By: Jamal Smith Sports editor
Winter term is officially here, and to the delight of skiers and snowboarders, so is the snow. On Monday, Jan. 4, 2016, snow pounded the valley and Western Oregon University closed its doors.
Although many students might have been upset, skiers and snowboarders rejoiced. Last year, snowfall in the mountains hit record lows. Mt. Hood Ski Bowl had so little snow last year that the resort’s lifts stayed closed the entire season.
This year, however, Ski Bowl already has a base of 68” and all of the resort’s lifts are operational.
Because Ski Bowl’s elevation is significantly lower than Mt. Hood’s other two resorts, Mt. Hood Meadows and Timberline, Ski Bowl’s snow levels provide a good indication on how much the Snow Gods have blessed Oregon.
Monmouth is smack dab in the middle of four ski resorts which provides ski and snowboard enthusiasts multiple viable options for entertainment. Mt. Hood’s three resorts are north east and Mt. Bachelor is to the south.
Mt. Bachelor is a three hour drive from Monmouth, and the mountain has been blasted with powder. With a snow depth of 115” and 243” of total snowfall since Oct. 1, 2015, the mountain has already seen more snow in a few months than all of last year.
Mt. Hood’s three resorts are a little closer in distance to Monmouth than Mt. Bachelor. According to Google Maps, the drive takes a little over two and a half hours, depending on the desired resort.
Mt. Hood Meadows has a base of 79” and Timberline has a base of 89.”
Already, in just a few months, snow levels are higher on all four resorts than they were at any point last season, which has diluted skiers and snowboarder’s tears from last year.
Snow has pounded Oregon ski resorts and it is up to you to take advantage.
