An Inspired Return to Mt Hood

Over 11 hours ago, I had taken over the driving.  It was dry and clear then, a stark contrast to the sleet and dark that I pressed the van through now, rounding Mt Hood from the east.  Surely I could have stopped a while ago.  Of the 3 others curled up in the van, I had the right to wake someone up and trade places.

I could say it was the cheap gas station cappuccinos, or the cold air flushing my face from the open driver's side window.  But when you get down to it, neither was the root of my determination.

Tips for Making your Stay Memorable

Choosing a cabin in the woods can be a great way to spend a family vacation, romantic rendezvous or relaxing getaway. Mt. Hood cabins are often surrounded by intimate natural views such as forested areas or streams, bringing the mountain's natural beauty right to your doorstep. Many cabins can also be more isolated which provides a greater sense of privacy.

In truth, a cabin stay can offer all the creature comforts of home, and for this reason alone you may find them to be an exceptional value for your lodging dollars.

Mt. Hood is becoming more and more well-known for its lodging cabins. They are available in very diverse styles, amenities and settings. To find a perfect fit for your needs, take a few moments to consider these questions.

Those most elusive mushrooms hardly a soul shares the whereabouts thereof.
No wonder people in the ‘know’ are nervous when asked where they got those yummy Morels.

First…

They can’t be found except by luck or accident.

Second…

Some Morels will grow in the same place for many years — and if you happen to find one of these places it should be treated like a gold strike to keep secret.

And Third…

You need something to pass on to your favorite heir.

Every year the season for Morel mushrooms is different. Changing mainly with the moisture in the ground, big storm fronts with lightning, sudden freezes at the wrong time or landscape changes such as logging or wildfires. The best bet is to start looking at the end of May.

Visiting The Villages of Mt Hood gives you a taste of fresh-air mountain living.  For a delicious flavor to match, try sampling some of Mt. Hood’s wild edible plants.  Within minutes of The Villages, you can be gathering food in the rich alpine landscape.  Here are a few of the natural delicacies you might like to try.  Do take great care in identifying your wild foods, eat only those of which you’re 100% sure, and please don’t over-harvest – take only enough for yourself.

Edible Greens

Start with some greens that are very easy to find:  dandelion leaves and red clover.  Dandelions (Taraxacum officinale) aren’t just those unwanted yellow flowers that crop up on your lawn.  They’re full of calcium and vitamin A.  The newest, most tender of those long, jagged leaves make a refreshing salad green (wash them well first), or boil or saute them for about 5 minutes for a new take on cooked vegetables.  Red clover (Trifolium pratense) leaves can be treated the same way for a green that’s full of protein.

Exploring Distinctive, Locally Made Arts & Crafts in the Villages of Mt Hood

If you enjoy shopping for fine handcrafted products, you’ll be delighted at your finds in The Villages of Mt. Hood.  Here, the mountain’s beauty inspires artists to craft art you’ll be proud to own or share as special gifts.

Do you want art you can use every day?  Dulcie Lindsoe’s hand-thrown pottery pieces are decorated with treescapes, plants and animals of the natural world around her.  Her wide selection ranges from bird baths to butter dishes, every size of bowl you could want, and four mug styles.  Wouldn’t a scene of deer or bear in the forest make your workday coffee a little more interesting?

You Can Find Fall Colors from More Than Just the Trees

Don’t take your hiking boots off yet or you might miss some of the best and most colorful mountain trail exploring of the year.  The fall season is filled with color and contrast as Mother Nature prepares for the colder months.  And the color doesn’t only come from the changing leaves.

Spectacular views await you on Zigzag Mountain Trail

Fall is a spectacular season for horseback riding on equestrian-designated trails in the Zigzag Ranger District.  There are at least 16 such trails in the section of the Mt. Hood National Forest that are within The Villages of Mt. Hood region.

Some equestrian trails allow riders to experience high, sweeping views of mountains, ridges and valleys.  Still others take riders along a river or stream where they can revel in the changing colors of vine maples, big leaf maples, and other vegetation. And another follows a trail traversed by pioneers on the Barlow Road.

Along The Mt. Hood National Scenic Byway

The Mt. Hood National Scenic Byway follows an exhilarating route around Mt. Hood, offering outlooks of striking geologic diversity. Landscapes unfold from valleys and rainforest into semi-arid uplands. History is embedded and alive: this is the same route traveled for thousands of years by local Native Americans. Pioneers on the Oregon Trail followed the path up Barlow Road, and now you can pioneer your own adventures at Mt. Hood.