Only four of the area's 21 trails are on novice-friendly terrain, but beginners need not feel shortchanged. The novice
trails start at the top of the area's only chair, a triple, and allow novice skiers and snowboarders to explore most of
the mountain. Broadway, Variety, and Road Run are the easiest trails back to the lodge. In addition to being the
resort's longest trail, Broadway's slope is wide and gentle. Variety and Road Run are nearly as wide, providing easy
access back to the base area. First-time skiers and boarders usually use the poma lift, which is right out in front of
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Big White is a novice and intermediate snowrider's paradise. In addition to receiving relentless dumps of light, dry
snow, Big White is blessed with acres and acres of gentle rolling terrain. Even from the top of the mountain,
snowriders will find blue and green trails leading back to the Village, allowing nearly all abilities to explore the
entire area.
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At the base of the resort there are four chairlifts and a rope tow providing access to the area. The chairlift circuit
is in good working condition, but there aren't any high-speed quads on the mountain. Despite the chairs being a little
slow, the good news is that there usually aren't any lift lines.
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From the 7,000-foot summit, snowriders have easy access to nearly every trail on the mountain. Experts will discover
plenty of stomach-in-your-mouth steeps, chutes, and in-bounds tree-skiing. Try the area's less-frequented north side
for runs, such as Gun Barrel - a narrow cut through dense pine trees that is dangerously steep and usually full of
monstrous moguls. Additionally, Make My Day and Twenty-Two are both steep, narrow gashes that require a strong ability
and extensive on-snow experience. On the south side, beyond the Great Wall, are the double black diamond runs Sweet
December 29, 1969
Novice and intermediate snowriders love Mount Spokane. And with good reason: 70 percent of the area comprises blue and
green trails. In addition, the area recently purchased two state-of-the-art grooming machines. Trails are groomed
nightly, making beginners and intermediates even happier.
Novice riders will spend most of their time on Ego Flats
learning edge control and steering techniques. Accessible via a short lift on Chair 5, Ego Flats is a football-sized
area that is parking-lot flat - making it a perfect place to learn.
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Just to the right of the lodge is the novice ski area called Sleepy Hollow and a slow-moving chairlift to help unsteady
snowriders gain confidence. The Sleepy Hollow run consists of flat mild terrain placed out of the way of the
intermediate and advanced runs, making it the perfect spot for nervous novices to learn the basics. There are only five
other runs for inexperienced snowriders to explore at Willamette. While the runs to the skier's right of the Twilight
Lift are wide, gentle tracks through the trees, novice skiers and boarders are relegated to this area until their
December 29, 1969
A word to the wise - better bring the long boards when visiting Bachelor. The mountain is a virtual Shangri La for
snowriders who like to rip big, bold sweeping arcs. Every day a fleet of snowcats lays down 1,600 acres of velvety
smooth corduroy. Add these buffed trails to an impressive 3,000 feet of vertical and Bachelor provides top-to-bottom
screamers, huge turns, and phat phat grins. Bachelor's grooming is so good, and the terrain so varied, that even novice
and intermediate snowriders will find plenty of hero snow laid out for them like a red carpet.
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Mount Ashland encompasses 23 trails and additional unnamed runs in an area called the Bowl, where advanced and expert
snowriders flock to its menacing chutes and cliffs. From the top of Ariel, which is also the summit, simply hang a
right when unloading from the chair. The Circe and the Bowl are not far.
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Most of the trails at Ski Bowl are wide open, but the area claims to have Oregon's most difficult snowriding in its
upper bowls. This may well be true, as 37 of the 65 runs are designated black diamond runs. The Upper Bowl chair
provides access to Ski Bowl Peak (5,026 feet) and Tom Dick Peak (5,056 feet). To the west on Tom Dick, the West Wall
marks the area boundary and offers 850 feet of outstanding tree skiing down steep lines. More often than not snowriders
are able to find fresh tracks in this area all day long. On the opposite side of the area, on Ski Bowl Peak, Cannonball
December 29, 1969
Mission's advanced and intermediate terrain makes up 90 percent of the mountain. The only green skiing area is near the
lodge. Compromise and Mimi - for novice skiers and children - are to the skier's right of Chair One, on the lowest third of
the mountain. Terrain beyond that is suited to intermediates on up, though the resort keeps a close eye on the family
experience. Anyone who can link wedge turns can explore many of the blue trails. Also, as a small-town resort, Mission
is a safe, inexpensive place to turn the kids loose for an afternoon.
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