Skibowl also offers a lot of interesting surprises for the skier who reads the trail map carefully and goes in search of hidden little corners. Last year, 2013, during one of the "Show Me Something New" days organized by the Mountain High Snowsport Club, we were able to find more new surprises there than at any of the other local ski areas. Skibowl has a lot of hidden gems, offering them only to the determined seeker.
How many times have I raced on the Dog Leg trail!!! And yet, how few times did I venture into the trees above the starting gate!!! The Powder Keg glades. It's all well marked, both on the trail map and on the slopes, but few people seem to discover these delights.
Too many people simply point their skis down the hill at the earliest opportunity and thus miss out on the hidden corners that require a bit of planning to reach them. The Outback area is full of such hidden gems, but even within the boundaries of what is normally perceived as the easier side of the mountain, there are hidden gems, such as Upper Surprise and Stumpgarden (for advanced skiers), or Fire Hydrant, Wildfire and the Roundhouse for the more moderate crowd.
And then there is the "Daddy Killer" trail, which isn't even shown on the map, but many a curious kid has discovered it. As for me, I never even knew this trail existed until my friend Sally told me about it. How about that? A trail than kids can enjoy but that will "kill" their daddies!!! If you are curious, go search for it off of the Roundhouse trail. It's a shortcut between the Roundhouse and Broadway trails. But chances are you will ski right past it without even noticing it.
When at Skibowl, stop for a warmup and a refreshment at the historic Warming Hut mid-mountain, and let yourself thaw near the fireplace.
Mt. Hood Skibowl also happens to be the largest night-ski area in the United States. It is open for skiing till 10 or 11 pm.
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