WHEN YOU GO:     Timberline, Oregon

Getting There: Timberline is located 55 miles east of the Portland Airport, 180 miles south of Seattle, Washington. Timberline Lodge and ski area are located off Hwy. 26, just past Government Camp. Timberline is located at the 6,000-foot elevation of Mount Hood, which at 11,245 feet is the highest peak in Oregon.

Staying There: A National Historic Landmark, the lodge was built in the 1930’s as a "make work" project during the Depression. Huge hand-hewn beams and massive walk-in fireplaces lend ambiance to this beautiful structure. Each of its 60 rooms has hand-made furniture and watercolors. An outdoor swimming pool, hydro-spa and sauna, as well as various games are located on premises. Reservations can be made by calling 800-547-1406.

Timberline’s Cascade Dining Room offers gourmet Pacific Northwest cuisine. The Blue Ox Bar, with glass mosaic murals from the 1930s, serves imported beer and wine along with European-style light lunches. The Ram’s Head Bar offers a panoramic view of the Cascades to the south and Mount Hood to the north from its location on the third level.

Silcox Hut: Located at the 7,000-foot level of Mt. Hood, below the Palmer icefield, the Silcox Hut was originally the top terminal and warming hut for the Magic Mile Chairlift. A rustic stone and timber structure, it was built in 1939 by the W.P.A. and was restored a few years ago by the Friends of Silcox Hut. It is open to the public for day and overnight use. Reservations can be made by calling 800-547-1406.

Fast Facts: Timberline is open for year round skiing and snowboarding. Numerous ski camps make Timberline their base of operation for the summer season, and groups from all over the North American Continent train here including both the U.S. and Canadian Olympic Ski Teams. Top elevation: 8,500 ft; Base: 6,000 ft. Snow Phone: 503-222-2211.

Camps: Camps run by Timberline Lodge
              Other Camps run from Timberline

Timberline and a Century of Skiing on Mount Hood, by Jean Arthur. Paperback, 1998.

Useful WWW sites for the Mount Hood region and general ski info are:

Timberline: History, lodging, current snow conditions, employment opportunities
The Resort at the Mountain: A 27-hole golf club resort located at the base of Mt. Hood
Rendezvous Grill: A great restaurant at the base of Mt. Hood, 20 minute-ride from Timberline Lodge.