Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-16
ABOVE THE SNOW LINE
Majestic Peaks in Oregon and
Other Sections.
VICINITY OF MOUNT HOOD
River of Same Name Passes Through
Miles of Apple Orchards.
HEIGHT OF AMERICAN MOUNT
Loftiest Rises 10000 Feet-Mecca
for Pleasure Seekers Near
Portland, Ore.
VICINITY OF MOUNT HOOD
HEIGHT OF AMERICAN MOUNT
BY WILLIAM z. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence Of The Star and the
Chicago Record Herald.

e.
Special Correspondence Of The Star and the
Chicago Record Herald.
HOOD RIVER. September Z. 1909.
In 1880 Mr. William N Ladd. banker of
Portland, and Mr.. C. E. s. Wood. a mer-
chant of that city. built a cabin, and
afte,ward hotel, at the beginning of the
snow line near the summit OF Mount
Hood, which rises 1.2o5 feet above the
sea They also built a road through
the forest to reach ia very steep road,
which ascends 1854 feet in about four
miles. The entire distance from Hood
River station on the Oregon Railroad and
Navigation line Is twenty-eeven miles,
and IT is made in about five hours by
big automobile to the beginning OF the
road I have referred to, and from there
by four-horse wagon. which conveys the
travellers the rest of the way.
Since Cloud Cap Inn and the road were
bull, the government of the United States
has taken possession of Mount Hood in
the name of the people. and has made II
n forest reserve, but has allowed Mr..
Ladd and Mr.. Wood to retain possession
and to continue to collect tolls from
travellers who pass over the road, the re-
ceipts to be devoted to keeping it in re-
pair.
and, strange to say, most of them are
women The inn can accommodate twen-
ty-five or thirty comfortably. having an
annex in the shape of four cabins built OF
enormous logs at an elevation OF 5,'S4
feet and anchored by wire cables firmly
to the rocks so that the wind cannot
blow them away.
The Snow Shoe Club of Portland. which
has twelve or fifteen members. goes up
every winter for few days and has high
jinks there. The inn is comfortable and
we'll kept by Miss Qugg and Miss Jewell,
teachers from the Portland Academy, and
there is very little "roughing IT. In the
excursion. 1t is not SO easy as the ascent
of Pixies Peak, or some of the submits
of the Swiss Alps but 1t is easy enough
for anybody. We went up in a Cadillac
automobile belonging to Mr.. Leslie But
Ter OF Hood River, with Carl Vaughn at
the wheel. The same car had made the
journey once before.
Valleys of Apple Orchards.
The road from Hood River passes
through mile after mile Of apple or
char ds, some of them only recently plant
ed but the older orchards cover so much
ground that there must be a beautiful
spectacle in May, when the 349.4 trees
are full Of blossoms Those who have
seen both say that they are more beauti-
fGl than the cherry blossoms of Japan
But, although many OF our people travel
four and five thousand miles to see that
exhibition of color and beauty. I never
have heard Of any one coming to Hood
River to see the apple orchards in bloom.
The road up the mountain passes
through a wonderful forest Of frs. pines
and henlocks, which are SO large and
stand so close together that the sky is
obscured. You can see just a little streak
of blue il you will look straight above
you between the tops of the boughs that
Overhang the road. The timber line on
Mount Hood is $500 feet above the sea,
hut lovely wild flowers are to be found
still farther up the slope.
&C. vnva Tor
botanists the fora being 20 abundant
and including 30 many rare plants. A
lady who recently visited here identified
and listed more than 100 wild flowers
within easy walking distance OF the Inn.
The Mount Hood lily is the most interest
ing, because 1t is unique. It appears IN
two colors. Bulbs have been sent to flor
its and collectors In different parts Of
There is a white bog orchid, also very
rare. and two varieties Of the adder's
tooth that are not found elsewhere. A
sister of the Mariposa lily, called "pus-
sy's ear is much admired. and I am
told that in the spring the white rhodo- |
dendrons and azaleas are glorious.
AS a rule people do not stay at Cloud
but Mrs. Ladd and other ladies from
Portland are in the habit of going there
for the entire summer every year. To
those who love nature in its wild moods
the place has q great fascination The
inn is perfectly protected against storms.
1t is built of heavy logs. Is anchored to
the eternal rocks by wire cables. the
built into the stone chimney big enough
to hold a saw log. and there's a sheetiron
stove in every bedroom.
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