I've skied and boarded a number of places--all over the ice coast and a fair few places in the PNW, around Colorado, in Australia and New Zealand, and at some very nice mountains in Austria--and I've never been anywhere that's better value for money. Certainly, there are longer runs and more beautiful vistas out there, warm gondolas and cozy lodges. Of course there are--this just isn't one of the big mountains. But, for a small mountain, Willamette Pass is flat-out incredible. Some good steeps and great powder stashes that don't get played out too quickly, long enough runs to be ready for a hot chocolate after three or four, pretty stunning views of Diamond Peak (even from the beginner side of the mountain!) and the Sisters, lots of quality snow (as long as it comes down cold--the Cascades just aren't as high as the Rockies or Alps), and reasonably quick lifts sheltered among the trees. But best of all? You can head out on a bluebird day after a big dump--an hour and a half or so from Eugene--find the parking lot full and the overflow lot half full, and still not ever actually wait in line at the lift. Willamette Pass is so good I almost don't want to tell you about it. (Oh, and did I mention that a season pass is an unbeatable $350 for full-time students [even grad students]?)

Downsides? The lodge basically sucks--very minimal in terms of amenities, and often a bit chilly. There's no ski village, etc. Basically, the downsides are all the things you might be looking for from a major resort. Willamette Pass doesn't have 'em. On the other hand, it's close enough to Eugene or Bend to make a day-trip painless, and the rides feel, on the whole, way more like a big mountain than a small one.