Alix T.
Yelp
I've been to Mt. Hood a bazillion times to camp, hike, sled, etc, but have only gone skiing/snowboarding twice nearly 20 years ago because my main sport took precedence year round. Partner bought me a spring pass this year to learn how to snowboard, as it is a lifelong sport for him, because during COVID we were looking for safe gym-alternative activities to do together.
The actual downhill part came fairly easily, but I swear Satan himself designed chair lifts. I went ass over teakettle at least 30x in the last month getting off the lifts. I was embarrassed & frustrated that I could get down the mountain just fine, but knew I'd look like an idiot every time I arrived at the top. EVERY. TIME.
I'm writing this review solely due to the lift operator who, after witnessing my repeated "graceful" departures, called me over & told me YOU CAN SIGNAL TO THEM THAT YOU SUCK (or that you're a beginner, same diff) & THEY WILL SLOW DOWN THE GODFORSAKEN DEVIL CHAIRS FOR YOU. I was both furious everyone let me continue to eat shit for a month straight getting off these things, & deliriously happy that I FINALLY succeeded in sticking a "landing" my first time up in since she told me this.
Bonus points because she did a celebratory jig & fist pump from her little booth when I came safely to a stop, upright on both feet.
I was literally about to quit going because no matter how fun it was to snowboard, the mortification of knowing that they'd have to stop the lift every. single. time. I tried & failed to get off successfully was becoming traumatizing, to be honest. She is the sole reason my pass/new gear will not be a waste of money. And the reason my partner can continue to teach me something he loves.
You deserve a raise, Lift Lady.
P.S.- All y'all giving one star reviews/complaining about "not knowing" about buying passes or reserving equipment ONLINE, AHEAD OF TIME, need to either go get your eyes checked or sign up for remedial reading courses. SMDH. It's literally PLASTERED all over their website on every link/page. And if you weren't clever enough to think you should prooobablyyyyy check out the website of a resort for updated rules/policies during a GLOBAL PANDEMIC, then you deserve to drive 2-4 hours just to sit in your car & stew in the consequences of your own inaction, you twits.
Stop giving one-star reviews on businesses that rely on tourist culture to survive, esp during such an abysmal period, when you should be thanking your lucky stars they are even open, let alone taking precautions to provide us all with a SAFE environment to work off some of the past year's cabin fever. Y'all should be ashamed of yourselves, you spoiled, entitled prats.