In the Pacific Northwest, El Nino winters are typically a little warmer than usual. But the amount of rain and snow is a lot more variable. For example, at Mount Hood Meadows, their second-snowiest winter on record occurred during an El Nino winter. But one of the most disastrous snow seasons on record, the winter of 2004-2005, was also an El Nino winter. Those are two extreme examples. Most El Nino winters bring snowfall that is not too far from average, with the extreme winters being rare (and impossible to predict in advance).

One positive aspect of El Nino winters is that more often than not, the snow tends to arrive early in the Cascades. I believe we’re seeing that this year. That big late October snowstorm dropped nearly two feet of snow at the higher ski areas, but warmer rain immediately following the storm melted the snow away. That’s the way it works in October, as the snow comes… and goes. But November snow typically grows… and stays! And while this most recent storm brought enough snow to open some runs at Timberline and possibly Mt. Hood Meadows later this week, all Oregon’s ski areas, are starting to build a healthy base. And with more storms on the horizon, the start of the 2009-2010 skiing/boarding season appears imminent!

So… wax your boards and get your gear organized. And keep checking your e-mail, as my first “Powder Alert” could hit your inbox anytime now!

Think snow,

Drew Jackson
KPTV FOX 12 meteorologist

Editor’s Note: Sign up for Powder Alerts by visiting Ski Oregon

In an effort to visit more Oregon ski areas this season, I made a trip to Central Oregon to ski at Mt. Bachelor and Hoodoo this past weekend. Since it’s been such a bummer snow month, my expectations were low. My, was I surprised. At both places, the snow was in excellent shape!

Mt. Bachelor – Sunday, February 1st

Looking towards the summit

I had a marathon day, skiing from 8:30am until 3:45pm. That’s how good the skiing was! Despite it being purely a groomer day, Mt. Bachelor is large enough and grooms so many runs that I never got bored. Being Super Bowl Sunday, there wasn’t much of a crowd. I waited 5 minutes to board the Sunrise Express once, but otherwise I never waited more than a minute or two.

The grooming team at Mt. Bachelor is top notch. I’ve skied at other resorts famous for their grooming (Deer Valley and Sun Valley) — and Mt. Bachelor’s groomed runs were of the same caliber as the runs at those resorts. The snow was hard-packed and fast, yet still carvable. And while the mountain could certainly use additional snow, there isn’t a problem with rocks or bare spots. Everything is well-covered.

Downed Trees from the Ice Storm

The damage from the early-January ice storm was incredible. Unfortunately, it’s going to take several feet of new snow to cover all of the trees that are down in the forest. Without significant new snow, the tree-skiing season is over. I had heard reports about the damage, but I was unprepared for the sight of so many snapped & downed trees. And nearly one month after the storm, there is still thick ice on trees & lift towers on the west side of the mountain. This “blue” ice is nasty stuff – totally bulletproof. Some of it still coats the snow off the groomed runs… which is why the groomers are the only place you want to be until snowstorms return.

Thankfully, Mt. Bachelor is not short on groomed runs. Among my favorites (by lift):

Rainbow chair: Flying Dutchman, I-5.

These runs had the best snow on the mountain, as the eastern part of the mountain featured softer snow. These runs also had the fewest people skiing them, so even at 3:00pm, the runs were still smooth.

Summit Express: Beverly Hills, Healy Heights.

The summit was hard-packed and icy… but these are classic, steep cruisers no matter the groomed snow surface.

Pine Marten Express: Tippytoe, West Boundary

While Thunderbird is usually my favorite warm-up run, Tippytoe & West Boundary see far fewer skiers/boarders and have similar pitches. Tippytoe isn’t always groomed, but when it is… it’s a “dig in the edges to avoid a skid” screamer. Love it!

OutbackExpress: Boomerang, Down Under

Not always groomed… but when they are, both of these runs feature long, steep & sustained pitches. The runs on this side of the mountain are generally steeper & longer than those on the east side.

Northwest Express: Snapshot Alley to Atkenson’s Zoom, Osprey Way to Sparks Lake Run

These are long, rolling & winding screamers that start steep & become gentler towards the bottom. Narrower than many of Bachelor’s other runs, the runs in the Northwest Territory are among my favorite runs in the entire USA! At two miles, they’re leg-burners for sure… and they demand control and skill when skiing at speed.

Overall, I was very impressed with the conditions at Mt. Bachelor on Sunday. The staff was friendly as well — the lift operators and ski patrols were kindly professional during every exchange I observed. Mt. Bachelor is one of those mountains that is so big that, even with a large number of skiers/boarders on the mountain, it never seems that crowded.

Hoodoo – Monday, February 2nd

The view from the parking lot

On my return to Portland, I stopped by one of Oregon’s oldest ski areas on Santiam Pass. But while Hoodoo’s history goes way back, it’s facilities are anything but ancient. The lodge and quad lifts are brand new. And while the runs are much shorter than Mt. Bachelor’s runs, Hoodoo’s groomed runs are generally steeper than those at other Oregon ski areas (especially when compared to the Mt. Hood areas).

Unfortunately, I could only spend about 3 hours at Hoodoo before I needed to get in the car and head home to Portland. But during those 3 hours, I was able to get in about 15 runs.

I have never skied an Oregon mountain so deserted of other skiers/boarders. It was rare that I encountered another person on any of my runs. It was almost eerie. The weather was beautiful – comfortable temperatures & little wind beneath blue sky & sunshine. And yet no one was there. With such a low skier count, the groomed corduroy remained as corduroy the entire morning. I must give a shout-out to Hoodoo’s grooming department as well — the grooming was expansive and flawless. And unlike at Mt. Bachelor, Hoodoo’s off-the-groomed snow was soft enough to ski — especially in the sun-exposed spots. The Grandstand run off the top had small moguls, and by 10:30am they were soft & fun to ski.

Once at the summit, with a couple exceptions, one can ski nearly 360 degrees off the top of the Butte. I’ve never been to Hoodoo on a powder day, but I can imagine that the summit runs of Crater, Face, and Chuck’s Backside would be heavenly when the snow is deep & fresh. Hoodoo rarely gets crowded enough for lift lines, so powder lasts longer here than at other areas (so I’m told!).

While Hoodoo is a much smaller ski area than Mt. Bachelor or the Mt. Hood areas, I definitely recommend a visit if you’ve never been there. It’s a friendly place with a nice, caring staff. There is terrain for all abilities. And the mountain & lodge don’t get overly crowded (but I hear the parking lot can fill on the busiest days). Hoodoo’s annual Winter Carnival is this Saturday (Feb. 7th) — check it out!

Overall, the weather pattern is going through a significant change – from super-stormy to super-serene. Starting next week, high pressure takes control over the Northwest – meaning that blue sky, sunshine, and calm winds will prevail nearly every day next week. We’ll have a little bump in the road to pass over this weekend, however, as a weak weather system slides through Sunday morning. A few light rain or wet snow showers are possible Sunday – otherwise it looks dry and pleasant for most of the week ahead.

Enjoy the snow!

The news isn’t all bad, however. Looking back at past winters, rarely, if ever, does the month of November characterize the entire winter. Often, the opposite is true. So just because November has been a bummer month weather-wise, it doesn’t mean that this winter will turn out poor overall. It just means that we must exercise a bit more patience than usual this fall.

For those who must get some turns in between now and when the storms return, don’t forget that Timberline Lodge ski area plans to operate its Palmer Express lift daily, weather permitting. The Snowfield is in great shape. Elsewhere, there’s a chance that areas with some snowmaking guns might be able to coat a run or two with a minimal snow base for the holiday weekend… but it’ll be tough. Be sure to check the conditions page at SkiOregon.org to see the status of each Oregon ski area… especially as the weekend draws near.

Think snow!

-Drew

Editor’s Note: Drew Jackson is the consulting meteorologist, forecaster and weather broadcast producer for FOX 12. He’s also an avid skier and our newest blogger. For the latest Oregon snow conditions, sign up for Drew’s “Powder Alert” at SkiOregon.org.

Drew Jackson's Powder Alert

Welcome skiers and snowboarders to my blog for ski conditions and Oregon snow experiences!

This is your home for the latest updates on weather and snow forecasts tailored to skiers and snowboarders. My name is Drew Jackson… I grew up skiing in Oregon and after earning my meteorology degree from Penn State University, I now work for FOX 12 Oregon as a meteorologist and weather forecaster each weeknight on the 8 O’Clock News (on PDX-TV) and the 11 O’Clock News (on KPTV FOX 12). This is the first of many blogs that will be posted right here throughout the winter, so check back frequently!

I’m also excited to announce a new “Powder Alert” e-mail service this winter in partnership with Ski Oregon. Those who sign-up will receive e-mails from me on a situational basis (primarily when big snows are expected and prior to big skiing/boarding weekends & holidays). It’s completely free, and I’ll start sending them once the snow starts accumulating. To sign up, head to the Ski Oregon site and sign up at the bottom of the page so you don’t miss out on great upcoming conditions!

And speaking of accumulating snow… that happens to be the topic of this first blog post. Snow… specifically, how much is expected this winter… was one of the main topics of the 16th Annual “What will the winter be like?” meeting on Friday, October 24th. Sponsored by the Oregon Chapter of the American Meteorological Society, several of Oregon’s top climate forecasters boldly shared their predictions for the upcoming winter. Here are some of the details:

• The strong La Nina conditions (colder than average Pacific Ocean water from South America west to the central Pacific) have faded and more “neutral” conditions are now present. Most climate forecasters agree that conditions are expected to remain in the “neutral” (neither La Nina nor El Nino) range for this winter. Unfortunately, neutral winters are the toughest to predict because they can feature quite a bit of variety.
• One method of winter prediction that several forecasters use is called the “analog” forecasting method. With this method, forecasters analyze the current & recent-past conditions in the atmosphere & oceans and look for past years when similar conditions occurred. Here are the “analog” years to this year, according to two of the presenters, and the resulting snow situation in the Oregon Cascades:
  • 1955-1956 Huge snow winter… strong start in November, but nothing late in April/May
  • 1971-1972 Huge snow winter… strong start, big December & January, normal spring
  • 1974-1975 Huge snow winter… sluggish start, strong from December through April
  • 1975-1976 Huge snow winter… strong from start to finish
  • 1984-1985 Big snow winter… strong start, poor in January, then a strong finish
• All of the analog years feature big snow years… and most of the forecasters agreed that this winter is likely to have AT LEAST an AVERAGE amount of snow, with the scale tipped towards above-average snowfall.

In summary, it seems doubtful that a bummer snow year is headed our way. Instead, all indications are that we’ll again be blessed with plentiful snow. For additional information about this winter’s outlook, check out this website.

So… when will the season start? Unfortunately, that question is nearly impossible to answer. All it takes is for the weather regime to switch to pattern that brings in 2-3 cold storms… and the lifts will be turning shortly thereafter.

Until next time,

Drew Jackson
KPTV FOX 12 meteorologist

Editor’s Note: Drew is our newest blogger and will write about his experiences playing in Oregon’s snow. To subscribe to Drew’s snow alerts, please head to Ski Oregon and sign up at the bottom!

At 12 years old I created my very first magazine, and I called it Ski Oregon. Inside, the pages were full of handwritten content: an editor’s letter about the “new” sport of snowboarding (Timberline had just started offering lessons), a fictional story called “Avalanche”—there’s even a ski personality quiz (find out if you’re a Slow Turtle, a Fast Mouse or a Rad Dog).

I would never have guessed that 20 years later I’d be at the helm of the real deal. While there are no horoscopes (sorry) or movie reviews (was “Look Who’s Talking” really a great flick?), the magazine is packed with exciting stories and gorgeous photography that bring the experience of hitting Oregon’s slopes, backcountry and tubing hills to life. (Incidentally, you can order the magazine here)

I hope you enjoy the new and improved Ski Oregon. For me, it marks 20 years (well, 10 officially) in publishing and 25 years of skiing Oregon’s slopes.

See you on the mountain!
-The Editor (Emily)

PS. We’d love to hear from you. Please let us know what you think of Ski Oregon, or tell us about your Oregon mountain memories…

Photo by Jeff Newman

Bend’s very own Jeff Newman recently won the “Oregon Naturally” Photo Contest, sponsored by Intel Oregon (and co-sponsored by JELD-WEN Communities, KGW Northwest Newschannel 8 and the Oregon Travel Information Council). The contest was originally created to increase tourism, and to emphasize Oregon’s natural beauty. Jeff’s gorgeous photo of Mt. Bachelor (left) definitely shows the true beauty of Oregon- and definitely makes me want to go skiing!

Jeff received a 24-month Oregon state park day-use pass as his prize, and his photo was featured on a KGW Northwest NewsChannel 8 newscast. You may also view his photo on the KGW website.

Interested in capturing Oregon’s beauty on your own camera? Enter to win the next “Oregon Naturally” Photo Contest by visiting www.intel.com. Monthly and quarterly winners will be chosen. Get out there and explore Oregon’s wonders!

Photo by Stephen Landau

Oregon is a strange, wonderful place. One minute, you’re sitting and enjoying coffee in one of the greatest cities on earth, Portland, Oregon. Less than 90 minutes later, you’re sitting and enjoying the view while riding up Cascade Express at Mt. Hood Meadows. This story is about those minutes. And like all stories, it started once upon a time.

Once upon a time, I looked east and saw the snowy peak of Mt. Hood. And I realized I wasn’t spending enough time there. What a shame, living in the shadow of the mountain, that we could never find the time to make the trip. So I decided to become the co-founder of a company which allowed me to say, “Let’s take the day off and go snowboarding.” Like I said, Oregon is a strange and wonderful place, the kind of place that enables dreamers to start a company based around the culture that sometimes it’s better to be on the slopes than in the office.

Photo by Stephen Landau

A year after starting this company, we decided it was about time we practiced what we preached about a results-only work environment (explained by Mavericks at Work). The company closed for the day, and with the sky a vibrant cobalt, we headed for the mountain. The drive was easy; the anticipation was the difficult part. Finally at the lodge, we grabbed our equipment, our lift tickets, and walked right up to the lift. No lines.

It was like that all day… empty runs, no waiting, no crowds… run after run after run. Sure, the snow was a little old (it hadn’t snowed in a few days). Yes, there were some icy spots on some of the more vertical terrain. But what would you rather be doing: dealing with work, or dealing with the fact that your legs are burning from so many consecutive runs?

Photo by Stephen Landau

And like all stories that start “once upon a time,” this story ends, “…and they lived happily ever after.” At least for this day. No one got hurt, everyone had a great time, and the pure enjoyment of one of Oregon’s outdoor wonders is reason enough to be happy.

I realize now this really isn’t so much a story about going snowboarding. It’s a story about embracing the opportunity of dreams. Sometimes you only realize it when you’re making big carves in the side of a mountain. And that’s why Oregon is great. There’s always a dream to be realized. The dream of empty runs, the dream of starting your own business, the dream of happily ever after.

The End.

P.S. Of course now that there’s been tons of snow dumped on Mt. Hood since our trip, we’re ready for Book 2 in this series.

—

About Stephen Landau: Stephen moved to Portland nine years ago for the microbrews, the proximity to mountains and the ocean, and a way of life. Since then, he has become the co-founder and Creative Director of Substance, a digital brand strategy and design studio located in Portland, Oregon.

Also, we’re full of spring break ideas for you and the kids, from arcades at the beach to spring skiing at Mt. Bachelor.

Check out our savory recipe of the month starring the Oregon pear as well as our list of outstandingly quirky things to do and places to see all over the state. Ever seen a ball roll uphill?

See you in Oregon, where we’re walking through a dinosaur park.

~The Editors

P.S. Tell Us How We’re Doing!

Photo by Andrea Hartman

Like the typical genius I am, I waited till the coldest day in North America to go skiing up at my beloved Willamette Pass. They were predicting temperatures in the teens, and snow on the Valley floor, but no, it’s MLK day and Andrea was going skiing!

My pal, and superior skiing buddy, Sara and I were up before the sun, and on the road by first light on our quest to make it to Willamette Pass before the first chairs started running. We drove on packed ice for the last leg of the trip, but it was nothing that slower speeds and four-wheel drive couldn’t handle.

Photo by Andrea Hartman

After a pit-stop at the lodge to use the facilities and purchase our lift tickets, we were snow-suited up, with boots on tight, skis in one hand and poles in the other.
But before we get to the slopes, a little background information:

Me: Learned to snowboard at age 14, learned to ski at age 18. That means 5 eligible seasons of skiing, if you subtract the winter I was planning my wedding.

Sara: Learned to ski when she was a little girl. Been on many skiing trips with her family. Eligible seasons of skiing: many more than me.

We gracefully made our way to the base of the mountain, sized up the high-speed summit lift and then opted for the Midway lift to take some warm up runs.

We skied the front side of the mountain for about an hour and a half. The snow was freshly groomed, and we swooshed, carved and whizzed our way down the mountain. But, sooner than later, I succumbed to the cold and headed into the lodge. Sara, meanwhile took her adventures to the backside, where some of my favorite runs live. You’ve got your just-right blue runs that have steep bits and not so steep bits, and in addition to the really hard black diamonds, some manageable black diamonds that are the perfect mix of moguls and smooth snow.

I sat in the lodge hoping my feet would thaw and watching the wind whip the dry snow around. The clouds eventually cleared and it turned into one of the most beautiful days I have ever seen at Willamette Pass with brilliant blue skies, and bright summer-like sunshine. Only the temperatures were more Arctic than balmy.

Around noon Sara met me in the lodge for lunch. After eating I decided that warm, fuzzy boots and the heated ski lodge sounded better than trying to manipulate my skis with semi-numb feet. I was in good company though. The folks we ate lunch with called it quits early too, and so did some other skiers – we weren’t the only ones leaving the parking lot by 1 p.m.

All in all, I am a little bummed it got so cold, but Willamette Pass is still my favorite place to ski. It’s the perfect size for a skier like me. It’s comfortable, yet still challenging. I’ll never get lost on this mountain, but there are always new adventures to be had. The best part? Lift tickets are still cheaper than almost every other ski area in Oregon, and this mountain is almost in my backyard (just over an hour outside Eugene).

When you go:
-Check www.tripcheck.com for road cams and the latest road conditions.
-From Eugene head East on Highway 58, the resort is directly off the highway, near milepost 62
-Bring $40 for a lift ticket, $42 if you don’t have a ski key.

For more information on skiing Oregon’s slopes, please visit our Ski Oregon section.