Oregon Public Broadcasting

The National Weather Service is predicting “widespread snowfall” in the Washington Cascades above 4000 feet Tuesday.  The forecast includes a chance of “snow showers” for the Oregon high country on Thursday and Friday.

Correspondent Tom Banse reports that skiers and resort operators are monitoring the economy along with the weather.

Let’s face it.  Skiing is not the cheapest sport.  We found lift ticket prices rose on average about four dollars from last season across the Northwest. 

Pacific Northwest Ski Areas Association director Scott Kaden says higher costs for energy, insurance, and labor are to blame.  But Kaden says falling gas prices give resort owners hope for a decent season.

Scott Kaden: “With the challenges associated with air travel, many of our guests are preferring to stay home -- take ‘staycations,’ as they’re called.”

Kaden says new baggage fees the airlines are charging provide an added incentive for skiers to stay close to home.  Those extra fees for skis and boot bags can easily add a couple hundred dollars to a family getaway to competing slopes in Colorado or Utah.

Web extras:

Pacific Northwest Ski Areas Association