A winter storm preceded the solstice by a week and left its powdery print on The Mountain community.

The mercury took a nose dive and the snow piled high during the wintry blast that left a white frosting on the conifers, treacherous driving conditions and annoying power outages.

Unofficial snow depths reached 39 inches in Welches after eight consecutive days of snow. Times weatherman Herb Miller reported a record
December accumulation for Brightwood. A low was recorded at the Clackamas
County Bank of 14 degrees (Dec. 17).

At the height of the storm (weekend of Dec. 19-21), the Welches area was
getting the worst of the storm for Clackamas County, according to Tim Heider
of the Oregon State Police.

"They’re getting more than a foot of snow," Heider said in a television
interview. " Trees are down and Barlow Trail and Salmon River Road are
buried."

The storm brought mixed reactions, creating business opportunities for some
and a darned nuisance for others.

"It’s awesome," was the initial reaction from Tom Butler, owner of Mountain
Sports in the Hoodland Shopping Plaza.

Butler’s business provides all things for winter recreation, and he has been
anticipating the powdery arrival.

"Just in time," he said. "A little late maybe. We were sweating bullets a couple
weeks ago."

Butler has been at the winter shop for 15 years – the last three as owner –
and was biding his time making ski repairs because of the exposed rocks on
the mountain. Still, he was of two minds regarding winter’s blast.

"Granted, it’s not all fun," he said. "I don’t like the digging out and scraping
any more than anyone else. My wife (Sonya) even skidded down a hill. But it’s
my business, and it’s beautiful."

"I’m disappointed," said Becky Fortune, of Welches, and mother of five
children, citing the easy-driving conditions of the previous day. "Yesterday
(Dec. 17) was a total waste. The schools were closed and we went shopping in
Gresham."

The Fortune family’s life revolves around the Welches schools. Becky is a Title
I reading aide and volleyball coach. When schools close, the Fortunes are
disrupted.

"I understand the safety issue and how much guessing goes on (deciding
whether or not to shutter the schools)," she said. "I don’t like to criticize
anyone and wouldn’t want that responsibility myself."

But she pointed out that her son, Sean, fourth grade, lost his opportunity in
the school’s Christmas program. Another boy, Will, sophomore, had to forego
the finishing of his grandmother’s Christmas present.

The snow provided a business opportunity for Rick Young, of Portland.

Young was perched in the catbird’s seat near the Zigzag Ranger Station as the
first chain monkey encountered by motorists heading up to the mountain. He
offered his services for a "meager" $20 to the eager snow-goers.

Besides his chain installer duties, Young stalked the roadside warning drivers
to pull well off the road, seeing his job as a safety official as much as a service
provider.

"Look at these people," Young said, pointing at a car stopping in a driving
lane. "They need to get off the road. Otherwise, they’re gonna get a $150
fine."

According to Young, he has plied his craft on Hwy. 26 for a "modest couple of
years."

For the snowbirds who proceeded past Young’s checkpoint, Ski Bowl,
Timberline and Mountain Meadows awaited.

By Dec. 21 Timberline reported a modest 29 degrees, four lifts in operation,
15 inches of new snow with fresh-packed powder, according to Jon Tullis of
Timberline Lodge.

"It’s beautiful," Tullis said. "There are lots of problems in town but we have
fantastic ski conditions."

"This is a great setup for the season," said Dave Tragethon of Mountain
Meadows. "This is the lightest (powdery) snow I’ve seen in my 15 years."

The fierce weather attack was a consequence of multiple converging factors:
an inversion layer overhead, winds howling up the gorge, a low off the coast,
arctic air racing in from the north, and warm, wet air sliding up from the
south.

The result provided something for everyone, including the guarantee of a
white Christmas.