March 24, 25 Mt Hood Meadows

Susan and I made the trek and stayed at one of those lodgings in Hood River that provides discount lift tickets (and a small discount on Snow Park permits; good value place, PM me if interested).  It's been over 10 years since my one previous ski day there. The place was phenomenal!  Deep snowpack everywhere. Good luck was on my side, as I caught up with a local and waited ~2 min at the entrance to Half Moon Bowl, one of the entrances to Heather Canyon off the Shooting Star lift.  It was the first opening of Heather since at least the slide of the 13th.  Half Moon is one of the lowest entrances, but still.  Patrol skied down and dropped the gate and off we went. Knee deep, untracked, perfect snow.  The Canyon is very filled in with debris so the out-track skirted the trees on the south side of the trough and featured a few dips and climbs.  Anyway, followed up with two trips down Jack's Woods, under the lower Heather lift.  This required a 2 minute climb and was relatively untracked; similarly fantastic snow.  One trip to Elk Bowl and the glide out lower Heather Canyon road.  Friday it had snowed ~4-6 inches overnight since the Thur. day close, and they left most of the groomers alone, so there was great snow all over.  Heather re-closed for Friday.  Cascade Express was operating despite marginal vis. and winds.  Never waited for a lift, and comfortably below rain temperatures both days.  The fall lines for many runs are a bit mild reflecting the geology, but we thought the place was great overall. The lodge scene was ultra friendly for brown baggers with no hassles for getting hot water/ice etc. and many people stashing gear on the provided hooks.

Sounds like a good time. Meadows can get kind of crowded somethimes, but when you hit it right it can be amazing and a powder day in the canyon is always fun. Oregon is going off right now - fresh snow everywhere. Couldn't ask for a whole lot more for the end of March

I'm jealous!