Snowboarders / Skiers - Mt. Hood Fusion Pass (Portland: how much, buy)

[LeftCoastee]

I'd like to get a full season pass to snowboard Timberline this year. They are running $499 right now.

The Fusion Pass is $449 and gives me full season access to Timberline plus access to Ski Bowl.

So...in my skeptical mind, there has to be a catch. I can find no differences with respect to access to Timberline. No mention of blackout dates / times.

If there is no difference, why in the world would anyone buy Timberline's pass when you can get the same access plus access to another resort for $50 less? What am I missing?

[Deezus]

Originally Posted by LeftCoastee

I'd like to get a full season pass to snowboard Timberline this year. They are running $499 right now.

The Fusion Pass is $449 and gives me full season access to Timberline plus access to Ski Bowl.

So...in my skeptical mind, there has to be a catch. I can find no differences with respect to access to Timberline. No mention of blackout dates / times.

If there is no difference, why in the world would anyone buy Timberline's pass when you can get the same access plus access to another resort for $50 less? What am I missing?

Yeah, I have no idea why they even still offer a individual pass to Timberline...maybe there are some added bonuses for that pass. But the Fusion Pass is good for night skiing at Ski Bowl and plus you can use it until May for Timberline. And there aren't any blackout dates. It's a pretty good deal as I will usually ride Timberline early in the season when the snow sucks at Ski Bowl--and then go for the big powder days at Ski Bowl later on in the year.

On rare occasions--epic powder days on weekdays-- I'll buy a ticket to Meadows although a few seasons I've bought their discounted sping pass---I believe it's good from March 1st to the end of the season--which usually runs about $150 or so. Last year we had a great spring, so it was well worth it.

[LeftCoastee]

Originally Posted by Deezus

Yeah, I have no idea why they even still offer a individual pass to Timberline...maybe there are some added bonuses for that pass. But the Fusion Pass is good for night skiing at Ski Bowl and plus you can use it until May for Timberline. And there aren't any blackout dates. It's a pretty good deal as I will usually ride Timberline early in the season when the snow sucks at Ski Bowl--and then go for the big powder days at Ski Bowl later on in the year.

On rare occasions--epic powder days on weekdays-- I'll buy a ticket to Meadows although a few seasons I've bought their discounted sping pass---I believe it's good from March 1st to the end of the season--which usually runs about $150 or so. Last year we had a great spring, so it was well worth it.

Thanks for confirming. I just assumed I was missing something.

Last year I started boarding late in the season so we bought the spring pass to Timberline. It was a steal with how much we used it.

I'm not big on the super crowded weekends so I'm hoping the night skiing at Ski Bowl will allow me to board during prime season without feeling like I'm on the mountain equivalent of an LA freeway.

[enigmadsm]

so which place in the Portland area or in oregon/washington is best to board at? I have been boarding all over tahoe the past couple winters, and the large terrain and snow is always amazing

[Deezus]

Originally Posted by enigmadsm

so which place in the Portland area or in oregon/washington is best to board at? I have been boarding all over tahoe the past couple winters, and the large terrain and snow is always amazing

For Portland, Mt. Hood has 3 ski areas that are about an hour away. Mt. Hood Ski Bowl is the smallest area, but has some of the best terrain on it's upper bowls--though it's also the lowest elevation so it gets rain or wet snow sometimes when it's snowing higher up. Timberline is high up on Hood, but the terrain isn't as steep, but it has the advantage of almost year round skiing, and some of the best terrain parks. Mt. Hood Meadows is the biggest ski area and the closest to a big Tahoe or Colorado resort. While it has some great terrain in Heather Canyon and some cool areas to hike to, it's more expensive and crowded---on a powder day it can be worth it to get there very early in the morning.

The best skiing and boarding in Oregon is probably Mt. Bachelor---it's a fun mountain. But in my opinion the best spot in the Pacific Northwest is way up near the Canadian border at Mt. Baker, WA. Absolutely amazing ski area for hardcore skiers and boarders--and it remains pretty untouristy. There are some other good ski areas in Washington as well, but nothing can compare to Whistler-Blackcomb on a good day---which is way bigger than anything in Oregon and Washington--and has pretty amazing terrain on the upper mountains that almost compare to the Swiss Alps.

[enigmadsm]

Thanks for the feedback Deezus!!! i'll be checking out Bachelor and Hood in the coming months...possibly some places out by seattle as well