The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1922-02-16
H0ERdEIN BOOSTER
FOR WINTER SPORT

Just back with companions from al
excursion on the snowtields of Noun
Hood, Hans Hoerlen, declares tha
Mount Hood, if recreationists are edu
Gated to the appeal of the snowclaC
forests and broad expanses of snow
fields, should become as popular during
the winter months as i'll the summer.
The men journeyed to Cloud Cap lnr
by way OF Sand Canyon. Paul Hoer'
lein and Walter Gerke were other
members of the party.
'Snowshoeing and skiing, both very
popular sports in mountainous coun-
tries. are available in as wonderful a
setting and under as ideal conditions
as any winter sports enthusiast may
find anywhere right here within few
hours of Hood River" says Mr.. Hoer-
lem. ''All that is needed to bring
scores of wintertime recreationists
here is little work in providing facil-
ties that will make the high attitudes
little more accessible without the
arduous labor now necessitated in
reaching them. This can be done
easily.
"Where will be found mountain as
readily accessible to a metropolitan
center. such as Portland, or that is as
perfect in setting? How easily might
not its possibilities for winter sports be
developed? The new Loop Highway
will make the mountain ideally access
sible, and with the projected Ameri-
can Legion road up the mountain to
Tilly Jane camp, good grade will be
established for getting into that region
in the winter months on skis or snow
shoes. Contrary to popular belief, the
mountain is not wrapped continuously
in clouds and beaten by storms in win
ter. Our observations tend to show
that the mountain is warmer during
periods of extreme cold weather than
is the lower valley levels. Often,
when it is stormy in the valley and
when the clouds hang low and heavy,
the mountain is ablaze with brilliant
sunshine. Almost invariably trip to
the mountain of several days, although
it be started under foreboding condi-
tions, terminates with favorable
weather at the higher attitudes. The
odds are in favor of greater percent
age of good weather at the higher alti-
tudes than in the valley.
1.-The proposed Legion cabin at Tilly
Jane campsite should offer an oppor-
tunty, as a base for winter sports, for
as great development as the annual
climb of the mountain as
launched by the patriotic organization.
The cabin will be located at strategic
point. The recreationist will simply
have to step odt of doors and take ad-
vantage of convenient slopes. The
proposed road, with its easy grade, will
eliminate the fatigue now necesstated
in reaching the region. 1t will also
permit the hauling in of supplies In
the fall of the year. A local snowshoe
club, or the Legion Post, by stocking a
cabin on the mountain with blankets
and supplies in the fall, could provide
for trip to the snowfields devoid OF |
the strenuous work at present neces-
sary when one must pack on his back |
all the food and bedding needed on the |
recreational jaunt. i
"A winter journey by way OF Sand
Canyon is more scenic than by way OF
Cloud Cap Inn. The journey through |
The woods a part of the way is especi-
ally appealing if the trees are covered
with a new fall of snow.
while skiing demands practice and
skill to negotiate real slopes success
July, there is lots of fun in learning |
It. There are thrills in each stage of |
attempt and success and the numerous
spills of the beginner are real tonic
'or they incite laugh on the part of
he victim and onlookers. Compared I
o skiing. snowshoeing is really easy
and anyone can master it who is at all
adapted to hiking. The few miles that
separate Parkdale from the mountain
ire really nothing at all, if there are
experienced members of a party to
)reak trail, ana if such trips can be
aiken without heavy pack, which can
n time be made possible. Skis can
,e dragged along behind tied to rope
md used on the down grade. strapping
he snowshoes onto ones back, out of
he Way."