Want to be a snowboard bum this winter!!

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Lewis on October 18, 2009 at 7:47pm

Have you checked out Mt. Hood? Timberline, Mt. Hood Meadows, and one other whose name I can't recall--it seemed that half the mountain was actually occupied by, and set aside for, snowboarders. I think a lot of that may have to do with the fact that Cascade skiing isn't the greatest in the U.S., at least not on the west side of the Cascades: too much moisture, and too warm, means that the snow melts and refreezes, melts and refreezes, and turns into concrete. But it's fine for boarders, and there's lot of cool halfpipes and ramps and jumps, etc.
I don't know about the vegetarian option, but this is Oregon---we play with cows, we don't eat them. Chances, are, you can get your needs met.
BTW, Kirkwood is quite isolated, and on-site housing options are very limited.

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Permalink Reply by Laur on October 19, 2009 at 6:43pm

Thanks for the info, Kevin.

I decided not to apply at Kirkwood after all and am now setting my sights on Copper Mountain. Any experience working there? And as far as Timberline, I've boarded there before! Haha, in July actually... and it was great, snow was still somewhat plentiful on CANADA Day (also my birthday) :). But I've been on their website and they state they have no onsite housing available. I've never worked there, so I suppose if I wanted to, I just need an "in" (a contact with someone) who can help me find housing in government camp I suppose.

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Permalink Reply by jon youngblood on October 23, 2009 at 2:48pm

what about stevens. i know its not huge, but its close to seattle and very snowboard friendly. most of my friends that live in seattle have passes for stevens.
good luck with housing at govie. most employee at hood live in hood river, welches, zig zag or sandy/ greshem. i lived on powell in greshem when i worked at meadows

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Permalink Reply by Laur on October 23, 2009 at 3:49pm

Hey there,

I've already inquired about working up at Stevens, but they again-offer no onsite housing, from where I live, that'd be about a 2-2 1/2 hour commute every single day. :-/

What's meadows?

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Lewis on October 23, 2009 at 4:46pm

Mt Hood Meadows is on the eastern side of the mountain. Because of that location, it's closer to Hood River, down Hwy 35, than it is to Sandy, Gresham, etc. Hood River is a decent-sized town that will have lots of housing options, since it kind of empties out in the winter. MHM runs an employee shuttle to and from there.

If I were working elsewhere on the mountain, I'd try to rent something in Welches or Rhododendron, which have a lot of summer cabins, etc. that stay empty in the winter. As mentioned above, Govt. Camp isn't as good an option, because a lot of the housing up there is fancy-ass overpriced ski condos that are generally occupied for the winter season.

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Permalink Reply by Laur on October 23, 2009 at 4:59pm

I've been to Hood River before (this past summer) basically fell in love with the place, nice small town, but close enough to Portland. Welches or Rhododendron have open cabins for winter use? How would housing work, would I perhaps get a room share? Not sure I'd want to live in a cabin all alone all winter long. 0.o And... just to clarify, MHM is another ski resort on the other side of Mt. Hood?

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Lewis on October 23, 2009 at 7:11pm

MHM is on the east side of Mt. Hood.

Most of the housing in Welches and Rhody is small second homes, although there are a couple of apartment complexes, as well as condos for rent. I might have misled you when I mentioned "cabins", as more of the actual "cabins" are on leased Forest Service land and cannot be rented out. What you might find is a small house for rent in Welches, Rhododendron, or Brightwood, all of which together form a little un-town called "Hoodland". There are basic services there, a grade school, several good restaurants, and major services are 10 miles away in Sandy. I think you would have a very easy time finding rental housing in either Hoodland or Hood River. And of course, you might find someone else working on the mountain who would like to share a house or a condo.

As far as access to Portland, Hoodland and Hood River are about even money--Hoodland is closer, but Hood River is on I-84.

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