World Traveller 73 
Exploring Palmer Snowfield: Summer Skiing on Mount Hood, Oregon
For the first time in thirty years, I was able to get back to Mount Hood, Oregon for a summer skiing experience. The Timberline Resort operates summer skiing throughout most of the summer months between June – August. While I had first visited this operation about thirty years ago, thanks to life’s major activities of getting married, having children, getting set up in houses and other commitments, I hadn’t had the opportunity to return until this trip.
This post is one chapter on a weekend trip from Canada to Portland, Oregon, United States of America. This trip was enhanced through Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status, and Hertz Gold Plus Rewards. For parts of the trip, please see this index.
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✈️ Read more from this trip:
- Trip Introduction: Thirty One Years Later, Returning to Timberline Resort – Mount Hood for Summer Skiing, Oregon, United States of America
- Argyle Winery: Tasting Oregon Pinot Noir Wines
- The Nines – A Luxury Collection Resort, Portland, Oregon, USA
- Exploring Palmer Snowfield, Summer Skiing on Mount Hood, Oregon, USA
- Résonance Winery: Louis Jadot’s Pinot Noir Cellar Door
Exploring Palmer Snowfield: Summer Skiing on Palmer Glacier, Mount Hood, Oregon, USA
The main reason for my trip to the state of Oregon was to return to visit the summer skiing at Mount Hood. The Timberline Ski Resort features summer skiing on Palmer snowfield. I had previously visited Timberline Ski Resort for summer skiing in 1993.
About Palmer Snowfield at Timberline Ski Resort:
The Timberline Ski Resort forms one of the ski areas surrounding the Mount Hood area in Oregon. While I’ve never had the opportunity to ski Timberline Ski Resort during the winter months, I’ve only visited for summer skiing.
The Palmer Snowfield is located right at the top of the Timberline Ski Resort. It was previously known as Palmer Glacier. However, it’s south facing slope and the impacts of global warming have resulted in the name downgrade to Palmer Snowfield.
Arriving to Timberline Ski Resort:
I departed The Nines – A Luxury Collection Hotel Portland and self drove up to the Timberline Ski Resort. The easy drive took about one hour up highway 28, eventually leading up to the summer time base of operations located near Timberline Lodge.
It was a scenic drive up with great views of Mount Hood visible from most portions of the drive. Mount Hood is super impressive no matter how you look at it.
Timberline Ski Resort offers summer parking shortly down the road from the Wy – East building. There is also closer parking for the guests and residents of the Timberline Hotel. While the regular parking was pretty full when I arrived, there were a number of tourists visiting leading to parking space turnover. I was able to find parking after a few minutes.
Getting up to Palmer Snowfield:
After parking the car, I got dressed up in summer ski gear in the parking lot. With warm temperatures, this meant ski pants along with a long sleeve shirt and long sleeve hoodie without a thick winter coat.
It was a short walk to the Wy – East building. During the winter season, the Wy – East building is the “on mountain” higher elevation restaurant facility. In the summer, the building becomes the base of operations accessible by road access for the Timberline Lodge hotel.
Inside the lower level, I visited guest services for a lift ticket. The lift tickets were $105 USD for a day worth of skiing. There isn’t any legitimate way to get a discount for summer skiing; even purchasing a summer seasons’ pass is well north of $900 USD+.
Lift ticket in hand, I walked with my ski equipment past the Timberline Lodge Hotel. The Timberline Lodge hotel is most famous for being seen and serving in the opening credits of Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining”, representing the hotel that Jack Torrance stayed as a winter caretaker during the winter months.
Passing the Timberline Lodge, it was a short walk towards the Magic Mile Chairlift. The Magic Mile Chairlift was the first of two chairlifts spinning during the summer months. It is also open to tourist passenger traffic, in addition to summer skiers.
Riding Magic Mile Sky Ride Chair Lift:
The first lift known as Magic Mile Chair Lift, offered ascending views over mountain desert terrain. It’s pretty bizarre riding in the summer without the sight of snow underneath you.
The Palmer Chair Lift offered views up to the Palmer snowfield. There was also the ability to pick out
One of my favorite features of Mt Hood are the horizon views that stretch for miles. With an elevation of 11,249 feet (3,429 m), there is the ability to gaze for miles.
Riding the Palmer Chair Lift:
The Palmer Chair Lift is the next chairlift in order to access summer skiing. The Palmer Chair Lift is only open to summer skiers, unlike the Magic Mile that handled alpine sightseers. Unlike the Magic Mile Chair Lift, this one required a few steps to climb up to access the loading zone.
The Magic Mile Chairlift also offered a mid point uploading feature. This required alternate loading of chairs for most of the morning until the supply lifted.
Summer Skiing on Palmer Snowfield:
Getting off the Palmer chairlift at the top, there were a number of choices for ski slopes.
On the skiers right hand side of the chairlift, there were a few partially maintained slopes for public access.
The left hand side of the chairlift offered ski camp slopes that were closed. Fortunately, the ski camps start early, and these lanes gradually opened up at around noon.
The views from the top of Mount Hood were pretty spectacular. With a clear bluebird day, there were terrific southernly facing views looking towards Mount Jefferson in the south.
In terms of snow quality, the snow conditions were surprisingly good for the month of July. The soft corn snow had a firm enough base to it to allow for some responsiveness from the skis, without the snow feeling too sloppy and mushy.
The Timberline Ski Area offers a tracked ski out back to the parking lot. While I only used it at the end of the day, it made for a convenient way to get back to your wheels.
Après Ski at Timberline Lodge:
There isn’t much in the way of restaurants or Apres Ski bars at the Timberline Resort, expect for at the historic Timberline Lodge. Most of the Après is of self catering style from the back of your pickup truck in the Timberline Resort parking lot.
Since I didn’t have a cold six pack with me, or a group of friends to hang out with, I ended up going into the Timberline Lodge. The Timberline Lodge is a historic looking lodge that has been lovingly maintained over the years.
I ended up locating a bar on the upper floor selling drinks to go. With a local Apple Cider in hand, I set myself up on the back patio with a great view of the summer ski field.
After the day’s skiing, I returned back to the The Nines – A Luxury Collection Hotel Portland for the balance of my two night stay.
My Thoughts on Skiing Timberline Resort Palmer Glacier:
The Timberline Resort Palmer Glacier snowfield is a pretty convenient and unique summer ski experience.
There aren’t many places in North America that offer summer skiing that’s easy to reach, doesn’t involve a huge hike, and offers terrific weather. In addition to that, the quality of the snow is generally pretty good along with a solid pitch for advanced intermediate skiers.
It was great to return to this resort after thirty years to re-experience an Oregon summer ski.
World Traveller 73 
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