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 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

Seventy-five years ago this winter, a city bus rose off the ground at Government Camp and began climbing Mt. Hood – not on pavement, but on steel cables suspended high above the forest. Packed inside were reporters, photographers, and radio announcers, all invited to witness the debut of one of the most unusual transportation experiments in Oregon history: the Mt. Hood Skiway. The January 3, 1951 preview run marked the arrival of what promoters called the longest aerial tramw

Trillium Lake has long been a popular destination in the Mt. Hood National Forest, drawing thousands of visitors each year for its calm waters and uninterrupted views of Oregon’s tallest peak. This fall, the popular 1.9-mile trail reopened in full for the first time in several years after a multi-season effort to rebuild deteriorating sections of the Trillium Lake Boardwalk. Multiple stretches of the boardwalk, originally built in the early 1990s, had reached the end of their

In November, Tommy Tarrants will enter his tenth year working for The Mountain Times . Tarrants is the person charged with delivering roughly 4,500 newspapers to bars, resorts, hotels, golf courses, and grocery stores between Government Camp and Sandy. Tarrants began his career with The Mountain Times  approximately four owners ago, by his count. He was simply doing a favor for his friend. At that point, the Times  was owned by Larry Berteau. “Larry was delivering the paper h

Over the last several years, Mt. Hood has rediscovered one of its most valuable cultural treasures: the Steiner Cabins. On October 18, the Mt. Hood Cultural Center and Museum (MHCCM) in Government Camp will host an open house and raffle in honor of these once-forgotten marvels. Get set for fun, education, and some pretty enticing prizes when the event kicks off at 1 p.m. For any readers who may have missed our coverage of the Steiner Cabins, October 18’s event is the perfect

Mark your calendar for November 1, 2025, and attend the annual Mt. Hood Cultural Center & Museum’s Heritage Night celebration. This fun event, from 6-9:30 p.m., is being held at the museum in Government Camp. It marks the beginning of winter activities on Mt. Hood and is an opportunity to socialize with old and new friends. You’ll enjoy heavy hors d’ oeuvres, libations (donated by local restaurants and businesses), and participate in winning select raffle prizes, as well as i