The Gorge Magazine - Summer 2021

OUTSIDE

Summer is on at Mt. Hood Meadows Off-season operations include an expanded trail network and outdoor movies story and photos by BEN MITCHELL

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hen most people think of Mt. Hood Meadows Resort, they think of winter — whether it’s carving beginner and intermediate groomers with killer views on a bluebird day, or venturing into the heart-pounding, double-black diamond terrain of Heather Canyon during an epic powder dump. And while winter has been the prime focus of the Mt. Hood resort’s business for the bulk of its 53 years, that focus has since expanded. After a hiatus in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the resort is resuming summer operations in 2021, which include a wide range of activities like hiking, geocaching, culinary festivals and other weekend events, scenic chairlift rides (which also provide a shortcut to the resort’s recently expanded network of hiking trails), games, and nighttime movies on the deck. The resort will also have food and beverage service to help refresh hungry and thirsty hikers, and a gift shop for logo wear and more. Meadows’ summer season kicks off June 25 and runs through Labor Day, with the resort open Thursday through Monday. While the kids camps and some of the larger events, such as the popular Adventure Van Expo, won’t be happening this summer, most of the resort’s usual warm-weather offerings will be available, according to Dave Tragethon, Meadows’s vice president of sales, marketing, and communications. He added that the resort is looking forward to welcoming visitors following a successful 54

SUMMER 2021 II THE GORGE MAGAZINE