It's almost that time again.

The Cascades have gotten their first taste of winter. And before long, scores of skiers and snowboarders will descend on Mount Hood in search of their first turns of the season.

Here's what they have to look forward to at Hood's largest resorts:

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LC- Terry Richard/The Oregonian

The Vista Express chairlift at Mt. Hood Meadows.

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Mt. Hood Meadows

It's no secret Meadows can get a bit busy during peak ski season. And in efforts to better manage its crowds, Meadows has implemented a new ticket pricing system for the upcoming season.

Akin to airline ticket pricing, demand for lift tickets will dictate their prices.

Dave Tragethon, resort spokesman, said he expects prices to rise to $89 to $99 for an adult seven-hour ticket on peak days. But on off-peak days, adults could get the same ticket starting from $39 to $49.

Last year, a seven-hour adult ticket cost $82.

Meadows says it hopes the lower off-peak prices will entice people to ski and ride at those times, alleviating congestion during the resort's busiest days.

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Bruce Ely/The Oregonian

A snowboarder catches air at Mt. Hood Meadows.

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Other Meadows news

The resort purchased a pair of new snow grooming machines, which are used to prepare slopes and clear and harvest snow.

You'll no longer find plastic straws in Meadows' restaurants. They'll use paper straws and bamboo picks and stir sticks instead.

Meadows has a new fleet of rental snowboards and boots.

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Terry Richard/Staff

A Saturday night in the Cosmic Tubing park under the lights at Mt. Hood Skibowl East.

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Mt. Hood Skibowl

Skibowl has rolled out a new system that allows the resort to make snow when it's above freezing outside.

Yes, you heard that right: The resort can now make snow during the fickle early-season days when temps hover in the 40s and 50s.

Marketing Manager Amber Dennis said the climate-controlled system is cranking out about 12 dump truck loads of snow each day.

And as a result, Skibowl will be open for tubing Friday, Nov. 23.

Dennis urged tubers to reserve their spots online, a feature that's available for the first time this season, as new 2-hour tubing slots will have limited capacity. She said the limited-capacity slots will allow riders to avoid the large crowds Skibowl's tubing hill has seen in the past.

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Dillon Pilorget/Staff

A snowboarder cruises down a slope at Mt. Hood Skibowl.

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Other Skibowl news

Skibowl has added snowmaking capacity farther up the mountain on Lower Bowl, helping the resort build a base of snow in its base area and on Lower Bowl itself.

The resort purchased a new winch snow grooming machine, which will allow workers to groom parts of Upper Bowl that they couldn't before. Dennis said they won't disturb any fresh powder, however.

The West Rope Tow Terrain Park will have nine new rails along with some other new features. Skibowl's rental fleet will include new skis, snowboards, boots and helmets.

There are about 90 new parking spaces.

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Stephanie Yao Long/Staff

Snow at Summit Ski Area is pictured on Friday, October 13, 2017.

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Timberline Ski Area

The biggest Timberline news is actually unfolding just down the mountain in Government Camp, as the resort's operator purchased Summit Ski Area earlier this year.

Workers are remodeling Summit's interior while holding on to the single-chairlift operation's family-friendly, affordable vibe, Timberline spokesman John Burton said. (An all-day ticket for ages 11 to 70 is $36.)

Timberline is also tweaking its shuttle service, running buses from Mt. Hood Brewing Co. to Summit and Timberline all day on weekends and holidays through mid-March. That's similar to how the shuttle service operated last year, its first.

Looking ahead, Burton said Timberline is also in the conceptual planning stages of connecting Summit and Timberline using a chairlift or gondola.

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Stephanie Yao Long/Staff

Skiers and snowboarders ride a chairlift at Timberline Ski Area.

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Other Timberline news

Timberline built 17 new terrain park features this summer and fall. The resort also got one new snow grooming machine heading into the winter season.

There will be a new rental fleet of skis and snowboards at Summit.

Burton said beginners can now take group lessons at Summit, which didn't previously have a robust lesson program.

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-- Jim Ryan

jryan@oregonian.com

503-221-8005; @Jimryan015