Hans Wipper has seen a lot of snow fall on Mount Hood through the years through his work at SkiBowl since 1988. And last month’s bonanza of snow ranks pretty high and allowed SkiBowl to open on Dec. 7 and open its outback terrain shortly after, the earliest Wipper can remember since 1994.

“It’s like the best opening conditions in 15 years, it’s amazing,” said Wipper,
SkiBowl’s spokesman. “It’s a great start to the year.”

As of Monday, Dec. 26, SkiBowl had enjoyed 113 inches of snow so far this
season, with snow depth of up to 54 inches. Wipper added that everything at
the resort is open, including tubing (now featuring a second conveyor lift),
while the newly installed snowmaking pipes at the SkiBowl west area have not
been the most necessary addition this winter.

“Luckily this year we didn’t need it,” he said, adding that the Oregon
Department of Transportation has done a “great job” clearing the roads and
allowing eager skiers and snowboarders to get to the mountain.

Closer to the peak of Mount Hood, John Burton, Timberline Lodge’s Director of
Marketing, noted that while the snowfall numbers are good, they are in line
with the numbers of the past 60 years.

“This is what it’s supposed to do,” Burton said. “We’re very grateful for the
current snow event, it’s making for some unbelievable conditions. The snow
quality is outstanding.”

As of Monday, Dec. 26, Timberline had enjoyed a total snowfall of 235 inches
(calculated since Sept. 1) and a base depth at the lodge of 96 inches. Burton
sees the ski industry across the country as enjoying a good winter, while he
noted the conditions and the type of snow on the mountain as a driving force
behind the early success of the season.

“It’s because the product is so good right now,” he said. “There’s lots of snow
and the quality of snow is great.”

Burton noted the resort’s Y’Bar was remodeled and now features a new
kitchen and new layout, including a glass garage door facing south that can be
opened when the weather cooperates.

“The goal was to create a premiere après bar type pub environment on the
mountain (with) great food and served in a timely manner,” Burton said. “I
think we pulled that off.”

Burton added that the resort is also offering “cat” skiing on the Palmer
Snowfield during the weekends, when skiers and snowboarders can catch a
ride to the top of the snowfield in a Snowcat, included in the price of a lift
ticket.

Down at the base of the mountain, Tom Butler of Mountain Sports reported
that business is “super busy,” and even joked how it was nice to get a rainy
and windy day to do a little catch-up work.

“This great early snow got everybody fired up,” Butler said. “It’s been all we
can do to keep up with the action.”

Butler added that the early snows have everybody in a good mood, and even
when customers have to wait in line, they are happy. He also noted that
mountain residents get to enjoy the snow at lower levels, going to their secret
sledding or snowshoe locations where the masses don’t go.

He also added three words of hope as winter rolls on: “Keep it coming.”

The Skyway’s Tracie Anderson said that business has been busy, while adding
that the only slow times are when the road conditions make for difficult travel.

“The general vibe or feeling is that people are real excited,” Anderson said,
noting that skiers and snowboarders returning from a day of recreation are
enjoying the restaurant’s fireplace. “It’s the best early snowfall in many years.
People are just in a really good mood.”