Sisters ski season underway

Sisters area skiers were set to head for the slopes and trails as Hoodoo Ski Area set its season opener Thursday, December 2.

New owner Chuck Shepard was watching the skies, hoping for more snow.

"We only have about six inches of snow at the bottom and about 12 inches at the top," Shepherd said. "I understand we are supposed to have a storm coming in the next few days."

Bob Freund of the Hoodoo ski patrol said, "Another two feet of snow is needed before opening. The storm coming in may not bring that much snow and there may only be a limited opening on Thursday."

"The weather may actually be a blessing in disguise," according to Freund. "It will allow work crews to complete the new Hodag quad chair lift sometime next month.

"The haul wire is up already and the lift chairs will be delivered shortly," Shepard said. "We hope to have it operational by mid-December. This delay will also give the Hodag Valley plenty of time to build up a base."

The Hodag lift opens up five new blue diamond and black diamond runs on the mountain.

The new runs are: Impossible Dream, Hodag's Horn, Dante's Vision, Tiny Treat and Leap of Faith.

The new quad lift is 700 vertical feet long, according to Shepard.

Construction on a new lodge is scheduled to begin in May, 2000.

Hoodoo Ski Area is the second-oldest ski area in the state of Oregon.

The first skiers took to the slopes in 1938, 62 years ago this season.