Snow brings hopes of Hoodoo opening

The sixty-seventh year of skiing at Hoodoo Mountain Resort could begin any time -- snow willing.

As of press time, welcome snow was falling fairly heavily over the Sisters area.

The ski area needs 24 inches in order to turn on the lifts and open to the public.

The base of Hoodoo is at 4,700 ft. Hoodoo Mountain Resort President Chuck Shepard said the best way to learn of the opening is to check the ski area website, http://www.hoodoo.com.

When the area does open, skiers and snow bunnies will have some new features to enjoy.

"Speed is what's new at Hoodoo this year," said Shepard. "We will have a speed gun that measures how fast you are going down one of our Autobahn tubing runs. On the mountain, a slalom course will be set up on the Show Off run. For fifty cents a clock will time your run."

This summer, bulldozers removed an annoyance just off the Manzanita ski run.

"There was a dip and skiers would sometimes slow down or stop on the way up. Snowboarders occasionally had to walk. We also added a few more rails on the side of the run for skiers that like to do that, too," reported Shepard.

Hoodoo has five chair lifts, two rope tows and a carousel for beginner skiers. Hoodoo's Autobahn Tube Park can accommodate 20 runs. There are over 15 kilometers of maintained Nordic trails. Hoodoo rents Air Boards, Snow Bikes, and Snow Scooters.

Ski instruction was fortified this year with over 60 instructors.

"It's probably the biggest ski school we've had. It's expanded the most of any of our departments," Shepard said.

There will be two festivities with fireworks this season.

"People have always called wondering if we have fireworks for New Year's Eve. This year we'll have a party and fireworks," Shepard said.

Shepard also noted that in February the 25th anniversary Hoodoo Winter Carnival will feature evening fireworks.

A ski bus will operate to and from Sisters this season. The schedule is being developed.

Shepard said employment opportunities at Hoodoo are also developing.

"We still have some jobs available," he said. "We need a few more people for night skiing and during vacation times."

When open, Hoodoo will operate every day but Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Night skiing starts mid-December, Fridays and Saturdays until 9 p.m. Hoodoo Mountain Resort is located 20 miles northwest of Sisters off Highway 20. For more information, call 541-822-3799.