Crystal,Baker or MT Hood Meadows
Hermann Ernst
the pros and cons of Mt Baker , Crystal Mountain or MT Hood Meadows.
Which one is best for what category. Which one would be the best to ski for
a week? Any other miscellaneous facets and pointers would be appreciated.
We are very good skiers, prefer the steep and hopefully deep. We know
Baker gets lots of snow, but has small vertical. Crystal has good vertical
how about the snow and terrain? Mt Hood Meadows sounds like it has good
vertical, but how does it compare with Crystal? Any information on these areas
or personal preferences and experiences would be appreciated.
Please email to he...@hcia.com
Thanx in advance.
GIBBONS
terrain. There is absolutly NO nightlife, little to nothing else to do
but ski and drink there. If you want great slopes to attack, Crystal is
the place.
Mt. Hood Meadows is my favorite ski resort. There is no "on-mountain"
accomadations. The terrain is very good and the snow cat skiing looks
wild (I've never have the khunas to try it). To top it off there are two
other resorts in close driving distance: Timberline and Ski Bowl.
Timberline is timid, Ski Bowl is rough, but small. Meadows has the best
snow of the Northern Cascades (sans a small place called Mission Ridge).
Mt. Baker is VERY cool, but hardly a place that you could spend a week
skiing. A good skier could ski all of Baker in a day. About 70 miles to
the north is Whistler-Blackcomb as another resort when you get bored
w/Baker. They are correct about the amount of snow Baker gets, but it is
Cascade Concrete most of the time. If you do not like snowboarders (I do
not care either way), stay far away from Baker. It is a snowboarding
Mecca.
Hope this helps
Erik
Icy days are better for Cross Country; Snowy days are better for Dowhnhill
Walt Bell
>Please email to he...@hcia.com
>Thanx in advance.
Hi Hermann,
I live in the Portland area and ski "Meadows" fairly often but have
never skied Crystal Mountain or Mt. Baker. My impression about
Meadows is that it is probably 20 to 40% black diamond runs, 40 - 60%
intermediate and 10 - 20% beginner). There are some fun steep bowls
and a long steep (and sometimes deep) canyon.
A little east of Meadows is Timberline (mostly intermediate) and Mt
Hood Skibowl (some good steep terrain but lower elevation so not
always very good snow).
Hope this helps,
Walt Bell
Ted Roberts
>
>he...@news.hcia.com (Hermann Ernst) wrote:
>
>>We are planning a ski trip to the CASCADES this coming February. Want to know
>>the pros and cons of Mt Baker , Crystal Mountain or MT Hood Meadows.
>>Which one is best for what category. Which one would be the best to ski for
>>a week? Any other miscellaneous facets and pointers would be appreciated.
>>We are very good skiers, prefer the steep and hopefully deep. We know
>>Baker gets lots of snow, but has small vertical. Crystal has good vertical
>>how about the snow and terrain? Mt Hood Meadows sounds like it has good
>>vertical, but how does it compare with Crystal? Any information on these areas
>>or personal preferences and experiences would be appreciated.
>
>>Please email to he...@hcia.com
>
>>Thanx in advance.
>
>Hi Hermann,
>
>I have skied both Meadows and Mt. Baker. I agree that Meadows is a fun
ski area. Lots of variety in their terrain and I understand they also
have Cat skiing available. I was not as impressed with Baker, but they
have made some improvements since I was there. In any event, I don't
believe that any of these areas, including Timberline in Oregon, would
keep you entertained for a week. Maybe you could arrange to ski a couple
of the areas as they are fairly close to each other.
Linda
DoubleDiamond
> We are planning a ski trip to the CASCADES this coming February. Want to know
> the pros and cons of Mt Baker , Crystal Mountain or MT Hood Meadows.
Take a look at the October issue of POWDER for a good write-up
on Mt. Baker.
--
Clint Butts Double Diamond
e-mail: ski...@virginia.edu /\ /\ "No whining -
ca...@virginia.edu / \/ \ my opinions
UVa Environmental Health & Safety \ /\ / only"
Kurt Krueger
>We are planning a ski trip to the CASCADES this coming February. Want to know
>the pros and cons of Mt Baker , Crystal Mountain or MT Hood Meadows.
I basically agree with Walt Bell on his analysis of MT Hood Meadows. If you
really want steeps on Mt. Hood, Ski Bowl is generally better IF it has
decent snow. The runs are short, no high speed chairs, lift tickets
are reasonable.
MT Hood Meadows has some good steeps, but it's mostly above the timberline
so access is very weather dependent. Meadows has a high speed quad to
the top, and the deep canyon referred to is Heather Canyon. It's not
open too often due to a combination of bad weather and then avalanche
hazard after the weather clears. But ... it's the only run in the
area that I have to work up a little courage in order to ski
over the lip.
I've been to Crystal Mountain about 10 years ago. They have one peak
(Cambell chair????) that has a very steep back side. It probably has
a better chance to be open than the top of Meadows (however, Crystal
can fog up just like all the others). Crystal is a bigger place and
has on hill lodging.
If you opt to ski Mt Hood, the trip to Timberline is worth it just to
see the lodge. And, if you see a guy in a guest services jacket
telemarking down the hill, that'll be me.
Karen Mercurio
(Know nothing of Baker, unfortunately!)
Agreed that Skibowl has much better steeps, but unfortunately, because of
it's lower elevation, is much more prone to freezing and thawing. The
conditions there are very unpredictable. It seems it is either raining,
or covered with a sheet of ice once that rain has frozen! Occasionally,
it does offer some great snow.... and GREAT steeps, if you can happen
upon ideal conditions there! Most of the appeal for Portlanders is that
it is a mere 45 minutes from town, and is really convenient for night
skiing.
Regarding Crystal Mountain: I grew up skiing there, and think it is one
of the best kept secrets in the Northwest! <shhhhh> You can basically
find anything you want there, from little skied back country stuff
<Sunnyside, Snorting Elk> to steeps and bowls. One bit of advice, though.
Saturdays are best avoided. From January through March, the mountain
is inundated by flocks of ski-schoolers from the surrounding areas. It
has gotten better in recent years, with several new areas of the mountain
being opened up, and consisting mostly of more difficult terrain, the
addition of high speed chairshas also helped quite a bit. I absolutely
LOVE Crystal Mountain, and would highly recommend giving it a try! You
won't be disappointed!
THINK SNOW!
-
KAREN MERCURIO CMC...@prodigy.com
John Harris
72120...@compuserve.com (Walt Bell) wrote:
>he...@news.hcia.com (Hermann Ernst) wrote:
>
>>We are planning a ski trip to the CASCADES this coming February.
>A little east of Meadows is Timberline (mostly intermediate) and Mt
>Hood Skibowl (some good steep terrain but lower elevation so not
>always very good snow).
Walt,
Your compass is broke :) The last time I checked, Timberline and
Skibowl were generally WEST of McMeadows.
John.
phan...@teleport.com
> >the pros and cons of Mt Baker , Crystal Mountain or MT Hood Meadows.
>
> I basically agree with Walt Bell on his analysis of MT Hood Meadows. If you
> really want steeps on Mt. Hood, Ski Bowl is generally better IF it has
> decent snow. The runs are short, no high speed chairs, lift tickets
> are reasonable.
>
>
>>>>
though I could have been given misinformation. Just out of curiousity, is there a reason not to spend
your week at Mt. Batchelor? There is definitely some good skiing on that mountain!
Larry Troy
You're correct regarding the addition of a new detachable quad replacing the old HRM double. The
new lift is to be named the Hood River Express.
If you decide to ski Oregon, do you want to spend the entire week at one resort? If not, spend a
day or two at Meadows then drive to Bachelor. Meadows has very limited local accommodations (local
being within a 20 minute drive). Bachelor is located about 15 miles outside of Bend, Oregon where
you'll find good restaurants and a better choice in lodging. Bachelor has a lot of skiing to offer
as well as truly inspirational views of Mt. Jefferson, Three Sisters, and Broken Top. It's well
worth a visit.
Larry
John Harris
>I've heard that Meadows has a new quad lift on line this season on the Hood
>River Meadows side, though I could have been given misinformation.
This is what I had understood. However, I have yet to make the annual fall
hike up there...perhaps I will this weekend and get the real story.
> Just out of curiousity, is there a reason not to spend your week at
> Mt Batchelor? There is definitely some good skiing on that mountain!
Lack of steep terrain come to mind. Don't get me wrong, I've skied bach
every season since 1968 and love the place. But except for the summit,
it's black runs are tame. Try Crystal sometime...
John.
Jim Strohm
Kinda exciting tho when the Cirque Bowl turns to solid ice.
Bend is one of those amazing towns that has a major ski hill but still isn't
a major tourist trap (like V**l, A***n, Taos, etc.). You can live, work,
play in Bend and not even care if skiiers come there except for their
funny cars and funny clothes. You can even get a decent meal and a room
at a non-skiier restaurant and motel.
I sure wish I could find enough work as a technical writer there to support
my present lifestyle...Bend's hi-tech can't equal Portland, Eugene,
Seattle, or even silicon-gulch Austin TX.
Jim
(a high-tech migrant worker)
MIKE B
I have been a meadows local for 18 years i know the mountain inside and
out they have low crowds, and tons of intermidete terrian, as for the
expert terrian it is a bit lacking but there is plenty if you plan to
stay just a day or two.
ski bowl is not worth a secound look it is small and steep but it
very low and very wet if by chance you are there during a very very cold
and snowy week then it might be worth a day.
timberline or as we call it timberflat is not worth a lift ticket
it is so flat and packed with snowborders and begginers you need to
sqruim through them all. but if you are staying on the mountain go have
dinner at the lodge.
crystal is a good mountain with lots of cruising and some very
steep terrian.
i spent most of last year at mnt. baker they get more snow than
any ski area in the u.s [fact] they have the most steep terrian out of
all the northwest areas and you can't beet the 18$ lift tickets the only
draw back is the lack of groomed runs but wow what a beatiful place.
my recomodation is baker it is alot smalller and much more
friendly than the others
if you have any specific ? e-mail me
at har...@selway.um.edu
Diana Politika
backyard. I've skied it for 24 years. Never been to MH Meadows, but I
felt that Mt. Batchlor was the most redundant slope I've ever skied. No
variation to the pitch. Like skiing an ice cream cone that got dropped
on it's scoop. I'm sure it's perfect for an intermediate or beginner,
but it lacks for more varied terrain for advanced skiers. Crystals
shortcomings are in its lack of long, uninterrupted pitches. Everytime
you get up to good cruising speeds, you have to hit the skids because it
drops out to a much steeper drop. But it is very varied. Lots of
backcountry, powder pockets (tho they are small) and the chutes are
there (tho small also).
Baker is NOT my cup of tea. Highest incidence of ski theft in the state
due to college students paying their tuition (my personal opinion on the
latter part of that statement). Also has no way out of the bottom
except to take a chair back out.
If it was MY vacation to Washington, I'd ski a few (3) days at Crystal
and a few (2) at Stevens.
From a Native Washingtonian with ski experience in Washington, Oregon,
Sun Valley, Big Mountain, Blackcomb, Whistler, Lake Louise, Sunshine
Village, Pomerelle Idaho (wa-hoo!), and Austria.....just so you see that
I have seen more than one mountain and have a capacity to judge.
Ted Roberts
Also being a traveling skier, although not a long-term skier (only 6 years),
I agree with most comments here with the exception of skiing Stevens Pass
for two days in lieu of Mt. Bachelor or even Mt. Hood Meadows in Portland.
I ddon't believe that Stevens can come close to comparing with either of
those two. I have skied all except for Crystal but not for lack of trying,
just never seems to work out.
Linda