Mt Hood's new Howitzer and Newton Creek Access?

They will be controlling avalanche terrain within the ski area boundaries when a hazard exists.

BC,

Did you mean the PERMIT Area? It seems pretty clear that they will be expanding their control area beyond the ski area boundaries. They are proposing, or have now the permission, to control areas that historically have been used by skiers and climbers.

Perhaps a little additional clarification re artillery control work, based on my experience:

<many good points snipped>

Gerry H

Gerry, you've given us much factual information.  I'm grateful for that.  But the problem I'm having is that your argument is all about MHM.  MHM has a permit to operate the gun.  It's a rather generous permit, IMO, because it apparently gives them license to let their avy control work spill over and restrict Newton users.  Newton Creek is within the wilderness area and, as such, *should* be off limits for avy control target zones.

I'm still not sold on the gun being safely used.  If MHM has the great urge to open Heather and Clark canyons by firing without seeing the target, I don't care how accurate and safely oeprated the gun may be.  Any person on Pea Gravel Ridge near the landing zone and within the wilderness area, mind you, is not going to feel safe.  When you're exposed like that and otherwise safely exposed, the last thing you want is a shell landing near you or even kinda near you.  It's just not right!  Legally permitted or not!

I agree 100% with you on your last statement of communication with with ski area.  The situation is new and developing.  The problem we have is there doesn't seem to be an organization that is speaking with one voice for the BC visitor.

JJS

I ski Meadows when the danger is high and when I take the kid up for practice laps. This is the worst run resort in the West. The people that work at MHM are amazing, friendly and I commend your efforts. This resort never opens terrain until they absolutely have to. They need a cannon as much as I need one at the house. From what I understand they almost don’t even have enough room in Heather canyon to fire the thing in the first place. I’ve counted 25+plus hand charges in 1 day before. How many times in a day are they going to fire this thing? I love sking Pea Gravel but I’ve been driving right by for years going to Pocket or elsewhere just to avoid MHM. Until Drake construction the staunch republican owners of MHM sell or go bankrupt nothing will ever change. I would love nothing more than seeing them loose the permit. I wish they would sell to someone like the owners of Baker but I would even take Powdercorp over these yahoos. No one is safe in the Canyon in my personal opinion as long as these guys are in control of a real cannon!!!!! I hear they plan on knocking snow off Wyeast as high up as 9,000+ feet thats going to be just great for spring skiing. Thanks again Meadows

I agree 100% with you on your last statement of communication with with ski area.  The situation is new and developing.  The problem we have is there doesn't seem to be an organization that is speaking with one voice for the BC visitor.

I'd like to correct my earlier statement above.  There are at least three organizations that are actively advocating for MHM adjacent Mt Hood backcountry visitors.  They are the Crag Law Center ( crag.org ), the Snowrider Project Oregon ( snowriderpdx.wordpress.com ), and Friends of Mt Hood ( www.friendsofmounthood.org ).  Feel free to consult and help these organizations.

Here are some pertinent links on the Newton Creek Canyon access problem and MHM's Howitzer:
snowriderpdx.wordpress.com/?s=howitzer
crag.org/our-work/public-lands/cascade-p...kcountry-recreation/

It's all excellent information!

JJS

Hey Turtle,

I heard they were going to start shooting over at Mt. Adams to kill off Big Foot too...

Direct quote from the Craig Law web site:

"Meadows has agreed that its operational procedure will not allow it to fire the Howitzer in any location at any time when its Shooting Star Lift is open to the public. Meadows will also not fire the Howitzer into or near lower Pea Gravel Ridge, which is an area that backcountry skiers use to access the Newton Canyon backcountry to the North of Meadows’ permit area. To facilitate backcountry use, Meadows has also agreed to place signage in the lower Heather Canyon run-out downstream of the God’s Wall area indicating the point of closure and directing all backcountry Wilderness travelers uphill to the right towards lower Pea Gravel Ridge. The signs will be placed in consideration of backcountry travelers exiting the permit area towards Newton Creek Drainage."

Hey All -

I just found this thread. I work for the Crag Law Center and have been closely involved in tracking the proposal for the howitzer along with others from our office and the Snowrider Project.

We worked closely with Meadows in an effort to ensure continued safe BC access and a communications protocol. The process is new, and its still developing. In the meantime, we are collecting information on BC user experiences. If you have information of conflicts and/or unsafe situations, please visit our web site, grab our contact info and drop us a line. The Snowrider site is also a great place to find information and provide feeback.

Be careful out there and let us know if you want additional information. We're trying to get it out there for folks.

By the way, if you want a copy of MHM's ski are special use permit, call the Hood River Ranger District in Parkdale and ask for Doug Jones. He is the permit administrator for the FS in charge of Mt. Hood Meadows and is the person responsible for answering questions for the public.

- Winter