Mt. Hood Meadows is celebrating its earliest opening in 15 years with a preview weekend on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Meadows typically aims to open by Thanksgiving weekend, but resort president Greg Pack said that early-season snowfall and the resort’s snow-harvesting efforts helped produce a Nov. 15 opening day.
“It’s such an incredible position to be in to be able to open ahead of schedule, and we’re excited to kick off what’s sure to be another amazing season of skiing and riding,” Peck said.
Lifts will operate 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. all weekend, with south-side lifts Buttercup, Easy Rider and Daisy in operation, along with the Ballroom Carpet conveyor. Additional lifts and terrain may open as conditions allow.
After the preview weekend, the resort will reevaluate conditions during the middle of next week and provide an update about additional operating days, lifts and terrain.
Mt. Bachelor in central Oregon also announced an early start to the ski season by opening Friday to passholders only.
Ski lifts Skyliner and Little Pine will be in operation from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, marking the earliest opening at Mt. Bachelor in 26 years.
Mt. Bachelor plans to open the following weekend, Nov. 22-24, to the general public with daily operations starting on Nov. 29.
Timberline Lodge Ski Area opened for the winter season on Nov. 9. Lifts have been operating from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily since then with Stormin Normin, Pucci and Molly’s lift scheduled to operate, weather permitting.
As conditions improve, the ski area hopes to open more lifts soon. Currently, beginner terrain is not yet available.
Early season conditions exist at all resorts. Guests are asked to stay on groomed runs and watch for unmarked obstacles and active machinery on the slopes.
Lower on Mount Hood, Mt. Hood Skibowl at Government Camp is still awaiting enough snowfall to open. The resort at Government Camp typically does not open for the season until December.
To the north, Crystal Mountain Ski Resort and White Pass have not yet announced opening dates.
Meteorologists have forecast a La Niña winter for the Pacific Northwest, which typically bringers cooler temperatures and more mountain snow.
Mt. Hood Meadows averages 430 inches of snow each season. But during La Niña years, the average climbs to 493 a year. During the last La Niña winter in 2022-23, Meadows received 531 inches of snow.
