The beautiful American resort where you can ski in JULY – and it’s not in Alaska!
Oregon’s Mt. Hood is hailed by outdoor enthusiasts as the only place in America where you can still hit the slopes in the summer.
The mountain attracts large numbers of winter sports enthusiasts from all over the country every year and is known for its year-round ski lifts.
Composer Kurt Rosenberg recently shared a trip he took to the iconic Timberline Lodgein which he described the mountain as ‘bathed in warm, radiant sunlight as skiers and snowboarders raced down the steep slopes!’
And while the slopes at other popular resorts like Vale and Aspen remain empty, KPTV reporter Bonnie Silkman said this week that during her visit she found “a few hundred people enjoying life here.”
KPTV reporter Bonnie Silkman (pictured) shared a photo from a trip to Mt. Hood this week, showing plenty of snow and skiers, despite visiting in July
Known as the only year-round open ski slope in North America, Mt. Hood attracts hordes of outdoor enthusiasts when other resorts are forced to close in the summer
For skiers who want to enjoy both sun and snow, Mt. Hood’s popular Palmer Snowfield trails take thrill seekers down the mountain from over 8,000 feet in elevation.
Every two years, the mountain area becomes a breeding ground for America’s most talented skiers and snowboarders, as it is the ideal place to train in the summer and prepare for the Winter Olympics.
Described by ski outlet Powder.com As the “center of the summer ski universe,” the reasons Mt. Hood draws so many people go far beyond just the fact that it’s open in July.
Summer passes retail for $1,400 and as the outlet described, the mountain’s summer amenities are geared up to provide a ski day that can’t be matched in December.
“You start by waking up in the forest, grabbing your ski gear and going for a few hours of wonderful skiing in the sun,” it said.
“On the way back to camp, stop by Trillium Lake and end the festivities with a campfire.”
Mt. Hood is sometimes described as the “center of the summer ski universe,” and is known for amenities that rival deep-winter skiing.
Silkman shared this image of Mt. Hood during a visit this week, showing that the July temperatures aren’t deterring skiers, as she saw “a couple hundred people up here enjoying life.”
Although Rosenberg shared a photo of the mountain showing a thin layer of snow and rocks, summer skiing is far from icy.
Temperatures have soared to over 27 degrees Celsius every day this week. Although meteorologists have issued heat warnings several times this summer, that hasn’t deterred enthusiastic skiers.
As noted by skier Casey Kahler on X“There’s nothing like a great day of skiing in mid-June at Palmer Snowfield,” he adds, “Mountain therapy on Mount Hood is some of the best therapy there is — great for the body, mind and soul.”
Critic John Nelson wrote for The spokesman that during a visit in the summer of 2017 the snowfall seemed to ‘go on for miles’, as the snow caps at high altitudes are often covered in snow.
Nancy George, a Boston skier who went with Nelson, told him at the time, “Just wait until you see the top… you won’t believe how much snow there is.”
While the snow-capped peaks of Mt. Hood are best known for skiing and snowboarding, the area also has another niche: horror film tourism.
Skier Casey Kahler recently shared on X that the slopes at Mt. Hood in the summer provide “the best therapy — great for the body, mind, and soul.”
In April, the resort’s famous Timberline Lodge, the set of the iconic 1980s horror film The Shining, made headlines when it caught fire
Fans of The Shining flock to the Timberline Lodge, which is also home to the fictional Overlook Hotel.
The film was used as a shooting location for Stanley Kubrick’s classic film, but the film deviated from the book. The horror room 217 was renamed room 237. The hotel owners thought that guests might want to stay away from there.
The hotel also made headlines in April of this year when a fire broke out on the iconic set, but tourists can still stay in room 237, as the fire was contained to the attic.