As we head into the new year, we want to acknowledge the challenging end to December for our community. Welches Schools were closed 12/17–12/19 due to windstorms, heavy rain, and widespread power outages. We hope everyone has had time to recover and that, despite the disruption, you were still able to enjoy a restful and lovely holiday break with family and friends. Our community truly shows up for one another, especially during tough moments. Before the storms rolled in, Dec

Before I climb into this month’s topic, an update to last month’s column on park/parking passes. A faithful reader reminded me that you can get a free day-use pass to any of the several Clackamas County Parks, including Barlow Wayside, through our local public library system. To reserve, you’ll need a library card and access to the library web site, www.ci.sandy.or.us/library (click on Cultural Pass Express). Note that your pass must be printed out and displayed on your vehi

In late December 1964, as the Mountain was preparing for Christmas, the weather in the upper Sandy River valley began to shift quickly. A warm Chinook wind swept into the region, accompanied by days of heavy rain, melting a deep early-winter snowpack, while frozen ground prevented the water from soaking in. Creeks rose first, then the rivers. By the time people realized how serious it was, the water was already moving fast and carrying things with it — logs, boulders, and ent

As The Mt. Hood Villages begin a new year with potential winter weather finally on the horizon, 2025 decided to go out with a bang full of high winds, heavy rains, flooding, and landslides all within the borders of the community. With two significant weather patterns, back to back, the Mt. Hood National Forest and Mt. Hood Villages became significantly damaged with both systems that fell across the area. The first wave of storms hit the second week of December, bringing warme

As children awaited the arrival of Santa Claus, Mount Hood ski resorts and hydrologists alike were hoping and waiting for the arrival of the next big winter storm.  As of Dec. 15, Timberline Lodge, Meadows, and SkiBowl were all still waiting for enough snow to open, and USDA supervisory hydrologist Matt Warbritton and his team were likewise looking for some lower temperatures and wintery precipitation to hit the Hood, Sandy, and Lower Deschutes region (and other parts of the