HooDoo (Santiam Pass) is the only ski area in Oregon open today. Willammette Pass (Rt. 58) is normally closed on Mondays but should open later this week..

NY ski resorts closed yesterday. So much wealth and poverty living there side by side. The service industry workers are screwed.

HooDoo announced this morning that they are closed for the season even though they have plenty of snow. Word from any of the rest whether or when they will reopen.

Ski in France closed weeks ago. My Swiss mate can see snow on his lodge in France ( sounds grander than it is) but can't cross the border. Tough eh?

Mammoth Mtn. in the California Sierra has 7+ feet of snow at the summit with 2 feet of new snow in the last 3 days. Not tough... torture!

Jean--Our son and his gf do a lot of touring. Is that something you can take up? I am not that good so stick to regular skiing, with lifts They love doing all the backcountry stuff though so have still been out even with the resorts closed.

mms, I suppose that's an option if you already have the equipment. (Rental centers are closed.) Cross-country skiing isn't my "thing," but hiking/snowshoeing is right up my alley.

Jean—by touring I meant put skins on skis and climb up and then ski down. I do cross country ski, but like you much prefer to hike or snowshoe.

AFAIK, the resorts here are closed to that activity within their boundaries, and I personally wouldn't venture into an area that was unpatrolled. Hiking and snowshoeing in wilderness areas are not without risk, but downhill skiing away from services and help is a different level of danger. Even the most expert of skiers can get into trouble. Even locals can misread weather signs.

Jean—our son and gf are as cautious as you can be, but yes it can be a dangerous sport. They keep avalanche packs on etc. they are also mountain climbers and our son leads many of those climbs. I am not comfortable doing the technical climbs, but they (and my husband) have had formal training so I feel better about that.

<Jean—our son and gf are as cautious as you can be, but yes it can be a dangerous sport. They keep avalanche packs on etc. they are also mountain climbers and our son leads many of those climbs. I am not comfortable doing the technical climbs, but they (and my husband) have had formal training so I feel better about that.<

So in today's Times there is an article about a backcountry boarder who triggered an avalanche. He was rescued by 30 emergency types and is in an ICU bed for a prolonged period. So what's wrong with this picture. He has caused these emergency workers to have to work in close proximity AND he is taking an ICU bed that may be needed in the future for a coronavirus patient--in an area that probably has a very limited number of that type of bed. Selfixh. Just do what the rest of us are doing. Stay home and help us get back to the new normal we will have.

Gretchen--If it makes you feel better, my son and his gf are not out there doing that now even though they have extensive avalanche training. They realized what could happen and have stayed home, even during the times that this was allowed. You could make the asme argument for driving a car. You could be in a car accident and need medical care, etc. We just have to take things day by day and be as cautious as we can, in every respect. But I certainly trust them in the backcountry way more than I trust most drivers, FWIW.

I don't doubt that your kids are responsible. And as you say, accidents happen--that'w what they are--comething we con't expect to happen. the unintended consequences of what we do in this particular time are different and there is a need to look out for others--like staying away from our grandkids, kids, other residents of our retirement community.. Yes, I could have an accident but it would be on the way to an allowed appointment or need.

Social distancing is a bit like vaccinations--if you do it you protect even more people than just yourself.