Mt Hood

MT HOOD

Kathryn's husband's family is from the Portland area and they have a cabin up in Government Camp on Mt Hood. We headed up there (72 miles exactly) after dinner. Because it was dark, I didn't really get to see too much until the next day. Government Camp was used as a home base for the men who worked to build something up the hill- it is hard to remember everything I have seen/heard in the past few days- could have been the Timberland Lodge or the roads... Anyhow, it isn't a very pretty name for what is such a beautiful area.

We ate a hearty breakfast at the Huckleberry Inn Restaurant which is a local hangout. The food was really good and the portions were big enough for a lumberjack. After eating we drove to the Timberline Lodge up the hill at the point where the timber/trees stop.( You probably figured that out for yourself! ) Kathryn is used to seeing the mountain covered in snow but at this time of year there was just some at the summit. Usually the lodge is blanketed in about 20 feet of snow and they can ski all the way down to their cabin because the land behind their place is wilderness territory.

The Timberline Lodge has a massive stone fireplace in the middle and well worn wood and timber all around. Apparently at Christmas, Santa and his sleigh pull up outside the lodge and then Santa goes down the chimney and out the fireplace. I am sure that is quite dramatic for the kiddies. Hopefully they coordinate it so that the fire isn't lit when he descends. Santa in flames could produce damaging scars for those kids...

We went to a lake near Government Camp called Trillium Lake. It was an easy and beautiful 2 mile hike around the lake. Unfortunately we forgot to put the stroller in for Kullen, but he walked quite a bit and Kathryn got extra exercise carrying him the rest of the way. After a short nap for Kullen back at the cabin we loaded up for the drive back to the Portland train station. Kathryn took a different route home so that she could show me the gorges lining the Columbia river between Washington and Oregon. We wound down through the forest and then past apple and pear orchards, stopping at a roadside stand for produce. I bought some Jonagold apples that were delicious and some small red Starkrinsom pears and Huckleberry jam.

The drive through the gorges was spectacular. I had never even heard of this place but it was breathtaking. At the point where we first entered the gorge area there were tons of wind surfers and kite boarders on the river. We passed an amazing waterfall as we followed the road along the river.

Once back in Portland we quickly got take out food at a wonderful deli (think Whole Foods) and got some things for dinner. We raced back to the train station where I had to wait in a long line to get a seat assignment. The train was on time (maybe this will be the one and only time) and I had no time to spare. Kathryn, Kullen and Kylie walked me out to my train car and stood there waving to me as the train pulled out. Kathryn said that that was the best thing ever for Kullen. He apparently has been saying, "Amy go bye-bye on the train!" all day long.

It was sunset as the train pulled out of the station. The sky was filled with striated clouds and the sun kept peeking between them as it sank. Very lovely, but then it was too dark to see the rest of the way. I am bummed that I missed out on the beautiful scenery between Portland and Seattle. The consolation prize was the movie "The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants" which played on TV monitors. Think what you will of that.