Mount Hood an intermediate skier's dream

If you want to feel like you are king or queen of the mountain, head to Oregon's Mt. Hood Meadows ski resort.

That's the way my daughter and I felt on a recent day in February. We stopped midway through a run and stood under a mostly sunny sky - a rare occurrence in Oregon in winter - looking down the snow-covered slopes of Mt. Hood, across the fog-shrouded valley and took in the sweeping vista of the Cascade Range.

Miles of pine tree-covered mountains and snow-capped peaks stretched as far as the eye could see. If we weren't so focused on enjoying our first ski trip of the season, we could have spent the afternoon parked mountainside savoring a cup of hot tea and the fabulous view.

Stopping frequently to take in the views is one of the joys of skiing at Mt. Hood Meadows on a good day. And with a solid 12-foot base and six inches of fresh snow this week, those good days should last well into April.

Mt. Hood Meadows, a little over an hour's drive from Portland, is the largest and most popular of the several ski resorts around Mt. Hood. It's also an intermediate skiers dream. With 50 percent of the mountain labeled intermediate, skiers at that level have the run of the place. That leaves 35 percent of the mountain for experts and 15 percent for beginners.

Experts can hike the peak's Superbowl ridge and make their way through Clark Canyon - all double black diamond terrain. For the less adventurous, a jump off into Heather Canyon from the Cascade and Shooting Star lifts offers a smorgasbord of double black diamond choices.

Beginners have a quiet little edge of the mountain all to themselves. Tucked on the resort's west side off the Vista Express is a selection of green runs offering a fun variety for the novice skier.

Being so close to Portland, Mt. Hood Meadows can get crowded on the weekends, with the biggest crush at the Main Lodge and the Mt. Hood Express in the mountain's central ski area.

To get away from the crowds, skiers can head to the more remote Shooting Star Express on the mountain's east end. Here, my daughter and I felt like we had the place to ourselves - even on a Saturday. Many times we could look 50-plus yards in all directions and not see a single person. This portion of the mountain is quiet, peaceful and perfectly suited to immediate skiers.

There is no lodging at Mt. Hood Meadows. Several hotels in Hood River on the Columbia River about 30 miles from the ski resort offer ski and stay packages, including room, hot breakfast and lift tickets for two.

For those staying in Portland, bus service direct to Mt. Hood Meadows picks up at locations throughout the Portland Metro area. Or shuttle services are available through private companies.

Visitors can find information on lodging in Hood River and bus service from Portland on the Mt. Hood Meadows website.

MT. HOOD MEADOWS SKI RESORT

Lift tickets: $54 adults, $44 college students 18-24, $35 juniors age 7-14, $9 children age 6 and under; $99 unlimited spring season pass

Information: www.skihood.com