FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q. What age campers do you accept?
A. We welcome all genders ages 9 to 20 at Youth Camp. Adult Camps are for ages 21-and-up.
Q. What’s included in the cost of camp?
A. Everything but airfare (each camper is responsible for booking their own flight into and out of the Portland Int. Airport (PDX) on the first and last day of their session between 8am and 4pm).
Transportation from the Portland Airport and back
Demo equipment (as available from partners)
24-hour SuperVision™
All trail access passes
Mountain bike coaching
Access into our private mountain bike trails, all other trails, and all features on our campus.
3 meals per day (spending money is recommended for additional drinks and snacks, $50-$75 per session)
All camp activities (including whitewater rafting, skateboarding, etc.)
Q. What makes Milepost35 an INCREDIBLE camp?
Best Weather – During the summer, Mt. Hood generally has clear blue skies with temperatures in the 80’s during the day and down to the 50’s and 60’s at night.
Best Employees – When it comes to staff, we have the cream of the crop. Our employees are better trained, better respected and better rewarded than any MTB camp staff. Every staff member passes required drug testing, criminal background checks, is CPR/first aid certified and receives over a week of intense training prior to the start of camp. Roughly 50% of our staff are college graduates, while the other half are working their way through school or chasing their dreams in mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding, skateboarding, and endless other passions. Over 80% of our staff return to work at camp each summer.
Trail Proximity – Not only do campers enjoy our private trail system on campus, but they have access to hundreds of trail miles just a short drive from campus.
Q. What is the lodging like?
Our private 28-acre campus in Sandy, Oregon is tucked away at the base of Mt. Hood (the mountain is home to a year-round snowfield for snowboarding and skiing and some of the PNW’s most renowned mountain biking in the summer months). M35 cabins are furnished and renovated, each sleeping 8-12 campers and featuring hardwood floors in common areas and their own bathroom. Each cabin on campus overlooks the courtyard, with tons of skate-able and ride-able features, slack lines, tether ball, firepits, trampolines, and so much more.
Q. What skill level do you need to be to attend Milepost35?
All skill levels are welcome. Campers are placed in small coaching groups based on their ability and are provided with plenty of individual instruction to progress at their own speed. Both the M35 campus and area trail networks offer terrain for all ability levels. In addition, no experience is needed to become a mountain biker at M35! Our Soft Start™ learn-to-ride program features terrain and coaching designed for folks fresh to the trail. Learn to ride the easy way.
Q: How does it work with so many different ability levels at each session?
Campers are placed into small coaching groups with 6-8 campers per coach. These coaching groups are based on skill levels so that each individual feels comfortable progressing with riders of similar ability. Before you come to camp you’ll fill out an ability questionnaire which will help us place you in the best possible coaching group. It is important that you fill out the ability form accurately so that you are placed in the best possible group for your ability. If you end up in the wrong group, we can move you to a new one as needed.
Q. Do campers ever stay for more than one session?
Yes, many campers stay for multiple sessions. Special supervised activities are planned for our multi session campers.
Q. What’s the weather like on Mt. Hood?
The weather on Mt. Hood is generally very nice but can be unpredictable. It’s is best to layer up as the mornings can be brisk and the afternoons warm. Late in the summer, the temperatures can be 80-90 degrees. The majority of the time it is shorts weather, but be sure to pack pants, sweatshirts, and additional layers for cool evening weather and varying conditions.
Q. Should I bring my own bike?
Yes! M35 does have a small fleet of demo bikes, but you’ll need to bring your own bike as well. All demo equipment is FREE to campers who would like to try out something new, however we do not have enough demo bikes for campers to use a demo bike all week. If you would like to skateboard, please bring a skateboard and helmet. We do not have demo skateboard equipment.
Q. What should I bring to camp?
See the list of what to bring in the Camp Guide.
Q. What airport should I fly into?
Portland International Airport. Portland, Oregon. Airport code: PDX.
Q. What if my camper is an unattended minor?
We have over 30 years of experience helping to get campers to and from their flights safely and efficiently. If your camper is a UM, our staff will meet them at their gate and wait with them until they board their flight home. Our office will reach out to you one week prior to the start of camp to verify flight information and give you the name of the staff member meeting them. Check out the Camp Guide for more details.
Q. How far is Milepost35 from the airport?
About a one-hour drive.
Q. When should I arrive for my session?
Please make plans to arrive on the first day of your session. The first and last days of each session are travel days and there is no coaching. If you are flying, please book flights to arrive Sunday, the first day of your session, at PDX between 8am and 4pm and to depart Saturday, the last day of your session, between 8am and 4pm. Flights booked outside this window will be charged a transportation fee.
Q. How are youth campers supervised?
Experienced adult counselors live in camper housing with campers. A maximum of ten campers are assigned to each counselor for campers ages15-and-older. For campers under age 15, each counselor is assigned to eight or fewer campers. All activities on trail and off are supervised at a maximum ratio of eight campers per staff member. M35 employs a full-time registered nurse who is on call 24 hours a day.
Q: What is your policy on drugs and alcohol?
We enforce a zero tolerance policy at M35 when it comes to drugs and alcohol. Any camper (or staff) caught having anything to do with drugs or alcohol at camp will be sent home. All staff is subject to pre-employment drug testing and random tests throughout summer.
Q. What happens if a camper gets hurt?
We have a nurse on-site 24 hours a day. If your child is sick or injured, our nurse will assess the illness or injury to determine if additional outside care is needed. If a camper needs to go to a hospital, they will most likely be transported to Mt.Hood Medical in Gresham, OR.
Q. What does “grom” mean?
Our 9- to 12-year-olds are referred to as “groms.” Short for “grommet,” this term was once a way to describe young surfers, but now has crossed into snowboarding, skateboarding and other action sports. Basically, it’s an endearing term for the younger participants in action sports.
Q. What is your Grom Program?
A. The Grom Program at M35 is our way of accommodating our campers, ages 9-12. Although campers mature at different ages, we’ve recognized that our youngest campers ages 9-12 need more supervision and structure than our older campers. Extra check-in points, smaller SuperVision™ ratios, and earlier curfews are just some of the ways our groms are accounted for at camp. Each session, there is a minimum of one Grom cabin.
Q. Are cell phones allowed?
Yes, campers are allowed to bring cell phones. All major cell phone providers receive service on Mt. Hood and are permitted at camp. However, cell phones are kept with counselors at bedtime. We’ve found that “lights out” works best when campers do not have their cell phones in bed with them. Texting and talking to parents during evening downtime, when campers are tired, can feed feelings of homesickness. In addition, cell phone usage is very disruptive to other campers trying to sleep.
Parents are expected to help foster a positive camp environment by enabling parental content and safety controls in their camper’s phone settings. Viewing, creating, and/or distributing content of a vulgar, violent, or sexual nature is not allowed and may be cause for expulsion from camp, with no refunds or credits given. Please help us out by contacting our office immediately if you become aware that your camper sent, received, or viewed any inappropriate digital content.
Q. What is The Staff Sale™?
Each session Milepost35 staff and visiting pros sell their new and used gear at the legendary Staff Sale™. It’s kind of like a mountain bike, skateboard, snowboard, and ski flea market. Deals of the century can be found on new and used boards, bikes, boots, bindings, shoes, helmets, goggles, grips, clothes, and other accessories. Since this is a flea market setting with staff members selling their personal items, only venmo, paypal, cashapp, etc. are accepted. Amounts of money “needed” for the camp sale ranges anywhere from $0-$500 depending on what’s on your shopping list.
Q. How much spending money is needed?
All meals and activities are included in the cost of camp, so the only extra spending money you may want would be for snacks and drinks and for any extra shopping. $50-$75 would be more than sufficient for snacks and drinks for a session. If your camper wants to participate in The Staff Sale™, that number will be more.
Q: Does M35 offer travel insurance?
At this time, we do not offer travel insurance. Although, we highly recommend using a third party insurance agency to cover any losses you may incur. World Nomads is a great agency to go through. We have the best cancellation policy in the industry, but our policy doesn’t cover any travel or medical cost.
Q. What is the deposit required to register?
All registrations require a 15% deposit at the time of registration. Payment plans are available.
Q. When are final payments due?
All payment must be received in full by June 1st! This is made easily by our payment plans! For certain situations, payment extensions can be granted when prearranged and authorized. *In the midst of Covid-19, we have extended our payment plan options.
Q. I am NOT from the United States. Do you have anyone in my timezone who speaks my language, can help me with my visa and answer questions about camp?
Yes! We have support in multiple languages including Japanese (日本人), Mandarin (普通话), Spanish (Español), French (Français), Finnish (Suomalainen), and Italian (Italiano). Please call or email the office.