SeniorsSkiing Guide: Mt Hood Meadows
Free Skiing For 75-Plus. Nice.
A skier hits the slopes of Powder Keg at Mt. Hood Meadows.
Credit: John Nelson
This resort on the southeastern flank of a 11,249-foot volcano has a lot to recommend it: great terrain, great proximity to the hipster-haven of Portland, OR., and ample snowfall from regular winter storms.
If you’re 75 and older, you’ll have another reason to love Meadows: It’s free.
Jeanne Farwig, a ski instructor at Mt. Hood Meadows for 44 years, is honored in a ceremony last season by Chris Kastner, Meadows ski school director.
Credit: Mt. Hood Meadows
“It reminds me of the Matterhorn—it’s just so majestic,” says Jeanne Farwig, a Mt. Hood Meadows ski instructor. “There’s something for everyone here.”
Farwig, 84, is entering her 44th season of teaching on the mountain. Her passion for Meadows remains as strong as her desire to pass on her slope knowledge.
“I love working with older skiers,” she says. “I especially like working with people who have given up skiing and are taking it up again.”
And the free skiing isn’t bad either.
“Now my boyfriend has a free pass,” she says.
Snow, terrain and more
- Location: Hood Meadows is about 60 miles from downtown Portland via U.S. Highway 26, and 35 miles from the Columbia River Gorge outdoors mecca of Hood River.
- Snowfall: 440 inches of snow pile up every year from Pacific storms that pummel the mountain.
- Terrain, lifts: With the pointy summit of Mount Hood looming above, Meadows feels wild, with runs that take advantage of the many ridges and canyons falling off the side of Oregon’s tallest peak. About 35 percent of the mountain’s 2,150 skiable acres is rated advanced, 65 percent is rated intermediate or beginner. Six of the resort’s 11 chairlifts are high-speed quads that do most of the people-moving on the mountain.
- Vertical: Nearly 2,800 feet from the base at Hood River Meadows (4,528 feet) to a lift-served high point of 7,305 feet. On nice days, hikers can gain an additional 1,700 feet of vertical by climbing to the top of the double-diamond Super Bowl run.
Lot to lift access
- The roadways from the Portland metro area can be clogged on weekends, so plan on skiing during the week if possible. Parking at Meadows requires a $5-per-day pass from the Forest Service, which you can purchase from a parking lot attendant. A large loading zone is available to dump gear near the lodge.
- Public transportation: Several companies offer shuttles to Mt. Hood Meadows from downtown Portland.
- Accommodations: Nearby Timberline Lodge is a national treasure if you manage to score a room. Cooper Spur ski area and the town of Government Camp have lodging, and Hood River is just 45 minutes away.
Culture
- The vibe: A mixture of hard-cores who love the Meadows’ extreme terrain and friendly locals who enjoy cruising its many groomers.
- Dining: You’ll find most food in the main base area’s two lodges; on slope, check out two cafes, one at the base of the Hood River Express and the other at the top of Mt. Hood Express.
Bottom line
- You’ll ski for free if you’re 75 and older. Seniors (65-74) pay $54; regular adult passes are $79.
- Weather can close the mountain’s upper lifts limiting skiers to lower slopes during storms.
- A big-mountain feel to the dramatic upper slopes.
Trail Map: Click Here
Webcam: Click Here
Skiers ski the run Discovery near the top of the Shooting Star Express at Mt. Hood Meadows. Credit: John Nelson
Stein Eriksen Honored
Pioneer of Modern Skiing and Beloved Park City Community Member Remembered.
Stein thrilled visitors to Park City with his aerial flips. He was a gymnast by training, and his graceful moves influenced several generations of free stylers.
Credit: Park City
Stein Eriksen’s kind demeanor and passion for alpine skiing defined him in equal measure. An accomplished gymnast, Stein transformed skiing by integrating aerials and other acrobatics into the sport. Stein proudly represented his home country of Norway in the 1952 Oslo Olympic Winter Games, winning gold in giant slalom and silver in slalom. In 1954 Stein became the first alpine skier to win “Triple Gold” in the World Championships in Åre, Sweden. As admired as he was for his grace on the slopes, those who knew him personally will attest just as much to his thoughtfulness, generosity and sense of humor.
Stein’s son Bjorn (right) and Cameron Berard at the dedication ceremony.
Credit: David Eden
Stein arrived in Utah in 1969 and resided in Park City until his death in 2015. He proudly served as director of skiing for Deer Valley from the resort’s inception in 1981, working closely with founders Edgar and Polly Stern to fulfill their vision of providing a resort experience unlike any other in the industry. Stein’s desire to develop an internationally-renowned luxury hotel was fulfilled in 1982 with the opening of the now world-famous Stein Eriksen Lodge. His influence in the ski industry and at both Deer Valley and the lodge that bears his name was infinite and his legacy will always be a fundamental aspect of their success.
This plaque was dedicated by Park City’s City Council on December 11, 2016 to honor Stein’s enduring memory and his outstanding contribution to the sport of skiing and the town of Park City. It also officially commemorates December 11 (Stein’s birthday) as Stein Eriksen Day.
Stein Eriksen is remembered for his charm, his infectious passion for skiing, and his enduring love of family. A favorite saying of Stein’s was, “Na har vi det godt igjen.” “Now we have it good again.”
Use Your Old Ski Equipment? Maybe: Part 1
Frugality Or Familiarity Might Be Reasons To Hang On. Should You? It Depends.
Editor Note: This is the first of a two-part article where ski industry veteran Val E. discusses whether using old equipment is safe and/or worth it. We’ve seen people on the lift line with really old equipment; ours not to reason why. But you should know what the risks are.
Skis
Well, maybe not 360s.
Imagine you have 20+ year old skis, you used them 7-10 days a year, so the total work days would be 200-300 days. Can you still use them? If they have no major delamination, cracked edges, broken sidewalls, then yes. Do you want to use them? Maybe not. Test a few pairs of skis made in recent 10 years. You may notice that they are easier to maneuver, easier to carry, and have different graphics. If you still want to ski on your old skis, then sharpen the edges, clean and wax the base, make sure you bindings are safe (see below).
Bindings
Bindings are for safety and comfort. Manufacturers do not allow ski service people to service bindings older than 10 years, and they send a list of “serviceable” models every fall. Bindings stored 360 days a year in a dusty room or wet garage may not release when you need it or can false release. Dust on lubrication, corrosion, and other factors may change the planned schedule. Major problems could be cracks in plastic parts that are hard to identify. A binding can still be OK for many, many years. Manufacturers just don’t want to be responsible for risk anymore, and they also want us to buy new and better bindings. You can install new binding on your old skis (if you love them unconditionally); a technician will plug the old holes.
Boots
Famous Lange boot ad from the early 70s
Most people don’t like to change ski boots often, though there is always a limit. We are talking about boots that are 15-20+ year old. Shell: if you see cracks in plastic, your soles are worn out and won’t have good contact with the binding. If buckles are broken and non repairable, go to a ski shop. Liner: you should feel comfortable without two pairs of thick home made wool socks, your heel shouldn’t ever move up from the insole. If your shell is in a good shape, but you are not happy about the liner (too loose or destroyed) keep in mind that you can purchase a pair of liners. Canadian company Intuition Liners makes different types.
Helmets
Almost all ski helmets use foam (Polystyrene or Polypropylene) in their construction to crush, thus absorbing energy when contacting something hard. Researchers say this foam doesn’t change much for 20-30 years under normal conditions. But hard hits, long exposure to UV and heat sources may change the properties of these materials. Manufacturers recommend replacing a helmet after a significant collision. Once foam is compressed at some spot, it would not protect you anymore.
Helmets have come a long way since Jean Vuarent wore this variant from the cycling world.
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