A well-packed and layered 11-inch base of snow on Cooper Spur Ski Area allowed for the resort to open its lift and rope tow on Dec. 26.

Three different storms are aligned to deliver an early season punch — with one to two feet of snow possible Wednesday into Saturday at Mt. Hood Meadows.

Because of high water, vessels are coming closer to the bridge span, so expect to see more Hood River Interstate Bridge lifts in the coming weeks, as many as four or five (a typical annual total is 12).

Mt. Hood Meadows, the largest ski resort on Mount Hood, celebrated its half-century milestone Jan. 25 with a gala at Pure Space in Portland, attended by about 400 people.