Portland skiers jokingly call Mt. Hood Meadows, Mt. Hood SkiBowl and Timberline "our little day areas," but the three ski areas within 15 miles of each other on the shanks of Mt. Hood, Oregon's most beautiful mountain, offer a fine range of experiences for destination skiers and snowboarders.

Most visitors come from Portland for the day or from Seattle for a night or two to experience the area's varied and abundant skiing. Most of the lodging is in the windsurfing resort town of Hood River, on the Columbia River about 35 miles north of Mt. Hood Meadows. Other lodging is closer, but limited. Best of all, it's within an hour's drive of a major airport, Portland International.

The terrain and conditions can keep up the enthusiasm of advanced skiers and snowboarders for days at a time, with naturally rugged terrain that hasn't been dynamited to a freeway finish. We found plenty of what we like to ski, as well as some great terrain for the lower ability levels at Timberline, Mt. Hood Meadows and Mt. Hood Skibowl.

Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort Facts:

Summit elevation: 7,300 feet
Vertical drop: 2,777 feet
Base elevation: 4,523 feet (bottom of Hood River Express)

Expert: ++++
Advanced: ++++
Intermediate: +++++
Beginner: +++
First-timer: ++

Dining: +++
Apres-ski/nightlife: +++ (Hood River)
Other activities: ++

Address: 8800 SE Sunnyside Road, Suite 112N, Clackamas, OR 97015 (year-round office)
Area code: 503
Ski area phone: 287-5438 (Portland); 337-2222 (mountain)
Snow report: 227-7669
Toll-free reservations:
(800) 754-4663 (Hood River)
Fax: 337-2217
E-mail: mhminfo@skihood.com
Internet: www.skihood.com

Number and types of lifts: 14—5 high-speed quads, 6 doubles, 3 surface lifts
Skiable acreage: 2,150 acres
Snowmaking: Limited
Uphill capacity: 19,990 per hour
Parks & pipes: 6 parks, 1 half-pipe, 1 super-pipe
Bed base: About 200 in Hood River
Nearest lodging: 11 miles at Cooper Spur; 35 miles at Hood River
Resort child care: Yes, 6 weeks and older
Adult ticket, per day: $36 early season (06/07)