Timberline Lodge ski area
Encyclopedia
Timberline Lodge ski area is the ski and snowboarding area of Timberline Lodge, a National Historic Landmark
in the U.S state of Oregon
. It is one of a few ski lodges in the United States with most of the skiable terrain below the main lodge. It is located on the south face of Mount Hood
, about 60 miles (95 km) east of Portland
, accessible via the Mount Hood Scenic Byway.
The lodge was constructed between 1936 and 1938 as a Works Progress Administration
project during the Great Depression
. That year, Timberline opened as Oregon's first destination ski resort
with a portable rope tow. The next year, the Magic Mile
chairlift opened, as well as Silcox Hut
, which sits about one thousand vertical feet (300 m) and a mile (1.6 km) above the main lodge, and was the original unloading and warming hut.
Summer skiing and summer race camps began at Timberline in 1956. Before the Palmer chairlift was constructed in 1983 (which provides access above the 7000 feet (2,133.6 m) level), the conditions at Timberline allowed skiing from the Mile November through July or August. With the Palmer, a skiable surface is available year round. Timberline is the only ski area in the states with lift accessed skiing and snowboarding all twelve months of the year. Ski and snowboard camps draw thousands of people to the slopes during the months of June, July and August.
closed it for several years during the 1940s and 1950s. The ski area has successfully operated since 1956.
The current Palmer chairlift was completed in 1996, and is built to withstand wind gusts of over 100 miles per hour (160.9 km/h) and 200 inches (508 cm) of snow. Its construction time was less than six months due to a limited building season imposed by the local weather conditions.
Thanks to the added terrain accessible from Jeff Flood, if the Palmer lift is open, it is possible to ski a non-stop run over 3.5 miles (5.6 km) in length with elevation change of about 4000 feet (1,219.2 m).
containing more detailed information:
† Rider capacity is the number of snowboarders and skiers the terrain area comfortably handles, and is not a measure of lift capacity. Page 7 of the reference details the industry standard, which ranges from 2-5 expert skiers per acre up to 25-35 beginners per acre.
Timberline is the only ski area in North America to offer year round skiing. It is scheduled for two weeks closure each September for maintenance.
Skiers, snowboarders, and sightseers ride up the Magic Mile
chairlift to the Palmer Glacier
and its lift, where most of the summer skiing takes place, particularly later in the season. In contrast to winter operations, the lifts are the busiest during the summer ski season Monday through Friday, mostly due to ski and snowboard camps. Besides organized clinics and camps, any intermediate or more advanced member of the public is welcome to ski or snowboard.
Summer ski hours are 7 am to 1:30 pm.
During summer ski season, there is no novice or beginner terrain; low-intermediate terrain is available along the Mile. After approximately mid-June, it is necessary to walk at least part of the way to reload the Magic Mile, and feasible to ski to within a few hundred feet of the parking lot until mid-August.
On warm days, most skiers leave by late morning due to soft and wet snow conditions.
Public skiing is available, but rental gear may be limited.
The Palmer lift is limited to skiers and snowboarders only (no foot passengers), with intermediate or greater skills.
Virtually every snow sport is offered in camps. Ski racing is the most popular, but snowboard and freeski camps like High Cascade (HCSC) and Windell's Camp are very popular. Mount Hood Summer Ski Camps have been a mainstay in the summer, hosting campers since the 1970s.
The summer camps are mostly organized as week long sessions, with on-snow activities in the morning and a variety of other activities in the afternoon, such as river rafting, mountain biking, hiking, trampoline, wind surfing, etc.
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in the U.S state of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. It is one of a few ski lodges in the United States with most of the skiable terrain below the main lodge. It is located on the south face of Mount Hood
Mount Hood
Mount Hood, called Wy'east by the Multnomah tribe, is a stratovolcano in the Cascade Volcanic Arc of northern Oregon. It was formed by a subduction zone and rests in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States...
, about 60 miles (95 km) east of Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, accessible via the Mount Hood Scenic Byway.
History
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
project during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. That year, Timberline opened as Oregon's first destination ski resort
Ski resort
A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing and other winter sports. In Europe a ski resort is a town or village in a ski area - a mountainous area, where there are ski trails and supporting services such as hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, equipment rental and a ski lift system...
with a portable rope tow. The next year, the Magic Mile
Magic Mile
The Magic Mile is an aerial chairlift at Timberline Lodge ski area, Mount Hood, Oregon, U.S. It was named for its unique location above the tree line and for its original length...
chairlift opened, as well as Silcox Hut
Silcox Hut
The Silcox Hut is a small rustic mid-mountain lodge located at elevation on Mount Hood, Oregon, United States. It is approximately vertical above Timberline Lodge and roughly one mile distance directly up the mountain....
, which sits about one thousand vertical feet (300 m) and a mile (1.6 km) above the main lodge, and was the original unloading and warming hut.
Summer skiing and summer race camps began at Timberline in 1956. Before the Palmer chairlift was constructed in 1983 (which provides access above the 7000 feet (2,133.6 m) level), the conditions at Timberline allowed skiing from the Mile November through July or August. With the Palmer, a skiable surface is available year round. Timberline is the only ski area in the states with lift accessed skiing and snowboarding all twelve months of the year. Ski and snowboard camps draw thousands of people to the slopes during the months of June, July and August.
Early history
The Magic Mile chairlift was the longest chairlift in the world, and the second chairlift, of those built to be a chairlift when it opened in 1939. Financial troubles operating the Lodge and World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
closed it for several years during the 1940s and 1950s. The ski area has successfully operated since 1956.
Palmer chairlift
The original Palmer chairlift opened for 1978 summer ski season. It was a fixed double chair in basically the same location as the present chair, with the base station near Silcox Hut.The current Palmer chairlift was completed in 1996, and is built to withstand wind gusts of over 100 miles per hour (160.9 km/h) and 200 inches (508 cm) of snow. Its construction time was less than six months due to a limited building season imposed by the local weather conditions.
Recent history
The Jeff Flood Express detachable high speed quad chair opened for the 2007-2008 ski season. With the new lift, Timberline added the Still Creek Basin to skiable terrain on the lower mountain which almost doubles the area below the timberline, which provides much needed capacity on days with wind or limited visibility when the Magic Mile and Palmer do not open. Jeff Flood also improves connectivity to Stormin' Normin and Magic Mile lifts from the lower mountain.Thanks to the added terrain accessible from Jeff Flood, if the Palmer lift is open, it is possible to ski a non-stop run over 3.5 miles (5.6 km) in length with elevation change of about 4000 feet (1,219.2 m).
Vertical
- 3,620' Winter
- 2,500' early Summer (April - July)
- 1,530' late Summer (July - October)
Terrain
Timberline categorizes the terrain as beginner 20%, intermediate 50%, advanced 30%. However, the Forest Service published an environmental impact statementEnvironmental impact statement
An environmental impact statement , under United States environmental law, is a document required by the National Environmental Policy Act for certain actions "significantly affecting the quality of the human environment". An EIS is a tool for decision making...
containing more detailed information:
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† Rider capacity is the number of snowboarders and skiers the terrain area comfortably handles, and is not a measure of lift capacity. Page 7 of the reference details the industry standard, which ranges from 2-5 expert skiers per acre up to 25-35 beginners per acre.
Lifts
- 7 chairlifts, including 5 high speed detachable quads, one triple and one bunny slope double
- 1 rope tow for public use
- 1 magic carpetMagic carpet (ski lift)A magic carpet is a type of surface lift installed at ski areas to transport skiers and snowboarders up the hill...
for ski school use
EWLINE
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Summer skiing
Skiers, snowboarders, and sightseers ride up the Magic Mile
Magic Mile
The Magic Mile is an aerial chairlift at Timberline Lodge ski area, Mount Hood, Oregon, U.S. It was named for its unique location above the tree line and for its original length...
chairlift to the Palmer Glacier
Palmer Glacier
The Palmer Glacier is a glacier located on the upper slopes of Mount Hood in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is on the south side of the mountain ranging in elevation from about 6,200 to 9,300 ft , and was named for Joel Palmer, an Oregon pioneer...
and its lift, where most of the summer skiing takes place, particularly later in the season. In contrast to winter operations, the lifts are the busiest during the summer ski season Monday through Friday, mostly due to ski and snowboard camps. Besides organized clinics and camps, any intermediate or more advanced member of the public is welcome to ski or snowboard.
Summer ski hours are 7 am to 1:30 pm.
During summer ski season, there is no novice or beginner terrain; low-intermediate terrain is available along the Mile. After approximately mid-June, it is necessary to walk at least part of the way to reload the Magic Mile, and feasible to ski to within a few hundred feet of the parking lot until mid-August.
On warm days, most skiers leave by late morning due to soft and wet snow conditions.
Public skiing is available, but rental gear may be limited.
The Palmer lift is limited to skiers and snowboarders only (no foot passengers), with intermediate or greater skills.
Summer camps
Timberline hosts dozens of summer camps enrolling thousands of athletes throughout the summer: a busy mid-week, mid-season day has as many as 1,500 riders.Virtually every snow sport is offered in camps. Ski racing is the most popular, but snowboard and freeski camps like High Cascade (HCSC) and Windell's Camp are very popular. Mount Hood Summer Ski Camps have been a mainstay in the summer, hosting campers since the 1970s.
The summer camps are mostly organized as week long sessions, with on-snow activities in the morning and a variety of other activities in the afternoon, such as river rafting, mountain biking, hiking, trampoline, wind surfing, etc.
Events
- The Golden Rose Ski Classic is an annual race which began in 1936. It is the oldest known organized ski race in America, and is the only USSAUnited States Ski and Snowboard AssociationThe U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association is the national governing body for Olympic skiing and snowboarding. Founded in 1905, the century-old organization provides leadership and direction for tens of thousands of young skiers and snowboarders from over 400 member clubs who share an Olympic...
-sanctioned summer race. It normally occurs early June as part of the Portland Rose FestivalPortland Rose FestivalThe Portland Rose Festival is an annual civic festival held during the month of June in Portland, Oregon. It is organized by the volunteer non-profit Portland Rose Festival Association with the purpose of promoting the Portland region...
and attracts the world's top skiers. Previous winners include ski safety bindingSki bindingA ski binding is an attachment which anchors a ski boot to the ski. There are different types of bindings for different types of skiing.-Universal designs:...
inventor Hjalmar HvamHjalmar HvamHjalmar P. Hvam was a competitive Norwegian-American Nordic skier and inventor of the first safety ski binding.-Early life:...
(1937), 1948 Olympic gold medalist Gretchen FraserGretchen FraserGretchen Kunigk Fraser was an alpine ski racer. She was the first American to win an Olympic gold medal for skiing....
(1938), John Frazer (1950), Howard Hermanson (1952), Christian PravdaChristian PravdaChristian Pravda was an alpine ski racer.He was born in Kufstein, Austria.At age 20, he participated in the 1948 Winter Olympics in the slalom, but was disqualified....
(1954), Chris Ditfurth (1956), Ron Hebron (1957, 1961, 1963 and 1965), Kiki CutterKiki CutterChristina "Kiki" Cutter was a world class alpine skier from the United States. She was the first American to win a World Cup skiing event by placing first in the World Cup slalom race in 1968 in Oslo, Norway....
(1968), Steve MahreSteve MahreSteven Mahre is a former alpine ski racer and younger twin brother of ski racer Phil Mahre....
(1974), Bill JohnsonBill Johnson (skier)William Dean "Bill" Johnson is a former alpine ski racer with the U.S. Ski Team. He was the first American male to win an Olympic gold medal in alpine skiing, winning the downhill at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. Bill has 2 sons, named Tyler and Nick...
(1979 and 1981), Mary Mathews (1982), Phil MahrePhil MahrePhilip Mahre is a former champion alpine ski racer, widely regarded as one of the greatest American skiers of all time...
(1983), Debbie ArmstrongDebbie ArmstrongDeborah Rae Armstrong is a former alpine ski racer from Seattle. She was the first gold medalist from the U.S...
(1983), Eva TwardokensEva TwardokensEva Twardokens is a former alpine ski racer. She made her debut on the World Cup circuit in December 1982, at age 17.Two seasons later she was the bronze medalist in the giant slalom at the 1985 World Championships....
(1984), David Lyons (1984), Tamara McKinneyTamara McKinneyTamara McKinney is a former alpine ski racer, a member of the U.S. Ski Team from 1978-89. She was the overall World Cup champion in 1983, the only American woman to hold that title for a quarter century, until Lindsey Vonn in 2008....
, and David Lyons (1985). - The Masters Summer Fun in the Sun is a ski race held mid-July.
External links
- Webcam at Timberline Lodge, from the KGWKGWKGW is an NBC affiliate television station serving the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area. The station broadcasts its digital signal on VHF channel 8, from its transmitter in Portland. It also produces segments and serves as the Portland bureau for Northwest Cable News , which is also owned by...
website - Video short of Palmer snowcat in winter on YouTube
- History Web Site of the Mount Hood Area www.mounthoodhistory.com