I drove up Mt. Hood on the afternoon of Sunday August 6. It was a nice, sunny day, and the haze that had been over Washington due to forest fires was gone from this area. I got to the Timberline Lodge, and found my dorm room - it is a cool place, built in the 30s with huge wooden beams, and interesting craftsmanship. I sat out on the patio and watched the sunset while having a beer. It was nice and relaxing. I was a little perplexed by the snow machines shaping the snow up higher on the mountain.

In the morning, I got up to take the ski lift up to the top, and have a hike down. I learned quickly why the snow machines were there the night before - there were about 100 people going skiing!!! I didn't realize they had the runs open all year around, but they were! It was nice to take the lift up, and only walk down, but I felt a bit like I was cheating.

The TImberline is one of the places along the Pacific Crest Trail that allows hikers to pick up new gear. I saw several hikers picking up USPS packages that they had sent themselves. On my hike down the mountain, I also came across a grove of trees where a lot of hikers had tents set up. Cool spot!

#Oregon