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Mt. Hood Meadows-3/17 Sun and Last Day
- Zap
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18 Mar 2021 21:10 - 19 Mar 2021 08:58 #234890
by Zap
Mt. Hood Meadows-3/17 Sun and Last Day was created by Zap
Our last visit was in 2016. If you are 75 years plus, you get "free lift tickets". Jill was a "freebie" and I bought a ticket. This was a special day. With my spinal surgery at end of March, I have the disabled placard so we could park near the lodge. Then I had the oppournity to limp to the lift and then I could ski caustiously.
It was a sunny day with lenticular clouds moving over Mt. Hood. We rode the Mt. Hood express and skied down to the Shooting Star express. We followed the sun. The sun drenched the trails off the Shooting Star. There were few skiers and we had the trails to ourselves. Jill will ski just behind me; I foolishly stop and look over my shoulder and can not see her. Then I hear her voice over my other shoulder. Hmmm! Fast skier. We skied the terrain above Heather Canyon and Clark Canyon which was still very firm.
Next stop was to ski down to the Hood River express. The lift starts at 4528' with an eastern exposure. Early morning the lower trail was already getting "slushy". We skied Lady Slipper and into the BIG "Forest Park" terrain park. We were the only skiers there, but watched several "boarders" running the terrain. We skied the perfectly groomed area around the terrain features. Nice fun area.
Next was the Cascade express with an elevation of 7305'. We saw the ski patrol working on their suntan (behind their face masks) and digging a snow cave. We remember when years ago on the last day the Cascade lift was open, we had our backcountry gear and our plan was to climb and ski Wy'east Face above the Super Bowl. The ski patrol said that normally they would not allow skiers to skin up, but that was "OK today". I think you can now climb that area if it's open. We skied "Texas Trail" ridge run. This trail provides a great view of Mt Hood with the lenticular cap, plus a view of Timberline ski area and in the distance is Mt. Hood Skibowl East and West.
It has been 50 years of downhill and backcountry skiing, and this was the first time I said "it is time to go home". The pain from the nerve on my lower spine area at L4-L5 said "stop". This was a great season. I'm looking forward to the spine surgery on March 30, and then training to rebuild and get back into the mountains.
Zap
It was a sunny day with lenticular clouds moving over Mt. Hood. We rode the Mt. Hood express and skied down to the Shooting Star express. We followed the sun. The sun drenched the trails off the Shooting Star. There were few skiers and we had the trails to ourselves. Jill will ski just behind me; I foolishly stop and look over my shoulder and can not see her. Then I hear her voice over my other shoulder. Hmmm! Fast skier. We skied the terrain above Heather Canyon and Clark Canyon which was still very firm.
Next stop was to ski down to the Hood River express. The lift starts at 4528' with an eastern exposure. Early morning the lower trail was already getting "slushy". We skied Lady Slipper and into the BIG "Forest Park" terrain park. We were the only skiers there, but watched several "boarders" running the terrain. We skied the perfectly groomed area around the terrain features. Nice fun area.
Next was the Cascade express with an elevation of 7305'. We saw the ski patrol working on their suntan (behind their face masks) and digging a snow cave. We remember when years ago on the last day the Cascade lift was open, we had our backcountry gear and our plan was to climb and ski Wy'east Face above the Super Bowl. The ski patrol said that normally they would not allow skiers to skin up, but that was "OK today". I think you can now climb that area if it's open. We skied "Texas Trail" ridge run. This trail provides a great view of Mt Hood with the lenticular cap, plus a view of Timberline ski area and in the distance is Mt. Hood Skibowl East and West.
It has been 50 years of downhill and backcountry skiing, and this was the first time I said "it is time to go home". The pain from the nerve on my lower spine area at L4-L5 said "stop". This was a great season. I'm looking forward to the spine surgery on March 30, and then training to rebuild and get back into the mountains.
Zap
Last edit: 19 Mar 2021 08:58 by Zap.
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- Zap
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18 Mar 2021 21:25 - 18 Mar 2021 21:26 #234891
by Zap
Replied by Zap on topic Mt. Hood Meadows-3/17 Sun and Last Day
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Last edit: 18 Mar 2021 21:26 by Zap.
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- Quick foot
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18 Mar 2021 22:40 #234892
by Quick foot
Replied by Quick foot on topic Mt. Hood Meadows-3/17 Sun and Last Day
Get well soon Zap. I have been down the spinal surgery road myself more than once and am still skiing the blacks. I'm looking forward to your next reports.
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- filbo
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19 Mar 2021 17:39 #234896
by filbo
Replied by filbo on topic Mt. Hood Meadows-3/17 Sun and Last Day
Zap I have enjoyed your trip reports for years and wish you all the best in your upcoming medical situation. If you ever get over to white pass next season give me a shout as I would be stoked to meet you and ski some pow together.
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