Not all Super Heroes Fly, Some Drive SnowCats

By Amber Ford, The Mountain Times

While the world of Marvel would have us believe that all super heroes wear capes, possess superpowers, and can travel throughout the space/time continuum, Mt. Hood Villages residents and winter sports enthusiasts exploring the slopes of Mt. Hood may think differently. Our resident superheroes may not be able to move buildings, but they tirelessly move snow and make their own Mt. Hood magic.

Although winter proved to be nonexistent, those heading up the hill in an attempt to enjoy the slopes between Timberline Lodge and Mt. Hood Meadows can thank local snowcat drivers, who were dedicated and relentless in their efforts to give the people what they wanted. Mt. Hood Villages resident and local snowcat driver Kris Klug has been working on the mountain for the last 18 years, and although this isn’t the worst winter he’s seen, it did prove to be challenging. “This was my first super rough winter at Timberline, so saving summer is a big priority,” Klug said. “We’d strip snow and farm as much as possible. Every last flake helps,” Klug added.

Snowcat drivers from Timberline to Mt. Hood Meadows seemed to make winter magic to keep the resorts open as long as possible. Mt. Hood Meadows snowcat driver and longtime Mt. Hood Villages resident Matthew Durand shares Klug’s sentiments on the frustration and challenges winter offered. “The temperatures would never let us win,” Durand said. “We have many ways of moving snow to where it’s needed,” Durand added. 

For many working in the industry, the profession is much more than moving snow from point A to point B. It consists of long hours, constant weather monitoring, run planning and, at times, a creative genius of a snowcat mind to make winter happen, no matter the forecast. As a graveyard cat driver, Klug’s routine has polar opposite work days compared to many. “I wake up when my kiddo gets home from school. We hangout and make dinner because I want to see my family before I go to work,” Klug said. “When I get up there I talk to the other operators and come up with a plan for the night. We head out to do chores, dig out lift terminals, get diesel for the taco hut, and then groom the slopes that create that fresh canvas our customers want. Once that’s all done we go up above the tree line and dig out Palmer. We make farm lanes, dig canyons, and make summer snow roads for summer prep,” Klug added.

As the mild winter came and went, so did the tourism, and winter sports enthusiasts enjoyed every minute afforded them by our local snowcat driving heroes. And although many do not realize the amount of energy, dedication, and absolute loyalty to the mountain that goes into preparing her, many locals not only admire their work, but are inspired. “It’s pretty crazy how they were able to pull it off,” Mt. Hood Villages resident and local snowboarder Tristan Burnham said. “The fact that they were able to make winter happen with what little snow we had was kind of a miracle. Those guys are my heroes,” Burnham added.

Although shy of the praise, local snowcat drivers do deserve all of it and then some. “We take pride in our jobs and love hearing praise from the public,” Klug said. “It also feels pretty cool to know that snowcats are the first line of offense to making a ski area open. We’re out there in wildly low snow trying to put it together so everyone else can work,” Klug added.