07:19 PM PDT on Thursday, September 16, 2004

By ABE ESTIMADA, kgw.com Staff

Early snowfall means the ski season is getting off to an early start on Mount Hood.

KGW Mt. Hood Meadows operators are expecting snow to begin falling by this weekend.

The Magic Mile and Palmer chairlifts in the Timberline Ski Area will open on Saturday, thanks to snow that has been falling on the mountain since Monday night.

Conditions on the Palmer snowfield, at the 8,500-level of Mount Hood, are “like mid-winter,” said Steve Kruse, general manager of mountain operations. The Palmer snowfield is recommended for advanced intermediate to advanced snow riders, operators said.

The Magic Mile and Palmer chairlifts will operate Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fall hours will be in effect until snow conditions allow Timberline to open more lifts.

Lift tickets are $35 for adults and $22 for juniors. Timberline operators recommended to skiers that they call 503-222-2211 for information on ski conditions.

Work on Mt. Hood Meadows

Meanwhile at Mt. Hood Meadows, construction is going forward on the newest ski lift. The lift should be operational by Nov. 1.

KGW A construction worker helps build a support for the newest ski lift on Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort.

"The engineering that goes into a lift on Mount Hood is like none other in the world,” said Dave Riley, general manager for Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort.

Concrete was being dumped into big support poles. Reinforced steel isn’t enough to hold back the power of winter.

“Where I’m standing right now, it’ll be about four times the height of my helmet here,” Riley said. “It will withstand the pressure of 30 or 40 feet of snow pushing on it this winter."

With snow forecast for the weekend, workers across the mountain were picking up the pace.

Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort is expected to open sometime in early November – about a month earlier than usual.

(KGW reporter Jack Penning contributed to this report.)