Sledders enjoy empty ski area's snow.

Byline: JAIME LYN REA The Register-Guard

WILLAMETTE PASS - They frolicked through the snow, sledding down the hills with joyful abandon.

Randy Fox's and Ricci Mallory's kids had a pretty fun time, too.

Fox and Mallory, two dads from Alvadore, abandoned other projects Saturday and drove their children to the Willamette Pass Ski Area after hearing that snow was falling in the mountains. The ski area isn't open yet, but that didn't stop the two families from playing in the parking lot and on an empty hillside.

Fox and Mallory said they didn't want to miss out on the newly fallen snow, and their howls of delight bore witness to the fact that they just didn't play in the snow enough as children.

"Snow's the tops," said Fox, who grew up in the Eugene area and seldom saw the stuff. "Usually when it first snows, it's the best."

No skiers could be found on the chairlifts or slopes nearby, but Willamette Pass managers said the ski area could open as early as Wednesday if the snow continues to fall.

"We've been waiting on this snowfall for weeks now," said Dan Woodrum, the ski area's transportation manager, as he worked amid snow flurries to complete a lodge remodel that includes an expanded rental area and upstairs restaurant access.

Employees have been grooming the hills with tractor machines, but Willamette won't open until 18 inches of packed snow is recorded at its base.

At least 4 inches fell during daylight hours Saturday. That produced a measurement of 15 inches at the base - but only about 6 inches of packed snow.

The snow was also kind to other resorts: Mount Hood Meadows and Mount Bachelor opened Saturday, while Hoodoo Ski Area expects to open Friday.

As far as Fox was concerned, the light, fluffy snow that fell at Willamette produced perfect conditions for sledding and snow angels.

His three children and Mallory's son dragged plastic sleds up the bunny hill at the ski area as their fathers followed. But within minutes, it was Fox and Mallory who were riding the sleds down the hill as their children contentedly covered themselves in snow.

"Come on, push me," Mallory urged Fox. A moment later Mallory slid off the sled and rolled into the snow, followed by Fox as he attempted the same downhill run.

The children got their turns - but were also the first to complain about the cold.

"My face and my foot are frozen," 7-year-old Chelsea Fox declared as she conspired to return to a warm car.

"Let's get on the sled, and Dad can pull us down. And we'll get down faster," she suggested to her 8-year-old sister, Alysia Fox.

The plan worked for a few minutes, but they were soon trudging again through snow that stung their faces and crept into their shoes.

"It's just cold; that's the only thing bad about it," Alysia said.

Chelsea was more to the point: "I can't feel my feet now. I want to go home now."

As he helped them into the car, even their dad had to admit that he was "almost tuckered out, too."

SNOW UPDATE

Willamette Pass Ski Area: Call 345-SNOW or log on at www.willamettepass.com.

CAPTION(S):

MATT ANDERSON / The Register-Guard Jesse Fox (left) Ricci Mallory (center) and Andrew Mallory climb an unpopulated slope at the Willamette Pass Ski Area for sledding Saturday afternoon.