What’s new for the 2014-15 Season at Mt. Hood Skibowl
Winter is in the air! The mountain has had it's first dusting up high, and it looks like the snow level is coming down as we speak. It won't be long now until we are all shredding some fresh pow in the Upper Bowl and sipping hot drinks in the lodges. Until then, enjoy this fall update on what we have been working on.
The whole crew up here at Mt. Hood Skibowl has been working hard all summer and fall on improvements to the resort. Some of the projects include the normal annual work of lift preventive maintenance, sprucing up the lodges and staff hiring/training. But there are also several larger projects that will have a positive impact on your experience here at Skibowl:
New Conveyor Lift
Finally! The parking lot rope tow has been replaced with a new, 210’ long conveyor lift that introduces new technology to conveyor lifts. Beginning skiers and riders will have a much better experience learning the sport with the new lift. Some of you who learned on the old rope tow may be sad, but anyone who has tried both can say how easy it is to ride a conveyor lift.
Ski & Snowboard Rental Shop
The rental shop has automated the rental process, cutting the time needed to hit the slopes! The high end Siriusware system will track the inventory and maintenance of the equipment, and once a guest has entered the system, their information can be recalled, eliminating the need to fill out a form every visit and allowing the shop to preset the gear before they arrive. Guests may also pay and pre-book online, making the rental experience better than ever. There are new Rossignol “Rocker” skis and snowboards added to the inventory as well. This new generation of skis and boards make learning to ride easier than ever before.
The Fusion Pass and Powder Alliance
The Fusion Pass on Mt. Hood is back and better than ever, uniting the best of both Skibowl and Timberline Lodge Ski Areas for the most ski terrain on Mt. Hood at one low price. This season the Powder Alliance welcomes the 13th resort, Silver Star Mountain in British Columbia, Canada. For no additional cost, Fusion Pass holders become members of the Powder Alliance and receive three (3) FREE days at all the other participating areas plus special offers on lodging, rentals, buddy tickets, and more. For more info visit www.powderalliance.com. Get America's Largest Night Ski Area and North America's longest ski season all in one package!
Winter Snow Tube and Adventure Park
New this winter to the Snow Tube & Adventure Park is the Tree Top Action Zone that features a 5 Story Tarzan Freefall Swing and the 6 Story Tarzan Plunge. Both attractions are accessed by a series of balance bridges that increase in difficulty the higher you go. This new aerial course will be open this winter by reservation. contackt Group Sales for more information. Cosmic Tubing™ has been expanded yet again to include 200,000 more LED lights for a total of over 600,000 lights, brand new and expanded laser light show equipment and 100 new snow tubes added to the fleet.
New Electronic Lockers
The old coin operated lockers have been replaced with state of the art electronic lockers that accept credit cards or cash. The new lockers allow for multiple entries and users throughout the day, which will be more family friendly. The lockers will be located in the Rental Shop and below the Starlight Café. No more quarters!
Mount Hood Race Team (MHRT)
Skibowl is the home to the MHRT, and this year races will be timed in style with a brand new two-story timing building at the bottom of the Cascade ski hill. The building will also provide meeting space for coaches and an area to review training video. The MHRT and Skibowl are now able to provide first class timing facilities for the best slalom race hill in the Northwest.
Historic Mid-Mountain Warming Hut
Everyone’s favorite mid-mountain stop is getting some much needed TLC. Work was started on a three year restoration project to replace the foundation of the Warming Hut, repair siding and installing a new shake roof. This summer two sill logs around the base and the majority of the support posts under the building were replaced by a historic preservation Forest Service crew based out of Colorado. The Zigzag ranger district was instrumental in providing funding for the repairs.
Internet Access
Public Wi-Fi internet access is being installed at the Skibowl west base area allowing for guests to access their favorite social media platforms and maybe check on that work email.
Extensive Brush Cutting and Slope Maintenance
The ski slopes received an extensive ‘buzz cut’ again this fall. A special brush cutting tractor trimmed all the lower slopes, while our crew’s hand-cut the upper steeper runs. Loose rocks were removed, which along with the snowmaking system, will allow Skibowl to open on the least amount of snow of any area on Mt. Hood.
Mt. Hood Skibowl offers "the most night skiing terrain in North America" according to Ski Magazine, with 65 day runs and 34 night lit runs. Less than an hour east of Portland, Skibowl is known for some of the best terrain on Mt. Hood with a four minute ride to pure vertical on the Upper Bowl and expertly groomed runs. Families and non-skiers can also enjoy winter fun at the Skibowl Snow Tube and Adventure Park featuring a conveyor lift to groomed tube hills, Frosty's Playland, mini z snowmobiles and Cosmic Tubing™.
Keep those snow dances going!
See you on the slopes soon,
Team Skibowl
