I have a love/hate relationship with Meadows, as I...

I have a love/hate relationship with Meadows, as I'm sure many people do. The skiing can be really good, but it just gets so crowded on the weekends now, that it can be painful to fork over $75 for a day pass. The drive from Portland has gotten worse and worse, and if you don't arrive early enough, you may get shut out of the parking lots. I generally go via Hood River, or take the Meadows bus these days. Once you get there, you will find that the lodge is too small, overcrowded, dated, and, paradoxically, also labrythnine.

I've had a season pass in years past and I've gotten the spring pass, both of which make skiing here a pretty good deal. The terrain is pretty good, especially if Heather canyon and the private reserve are open (although private reserve is the first place to get slushy). A lot depends on snow conditions, like any ski resort, and Hood can be a real mixed bag. I've had some of the best pow days off my life here (I'm looking at you 2017) and some of the worst ice grinding, death cookie sketchiness of my life as well.

That said, I'll still see you up there.