By Clackamas Fire District, For The Mountain Time At approximately 10:18 a.m. this morning, Hoodland Fire District responded to a reported medical emergency involving an injured male climber near Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood. The patient was located east of Silcox Hut after becoming trapped beneath a large boulder in steep and difficult terrain. Due to the complexity of the incident and challenging alpine conditions, a coordinated technical rescue operation was initiated in

By Marie Kennedy, The Mountain Times Inside Sandy High School’s gymnasium, evacuees clutched character cards describing medical needs, lost housing, and emergency triage situations as Red Cross volunteers, county staff and chaplains moved between stations in a mock shelter testing how a large wildfire evacuation would stress real-world services in the Sandy-Mount Hood area. Meanwhile, a parallel exercise unfolded over the radio. The two-day drill simulated a Public Safety Pow

By Pat Zimmer, for The Mountain Times Twenty-six furry friends showed up at Camp Arrah Wanna – humans in tow – Saturday, April 25, at the Mobile Vet Clinic sponsored by Hoodland Women’s Club. It was a busy day. Veterinarians administered over 80 vaccines. Ricky the cat was the soul of patience sitting for a nail trim and an annual exam. HWC member Liz Hardy, a veterinarian with Northwest Mobile Vet, told Ricky’s owner Julie that her cat looked very healthy. The HWC event of

By Amber Ford, The Mountain Times While the world of Marvel would have us believe that all super heroes wear capes, possess superpowers, and can travel throughout the space/time continuum, Mt. Hood Villages residents and winter sports enthusiasts exploring the slopes of Mt. Hood may think differently. Our resident superheroes may not be able to move buildings, but they tirelessly move snow and make their own Mt. Hood magic. Although winter proved to be nonexistent, those head

By Blake Miller, For The Mountain Times There’s something special about the bond between pets and older adults. Research has shown that owning a cat or dog can actually benefit seniors’ health in many ways. First and foremost, pets encourage routine. Whether it’s walking a dog or feeding a cat at the same time each day, structure can be grounding. Routine helps reduce feelings of loneliness and gives a sense of purpose, something to look forward to every day. Beyond routine,

By Dr. Robert Kelly, For The Mountain Times In my last few articles I talked about the sports stars and pop culture celebrities who were in the news recently with tooth mishaps. Another funny story to tell involved a movie star with a dental problem in real life …and that problem was conveniently written into the script as part of the storyline. A while back, there was a movie called “The Hangover.” It was wildly successful and spawned sequels. The story was about a group

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

By Ty Walker, The Mountain Times Jackson Rogers said he thanks the Hoodland Volunteer Firefighter Training Academy for helping him land a job with the U.S. National Forest Service fighting wildfires. Jackson started his new job last month as a crew member assigned to Engine 312 from Mount Hood National Forest. “I’ve always wanted to fight wildfires,” he said. “Going through the Hoodland Academy gave me my certifications for wildfire that I needed and that’s what helped me get

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 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

Residents of the Mt. Hood Villages know that reckless driving is part and parcel of life on the mountain. Hopefully, that’s beginning to change, as local law enforcement takes steps to regulate local drivers. New 25-mile-per-hour speed limit signs have appeared along Welches Road. The move has drawn a mixed response from drivers. While the general public supports these measures, there is doubt as to whether they’ll be effective. Welches Road may appear inconspicuous to visito

Orchid Health is expanding its clinical team at the Hoodland Orchid Clinic with the addition of Sara Mitenbuler, DNP, FNP. As a primary care provider with over 20 years of experience, Mitenbuler brings a deep background in rural medicine and a holistic approach to family healthcare to the Mt. Hood community. Born in Yakima, Washington, and raised in rural Michigan and Indiana, Mitenbuler has a firsthand understanding of the unique healthcare needs of smaller communities. Her

With domestic violence numbers on the rise across the United States, many state and local government agencies are taking to their communities to educate, provide resources, and offer support to survivors. Small towns all across the country, including The Mt. Hood Villages, are reaching out to community members in show of support to those who have suffered at the hands of domestic violence. The Hoodland Bazaar, in partnership with Clackamas County Women’s Services, has been of

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month — a time to focus on prevention, early detection, and caring for your long-term health. At Orchid Health Hoodland Clinic, we believe proactive, preventive care is one of the most powerful tools we have to keep our community healthy. Cervical cancer is largely preventable when detected early through regular screenings, yet many people delay or skip these important exams. Our Hoodland team is here to change that by providing care that

Most of you know that the mission of the Hoodland Community Planning Organization (HCPO) is to bring County information to our Hoodland community members and provide a loud voice back to the County. We also provide speaking opportunities of interest to the community. December brought rains that only some of us have seen over the years. As soon as the power shut down – Wednesday, 12/17/25 3:11a.m. – while we still had cell coverage, the Ham Operators and HECN Radio volunteers

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

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

In the late hours of November 21, just a few days before Thanksgiving, a residential fire erupted just off Barlow Trail in Rhododendron. Luckily the fire was contained in just 17 minutes thanks to the robust response of local fire officials — however, the house is a total loss for the family. Hoodland Fire Division Chief Brian Henrichs spoke to The Mountain Times , in the aftermath of the blaze. “The first call came in just after midnight, at 12:32 a.m,” he says. The first c

The holiday season settles over the Mountain communities in a way that feels both magical and demanding. Between the early nightfall, the cold damp air rolling in off the forest, and the pressure to “fit everything in,” many of us feel our bodies tightening up long before the snow really starts to fall. Even when we love this season, our nervous systems often get overwhelmed — especially here in the foothills of Mt. Hood, where winter asks a little more from our bodies. Your

The holidays bring rich food, decorations, guests, and travel. They also bring a spike in preventable emergencies. A little planning goes a long way toward keeping dogs and cats safe and comfortable through Thanksgiving and Christmas. Kitchen and table risks Rich, fatty foods can trigger pancreatitis, a painful and sometimes serious inflammation of the pancreas. Keep pets away from turkey skin, gravy, ham trimmings, prime rib fat, and buttery sides. Do not give cooked bones.