Ski season starts at Timberline

By Adam Ghassemi KATU News and KATU.com Staff Published: Nov 8, 2009 at 6:44 PM PST Last Updated: Nov 8, 2009 at 7:01 PM PST
It was a winter wonderland Sunday at Timberline Lodge. »Play Video
It was a winter wonderland Sunday as snowboarders and skiers hit Timberline's powdery slopes.

MT. HOOD, Ore. - The rain that hit the coast and Portland translated to snow in the Cascades over the past few days - making skiers and snowboarders quite happy on Mt. Hood Sunday as the lifts open for business.

The ski season came about two weeks early this year. This is the exact opposite of the start to last year's season, when in early-November the white stuff was nowhere to be found.

We're barely into November and already Mt. Hood is a winter wonderland.

"I don't really come up here that often, but it's kind of a treat," said snowboarder Jake Brunelle from Gresham.

It is especially a treat because just a few days ago snowboarders like Brunelle would have been on grass.

"It's crazy that they have this open this early," said another snowboarder, Nicholas O'Neal from Vancouver. "It's nice. The park is really nice too, with nice powder - surprising for this early."

Now the mountain has a 36-inch base to play on.

"It's pretty deep, and there's a lot of powder," Brunelle said. "It's kind of hard to maneuver through."

And their only worry is that everyone else will realize the ski season is officially here.

"We need to open some more lifts up, definitely," said Cody Remington from Portland.

People who depend on winter recreation are hoping the early start means it will be a much better season than last year.

In 2008, "we had no snow, then too much snow at Christmas," said Jeff Konstamm, company president of Timberline Lodge. "That really hurt us."

Konstamm said with two lifts open now, and another opening Monday, Timberline should be fully open by Veterans' Day. And workers there hope that will bring a big boost to a local economy that depends on the powder.

"It's certainly a good shot in the arm," Konstamm said. "The local economy depends on tourism in the winter time and everyone is very excited - from the grocery stores to the gas stations, the local hotels, taverns and restaurants. It's super news."

As long as the snow cooperates, Konstamm said he's hoping Oregonians and Washingtonians will be taking their winter stay-cations on the mountain.    

"Hopefully," said Remington, "we can keep it going."

Timberline Lodge is the first resort to open out of the five ski resorts on this mountain. Mt. Hood Meadows and then Ski Bowl should not be far behind.