, heavy snow, low visibility and HOWLING winds...and yet you were open! If you needed a vacation you should have just said so.

As always, I am a devoted patron and will be at Meadows just as soon as you let me in!

Cheers

Dave's reply: I woke up in Parkdale to solid rain, drove to Portland for a meeting with Oregon Interscholastic Snowboarding Association. Down in Portland, it got really nice mid-day but I felt fine about the decision with what the weather was doing on the mountain. Still planning on opening Memorial holiday for 3 days plus the first weekend of June. Hopefully it will be great. Thanks for your comment, you're correct that in the winter we roll right through days that are great and those that aren't...maybe we were wrong. - Dave

Not a single drop of precipitation recorded today during open hours. It was actually a very nice day, and there wont be any rain tomorrow. Ill bet 10-20% of the remaining loyal 4000 hung it up for good this weekend, and with the snow starting to melt at a more rapid pace, this might have been our last, best weekend. Rain is a part of life in Oregon, but we cant let a small chance of precipitation affect our plans. What if there is a chance of rain Memorial Weekend? Will Meadows be closed again? I don't know about you guys, but to make it through a long summer I need closure being on the mountain and realizing it is my last day, and not looking forward to another weekend and not getting it. Oh well, maybe I will go to Timberline.

They are a cheaper season pass, a better and more consistant park, and one high speed quad away from getting a lot of Meadows Season Pass Holders.

cool, cool, spring ridin is the bomb, so all you peeps readin this better get yur sorry hides up that mountain so we can all go shreddin. thanx for another sick year, lets ride, or whatever you do. hey dave, thanx for all the updates, keep it up homee-

It was a good season. Doubt it will be open next weekend at all. Weather says its gonna rain all week. With 15 ft on the top and 8 on the base. Lost a lot of snow VERY quickly. The season was AWESOME while it lasted. Thanks! See you next season!

Once again, fantastic job of keeping us all informed. We look forward to Memorial Day weekend and beyond!

Thanks for keeping us informed about the rain cancellation. People who are complaining about the rain cancellation don't realize that this is a business. I believe that earlier in the month (one Saturday) when it was sunny, you had ~1600 people show up. The day after when it was raining, you had ~200-300 people. Together, this didn't add up to ~4000 people. When people complain, please remind them of this. A majority of people show up when it is sunny, not when it is raining. You are not in it for charity. I do appreciate the "Blog" as your information portal. Keep up the good work.

Dave..the weather forecast for the weekend is calling for rain. I really dont see you guys being open anymore. But hey things could change.By the way when I wrote you last, commenting about Patricia( runs buttercup)on how great she is at her job, you said that you would pass it on to her. I actually asked her if you had mentioned my compliment to her and she said you had'nt. whats up with that? Its been a great season. Thanxs

Dave's reply: I forwarded this to the lift ops department - sorry she didn't get it. I'll try again. Thank you. - Dave

I just listened to Matt Zaffino on KGW say the snow level will be 4k on Friday, 5k on Sat. and 6K on Sunday- with the possiblility of a few inches of snow on at least one day during the weekend!- Oh yeah! the season has just received another cold transfusion and the vital signs are jump starting my heart. Thanks Dave for the challenge and rewarding our loyalty.

amazing. i am uber stoked that you guys are keepin it open (and real) this season! awesome checkin the weather out to keep her open. my friends still praying that he gets to ride in june after he gets back from nicaraugua (spelled that one wrong). so come on june 3-4!!! and as for this weekend, i will see you up there at least 2 out of 3 days....maybe three if gas drops below 3 bucks an f'in gallon! not getting started on that one. awesome season and keep SHREDIN THE GNAR!

This is specifically to address Mr. Wild Bill's comments. I figure anyone with the name Wild Bill wouldn't be afraid of a little rain now would they? Our points were not that they closed because of rain, which is fine and not unprecedented. It was that it was a beautiful and sunny day and they jumped the gun in making the decision way too early, as they did with announcing the closing dates. Now, I made a post in the last blog specifically regarding your charity comments, but the blog topic immediately changed, so nobody got to read it. I thought I would share it with you again. Here goes...

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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.

Will you open if we have powder(the odd chance) this weekend??????

Dave's reply: Yessirree. We may not be able to run Cascade if it is blowing and snowing but Mt. Hood Express would be easy. I'm in Florida at a ski convention (go figure) but looking at the weather models every few hours. We want to make it happen this 3 day holiday and also June 3/4. Hopefully the weather will cooperate! - Dave

Where are the parks located? It's awesome that you're keeping it open lets hope I can go this weekend. I appreiate all that you have done this season. are you going to announce season pass prices for next year right after is closes?
Thanks,
Andrew

Dave's reply: Thanks for your comment and questions. We'll get some info out on the current parks/pipes status on Friday afternoon. As far as passes go, we'll announce what's happening soon. We've had several long meetings over the last seveal weeks on all the pricing and product stuff. Hint: I think season passholders are going to be very happy.. - Dave

Just waiting for the Friday update as to this weekend's status...

Dave's reply: Thanks for the question. I just posted an update. See you tomorrow! - Dave

Thanks for opening for the Mem Weekend. We are coming down from Yakima to enjoy the snow.

Dave's reply: Hey, thanks for driving all the way to Hood! Enjoy your holiday on the slopes! - Dave