SALEM, Ore. — Oregon’s four highest ski areas will be open this weekend following a winter storm that brought a fair amount of powder to the mountains, but mid-elevation resorts still don’t have enough snow to begin running chairlifts.
Mount Bachelor, Mount Hood Meadows, Timberline Lodge and Anthony Lakes ski areas will all have at least two chairlifts running this weekend — some will have more — although all still feature early season conditions.
With more snow in the forecast, all four could open new lifts and be operating on daily season schedule by late next week.
“There is a significant amount of precipitation in this storm forecast to dump a foot or two by the middle of next week,” Mount Hood Meadows spokesman Dave Tragethon told the Statesman Journal (http://is.gd/AnBVzZ ). “That would provide us enough natural snow to commit to daily operations for the season, hopefully before December 12.”
Oregon’s lower-elevation ski areas including Hoodoo, Willamette Pass and Mount Ashland don’t have quite enough snow to open yet. Mount Hood Skibowl is offering snow-tubing, but doesn’t plan to open to skiing yet.
Here’s a look at each ski area’s weekend plans:
Mount Bachelor — Three lifts will be running at Oregon’s largest ski area on a 26 inch base that is expected to get an additional six inches of snow this weekend.
Mount Hood Meadows — The largest ski area on Mount Hood will feature three lifts on a snow base of 15 inches, with 37 at mid-mountain, and another possible 10 inches on the way.
Timberline Lodge — The highest ski area on Mount Hood will have two lifts running this weekend on a 24 inch base that could grow by a foot this weekend.
Anthony Lakes — This Eastern Oregon ski area in the Elkhorn Mountains is opening for the first time this season on Saturday with a 20-inch base.
Mount Hood Skibowl — The closest ski area to the Willamette Valley on Mount Hood doesn’t have skiing open yet, with just 5 to 9 inches of snow, but is offering snow tubing on Friday night and weekends.
Hoodoo Ski Area — Closed, with nine inches of snow.
Willamette Pass Resort — Closed, with 11 inches of snow.
Mount Ashland Ski Area — Closed, with 13 inches of snow.
