Hoodoo may open if snow falls

The Hoodoo Ski Area at Santiam Pass may open this weekend -- if only six more inches of snow will fall.

A Thanksgiving weekend opening would get the season off to a good start, especially following last year's disastrous weather, including floods that for weeks cut Hoodoo off from a large number of skiers in the Willamette Valley.

There has been snow this season, but rain has followed and washed away some of the needed base. About 20 inches remains. According to forecasts, Thanksgiving Day could give the mountain the boost it needs.

"If it comes on Thursday, our opening will probably be on Saturday," said Hoodoo vice president and general manager Mike Obymako.

Last year, Hoodoo had quite a roller coaster ride, according to Obymako. There was a late opening, then rain and the mountain had to close during Christmas break. Reopening in late January with a massive snowfall, Hoodoo watched a season washed out by the February floods.

Highway 20 to Sweet Home and Corvallis, from where Hoodoo draws many of its skiers, was closed for seven weeks, Obymako said. It was one of the worse years since 1981, with total skier visits for the season down 60 percent.

It was a difficult time not only for the company but for those who work on the mountain. Hoodoo employs about 100 people, about 60 of them full time during the ski season, said Obymako. Many more work parttime, such as those who staff the ski school.

"We are hopeful that this year will be much more upbeat and allow us to move into the expansion plan," said Obymako.

The ski area has received Forest Service approval to proceed with a $9 million expansion that includes three new lifts, connection of the two day lodges, a restaurant and ski patrol facility on top of the mountain, employee housing and expanded Nordic skiing.

Hoodoo owners are in the process of accepting bids from architects on connection of the two day lodges. The Mambo chair is on tap for next year, said Obymako. The expansion was pushed back because of last year's cash flow loss.

A bright spot for the corporation is their new summer program of managing campgrounds, said Obymako. This past summer Hoodoo managed 50 campgrounds in three national forests: the Deschutes, the Willamette and the Siuslaw on the coast.

This summer management program is expected to contribute about 30 percent to Hoodoo's income, according to Obymako.

There are about 200 shareholders of Hoodoo Ski Bowl Developers Inc., incorporated in 1964 when purchased from founder Ed Thurston. Controlling interest is held by the seven- member board of directors.