As evidenced by the disappointing snowfall last year, when it comes to the
frozen precipitation that helps fuel the mountain community in winter, we
mostly have to just wait.

Mother Nature, perhaps along side Old Man Winter, rule the winter when it
comes to making it snow, and there’s just not much humans can do to alter
that dynamic.

Or is there?

It hasn’t stopped the Mt. Hood Area Chamber of Commerce (MHACC) from
trying to make it “snow” in a different way. Mountain businesses can expect to
see an influx of snowflakes thanks to the MHACC’s recent “Bring Back the
Snow” campaign, where people can print out a list of participating businesses,
find the snowflakes in their windows and get a discount of at least 15 percent.

“We’re working hard to get people up here,” said Coni Scott, MHACC
President. “Snow or no snow, it’s been a tough year for people.”

The campaign follows an early one in which the chamber ran a video spot on
Portland’s ABC television affiliate, KATU, which played hundreds of times in
the late summer and early fall. The chamber spent $14,500 on the video and
Scott noted the funds used came from the organization’s yearly Bite of Mt.
Hood event.

“The funds go back into the community to bring people up here,” she said,
adding that next year’s Bite is scheduled for Saturday, April 23.

“Most small businesses, especially those in rural areas, do not have the
individual resources to promote themselves,” Scott added. “That’s our goal, to
promote our businesses.”

John Erickson, a former general manager at The Resort at The Mountain and
an industry consultant who worked on the campaign, noted that while snow is
important for the mountain, it’s also just a part of the local economy.

“The whole thing about the mountain, it’s not just the snow, but that’s the
first thing that people think of,” Erickson said.

“There’s so much to do on the mountain and in the villages,” he added. “It’s
been an opportunity for the communities to come together and recognize that
the general population needs to know how much more there is to do on the
mountain besides the snow.”

But for the snow enthusiasts, the best news is that there is no limit to the
snow for this campaign.

“(Visitors can) print up as many as they want and they can scatter the snow
on Mount Hood,” Scott said.

Discounts at area businesses include 15 percent off at Alder Creek Cabin, All
Seasons Vacation Rentals, Boulder Creek Retreats, the Cabins Creekside at
Welches, Camp Arrah Wanna, Dragonfly Cafe & Bakery, the Hidden Woods
Bed & Breakfast, Hull Park & Retreat Center, Ivy Bear Family Pizza and B&B,
Liberty Lodge of Brightwood, Mt. Hood Cultural Center & Museum, Mt. Hood
Vacation Rentals, Sandy Salmon B&B Lodge, Still Creek Inn & Lounge, The
Resort at The Mountain, Valian’s Ski Shop and Whistle Stop Bar & Grill, and 25
percent off with Vacasa.

For more information, visit mthoodchamber.com.