2025
Session 1, 2025 update
As per usual, in recent years, I didn't write anything down as far as good stories or memories from Summer '25. I can only go by the pictures I took on my cell phone and nice camera I use on the hill to trigger some of the stuff that happened.
On a sad note, we lost 2 MHSSC icons in 2025: Alpine coaches, Michael Foley and Mike Syrovatka, both passed away last Summer. You'll see some photos and memories on this page.
These next 3 photos are from a hike I did over at Mt Hood Meadows. There was still too much snow on their designated hiking trails, so you had to get creative to keep your feet dry.
This is Sarah Schlepper. Sarah competed in SEVEN Winter Olympic Games as an alpine racer. She represented the United States in four Games (1998, 2002, 2006, 2010) before switching to represent Mexico, where she competed in three more (2018, 2022, and 2026). Her son, Lasse Gaxiola, also competed in the 2026 Olympics.
Fuxi wasn't around for Summer 2025, but his shop was still going strong.
The guy that drives this van, travels all over the place. He has a Venmo, where he asks for $1 contributions. He told me some guy came up to him one time and handed him a $100 bill.
Mike Foley passed away on June 4, 2025. He coached at camp for about a decade, starting in 2010. You can find his obituary here.
https://obits.columbian.com/us/obituaries/columbian/name/michael-foley-obituary?id=58688194
Session 2, 2025 update
Lots of smiling faces this session.
John Rust's kids, Cooper and Bergen. 2nd generation MHSSC alpine coaches.
For you 80's crew, this is where Snow Lodge Lodge used to be.
We retired the camp sign and replaced it with a more modern feather flag. It was painted by Robert Johnson several years ago. It's now spending it's retirement in Robin's garage.
Session 3, 2025 update
That's 80's/90's staffer John Mulligan. He works for team Northstar these days.
The view from the top of "Tom, Dick, & Harry".
Late 80's staffer Ara Papazian, hiding his face. I got a better picture of him later.
Sh*t weather day
Jong Yun Kim! He brings his son to mt hood for racing camp the last couple of years.
No ski bad weather day. Counselors making a plan for the campers.
Session 4, 2025 update
Fresh snow
Ara Papazian
Mt Hood Meadows retired the blue chairlift and sold chairs to the public for $900 each
They let coaches up the chair on a low visibility day. Timberline eventually closed the lifts for the day after a long "stand-by"
Uros Pavlovcic
Bloody nose boy
Session 5, 2025 update
This young lady next to me, was sliding down the icy hill and was pretty scared and screaming. I managed to grab her and stop her significant slide. The ski patrol eventually came down and gave her a clean bill of health. The girl was a camper in Keely Kelleher's all-girls ski camp from two lanes over. *Keely taking the photo.
Canada Day
If you're not crashing, you're not trying.
Struggle Bus
Terry McLeod can do a lot of pull-ups.
Session 6, 2025 update
Barrett Stein
Sunday night orientation full parking lot.
Bill Whalley (red) and Terry McLeod joined me for an afternoon hike
Umbrella Falls
Campers getting comfortable for video analysis with their coach
We ran out of paper plates at the picnic.
Random guy hanging out above Palmer.
The crew from Party-Beach ski camp. Marcus Caston and Lyndsay Strange.
Joe Sulpizio!
On July 2, 2025, Mike Syrovatka passed away in a windsurfing accident on the Columbia River. His Celebration of Life was held @Doug’s Beach State Park in the Columbia River Gorge. Large gathering of his family and friends.
https://www.columbiagorgenews.com/obituaries/obituary-michael-syrovatka/article_bf2f7fe7-2107-456e-9a77-730f94d3b36c.html
Session 7, 2025 update
Jack Simon
Late 80's staffer, Mike Meagher! His daughter came to camp for two sessions. Hadn't heard from Mike for decades!
Jason Hey and Kevin McDevitt
Janet Lorton still making appearances on the glacier
5-second rule?
Session 8, 2025 update
This is Janie Giuliani. She passed away recently. She had been coming to Mt Hood Summer Ski Camps for at least the last 30 years. She trained with other camps too. Great lady. Super nice.
I put together some clips of Janie, mostly from Summer 2012.
Tamanawas Falls.
Session 9, 2025 update
What remains of the old lift towers of the "Texas" chairlift at Mt Hood Meadows
When you forget the shinguards, you get creative.
Session 10, 2025 update
Three random hikers
Jon O'Brien and Dave Stearns
The annual Classic Car day at Timberline Lodge
Session 11, 2025 update
See the butterfly?
So, on the very last day of camp in 2025, IT RAINED! Lifts closed. We hung out in the day lodge, had some breakfast, then we decided to take anyone who wanted to go, to Kah-nee-ta resort, about an hours' drive from Mt Hood. They had hot springs and cold plunges, plus miniture golf and lots to eat and drink. Kah-nee-ta resort had closed for a number of years, before reopening this past year.
the end.