TR.MtHood.2-33a.tr.7-28-03

The view of Mt. Hood from Elk Meadows is similar to what visitors will see, regards wildflower meadows, when Mt. Hood Meadows begins summer operation.

(Terry Richard/The Oregonian/2003)

After 46 years, mountain lovers will finally get to know why it's called "Mt. Hood Meadows."

Mt. Hood Meadows, of course, is Portland's busiest winter ski resort. It's been that since right near the beginning when it opened 46 years ago.

During all that time, public recreation on that part of Mount Hood has been confined to winter, when the mountain is normally buried in snow.

Not any more.

Recently, the Mount Hood National Forest gave approval for the Meadows to operate a summer recreation season. That's already done at Mount Hood's two other major ski resorts, Timberline Ski Area and Mt. Hood Skibowl, but Meadows has not been allowed to operate in summer by the Forest Service.

That changed a few years back when Congress instructed the Forest Service to allow more use of ski areas located on public lands during the offseason. The directive was to bolster summer use and promote recreation-based and financially sustainable year-round activities and tourism at ski resorts on public land.

It's taken a lot of applications and planning, but Meadows is ready to welcome the public with a couple of events this August, then will open its doors to full summer recreation next year.

Don't worry, it won't be a zoo up there, because the plan, according to resort spokesman Dave Tragethon, is to limit summer use to "chairlift rides, hiking, a BBQ on the deck, kids education and mountain camps, along with different competitive events."

And why is Mt. Hood Meadows named the way it is? Because during summer, the southeast side of Mount Hood has some of the best native wildflower meadows in the state of Oregon. You can hike to them now, but they will be much easier to see once the ski area operates for recreation in summer.

Here's what Meadows plans to do this summer:

The inaugural "Mt. Hood Meadows Uphill Challenge" is a 1.2-mile running (or walking) event, to be presented Saturday, Aug. 16. A Kids Day Camp featuring outdoor activities and education will be presented Saturday, Aug. 23.

In addition to the two events, Meadows will operate the Stadium chair for scenic chairlift rides, and offer a BBQ on the Sun Deck on those two days.

The inaugural Mt. Hood Meadows Uphill Challenge will start at the resort's main parking lot and finish at the top of the Stadium chairlift, a 621-foot elevation gain. The course will follow a gravel mountain road, so it is not a mountain obstacle course. Following the finish competitors can ride the Stadium chair down.

Course records will be kept for age categories, so records will be up for grabs this first year in male and female divisions. Prize money will be awarded for the fastest overall finishers. The race starts at 10 a.m., but registration and bib pick up opens at 8 a.m.

Advance registration is $20 for ages 15 and older, $10 for 14 years and younger, and includes the race and chairlift ride. Competitors can register online at skihood.com/uphillchallenge through Aug. 14. After that, day-of-event registration will be $5 more.

The Stadium chair will operate for scenic rides that day from 10 a.m. to noon (at $10 a ride) and the Sun Deck BBQ will be open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., offering brats, hot dogs, tofu dogs, beer and wine and other refreshments for sale.

The Kids Day Camp on Aug. 23 presents an outdoor-active and educational experience designed for ages 6 to 12. The camp will run from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and includes education on native plants and wildlife, games, art projects, a chairlift ride, interpretive trail hike and lunch.

The entire day is $25 which must be purchased online in advance at skihood.com/kidscamp.

Meadows will operate the Stadium lift from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. that day, with lunch on the Sun Deck BBQ from 12:30–3 p.m. A special lift and lunch package can be advance purchased online (by Aug. 20) for $15 at skihood.com/liftlunch. Day-of scenic chairlift rides will be $10.

For more information on Mt. Hood Meadows summer events, visit the resort website at skihood.com, or call 503.337.2222, ext. 1222.

-- Terry Richard