By Amber Ford, The Mountain Times Life in The Mt. Hood Villages is different for every family residing within the vast wilderness that is the national forest. From work, school, sports, dance lessons, and fitting in family time, dads raising kids in The Mt. Hood Villages share one common bond: showing unconditional love, protection, and teaching their kiddos what it means to be a true mountain resident. Although there are more dedicated fathers on this mountain than there are

By Laura Peterson for The Mountain Times Spring has fully sprung at Hoodland Senior Center (HSC), and we're looking fresh as a daisy! The good folks of the Trillium Trails Garden Club arrived here and proceeded to weed, mow, trim, prune, and plant -- all kinds of tools, rakes, weed wackers, and even a small chainsaw were put to good use as they harnessed their enthusiasm and energy to do a fantastic job of spiffing up our beautiful spot. Big thanks to the whole crew for volun

By Amber Ford, The Mountain Times On Saturday, May 16th, The Mt. Hood Lions Club officially celebrated their 75th year of service to the Mt. Hood Villages with food, drink, awards, special guests, and a party only The Mt. Hood Lions know how to throw. With guests ranging from previous presidents, district board members, and current members, everyone was treated to a menu which included salad, fruit salad, green beans, rolls, potatoes, ham, beef, and a variety of desserts. On

By Marie Kennedy, The Mountain Times What began as a place for vigils and remembrance after the death of Phoenix Lane is evolving into something larger – a community healing space rooted in spiritual practices, support, and connection. Friends, family members, and community supporters recently gathered at the Hoodland Bazaar, in what is now known as the Phoenix Room in Welches, for an official dedication honoring Phoenix’s legacy and the community response that followed her d

Place of birth: San Diego California How long on the Mountain: 35 years If you were not brought here as a child, what brought you to the Mountain? After our kids left home, my wife and I decided it was time to get out of town. She agreed and said she wanted to move to Welches. In 1925, her grandfather built a cabin on Plaza Trail right on the Salmon River. She, her mother, and her brother stayed in the cabin every summer from the early 1950s until she was 18 or 19. We looked

By Justin Andress, The Mountain Times It’s early May, and Austin Ernesti and Wayne Stone are standing in an expansive field behind Dick Hannah Ford, a Sandy landmark that runs the length of two city blocks. The two men are talking choker races, single- and double-buck, and log burling. As the fourth annual Sandy International Chainsaw Competition and Forest Fest approaches, Stone and Ernesti are two of the myriad people charged with making sure that the event’s timber sports

By Marie Kennedy, The Mountain Times At first glance, the 16-year-old Mount Hood-area student appears quiet and unassuming. Sitting in a local coffee shop beside his mother, Rebecca, he speaks softly about music, school, and ongoing work around the family’s home. Beneath that calm demeanor is a young musician performing advanced classical repertoire, studying college-level theory, and preparing for a future in professional music. Charan studies classical violin and trumpet, p

By Steve Wilent, For The Mountain Times While the world has its collective eyes on war, politics, and “artificial intelligence,” human researchers around the world are making astounding discoveries about forests and forest products that may have positive impacts on our lives. Two examples involve plastics made from wood and other renewable resources. First, from The Korea Times: “Korean researchers have discovered a way to transform common forest debris into a key ingredient

SAVE THE DATE July 19, 2026 St. John in the Woods Catholic Church 24905 E Woodsey Way, Welches Celebrating 100 Years in Welches Please join us as we gather to honor the generations who built our parish beginning with the early settlers in the Mt. Hood Corridor who sought to establish a place of worship and community gathering. Over the last 100 years, St. John’s has been intertwined with the history of Welches, playing a significant role in the spiritual and social life of t

By Andrea O’Neil, For The Mountain Times Wildfire mitigation requirements tied to insurance and future building standards are becoming increasingly important in the Hoodland area, and over the last year I have been working to prepare both myself and my customers for what may be ahead. Like many people, I initially thought much of the concern had subsided when the State of Oregon walked back the original wildfire hazard maps. However, after being contacted by a customer last y

By Pat Erdenberger, For The Mountain Times Most of you know that the mission of the Hoodland Community Planning Organization (HCPO) is to bring County information to our Hoodland community members. Our goal is to provide a resounding voice back to the County. We also provide speaking opportunities of interest to the community. The Hoodland Community Planning Organization Community Meeting will be held June 18, at 7:00 p.m. at the Mt Hood Oregon Resort. This is a public meetin

By Douglas Lyon MD, For The Mountain Times The following is to inform the Mt. Hood Community that I will no longer work for Orchid Health as a Family Physician in Welches. I am grateful for the chance to have been able to serve my community and to follow two beloved physicians, Dr. Grice and Dr. Epstein – both outspoken physicians with compassion, commitment, and vision go the extra mile for their patients and their community. Over my year of working in the community I had a

By Lion Milt Fox Thank you for attending our Swimming Lessons dinner, held on Saturday May 2nd. What a great Mexican dinner! We had a nice turnout of 125 customers, with lots of kids attending, who enjoyed the Piñatas. The dinner was chaired by Lions Craig Calvert and Nolberto Perez, along with Norberto’s wife Benita and a crew of hard working Lions.Thanks to Mountain Building Supply, Welches Clackamas County Bank, Brightwood Tavern, Mt. Hood Cannabis, Coffee House 26, and t

By Malika Cox, for The Mountain Times The warmer months are upon us, generously gifting us with bountiful sunshine! It’s that time of year where the daylight sticks around longer and provides an opportunity to soak in all that the mountain has to offer outdoors. One of the most fascinating aspects of living in this community is the historically significant footprints that are sprinkled all around us, silently existing as a subtle reminder of times from long ago. Why not get o

By Cassie Kanable, For The Mountain Times Hello Welches Families! As another school year wound down, May was packed with celebration, community, and appreciation at Welches Schools. One of the highlights of the month was Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week, where we had the opportunity to recognize the incredible people who support our students every day. Staff enjoyed pastries and coffee from Mt. Hood Roasters, a taco lunch from Los Venados Mexican Grill, charcuterie boxes and

Although the end of February provided some much needed winter weather in The Mt. Hood National Forest, reports indicate that this winter’s snowpack is at critically low levels. With little to no snow over the holiday season and January and February producing spring-like temperatures, Mt. Hood’s pristine snow-covered base was almost nonexistent. According to The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA], as of mid February, the snowpack on Mt. Hood was around 34-

If you’ve never made the drive up to Skibowl for a round (or six) of Cosmic Tubing, now is your best shot. Thanks to Skibowl’s rigorous commitment to keeping snow on the ground, there’s never a bad time to hit the slopes, whether you’re riding an inner tube or a pair of skis. It’s been a rough year for snowfall on Mt. Hood. For an anxiety-inducing example of that fact, let’s look at one of the key metrics used by professionals to measure the snowpack: snow water equivalent. E