The center of activity on Mt Hood is Timberline Lodge built as a WPA project in the 1930s. It is a massive and impressive stone structure with wonderful architectural features designed to make it a grand showcase of a Western mountain lodge. It boasts oak floors, huge wood beams, unique doors and hardware and even has a WPA tile mural in the entryway.
The 40 mile Timberline Trail loop is usually accessed here. We walked a couple miles out and back to get a feel for the area. I was stunned by the barrenness of the terrain.
The trail was built in 1930 by the CCC. It shares some of its trail with the Pacific Crest Trail. Also, it was part of the predecessor to the PCT, the Oregon Skyway trail which went from Crater lake to Mt Hood.
Mt Hood, at 11,235 feet is the highest point in Oregon. There are 12 named glaciers on it with the largest, Eliot Glacier at 73,000 acres and 360' at its deepest point. We saw skiers on one of the snow fields, whenever the clouds parted.
Mt Hood is volcanic. Its last eruption was 1781. There are a number of vents on the mountain which spew various gases. In 1934, someone exploring an ice cave, dies as a result of venting gases. Someday it will erupt again but like, Mt St Helens in 1980, there will be sufficient warning. Our B&B host was on top of Mt Hood when Mt St Helens erupted but did not witness the eruption. Later that day, he saw the smoke and ash cloud from Mt St Helens floating eastward.
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