The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1922-09-07
LEGION MEMBERS (
STUDY PEAK
PARTY MOTORS TO MOUNT RAINIER
Scenery Of Oregon and Washington Peaks
Declared Not to Be Competitive
Sound Roads Good

Members of a party Of Hood River
men. Just back from a motor tour to
Mount Rainier National Park, the roads
ahd trails system and tourists hostel
ries of which were studied, are united
in opinion that Oregonians have await
ing them just as rare opportunities for
the development of the scenic attrac-
tions of Mount Hood as the people of
Seattle and Tacoma have avaiIed them
selves Of at Longmire Springs and at
Paradise Inn. And. it is declared BY
the local men. after study of the two
mountains, that the attractions for
motor tourists. who are annually flock
ing in ever increasing numbers to the
Pacific coast and the Pacific North
west, will be in no way competitive.
While the mountain environs of
looming snow peak, towering meadows
and surrounding sharp craRs are some
what the same on each mountain, there
is not so much sameness but that q
lover of nature after spending a week
on Rainier would find his interest in
Hood on the following week all the
keener.
The difference in Mount Hood and
Mount Rainier at the present time, at
least that is the way it strikes one who
is fully familiar with all the appeals
of Hood and the forested base of the
great spire, and Mount Rainier is sim
ply this: The people of the north
western Washington country have TAX
en- advantage of the opportunities that
God has given them and Oregon folk
have not. But Oregonians, apparent
ly. in Portland as we'll as Hood River,
are today giving serious attention to
Mount Hood. 1t has dawned on them
that the full benefits of OregOn's SUI
perb highway system are not being
received for the reason that the paved
stretches lead to no hostelries, where
guests among the high forested areas
may have care and conveniences. The
Hood River party found a number of
Portland men at Paradise Inn while
they were there, all beat on gathering
the information that they themselves
were there for.
1t appears that the Hood River
American Legion men, actuated pri-
marily by a desire TO stimulate inter-
est in the annual Mount Hood Climb.
launched by the ex-service men of the
Hood River valley last year, have
struck psychological time for advance
ing general plans for Mount Hood de-
velopment. The Portland Ad Club, it's
members expressing an interest in the
future of Cloud Cap Inn. one Of the
Northwest's first mountain resorts,
have begun serious consideration of
plans for further development of
hotel at the snOwline of Mount Hood.
1t now seems likely that members of
the Mount Hood Climb of the Hood
River American Legion will take far
more active part in the general devel-
opment of the Mount Hood scenic as
set than was anticipated when the an
nual recreational venture was first
suggested in late June. 1921.
The Rainier trip was initiated by
Truman Butler, who is an ardent sup
porter of all measures looking to the
ultimate realization by the state Of re-
turns on its unlimited scenery. Mr..
Butler provided his automobile for taxi
ing the party of seven to the Washing
ton resort
The Hood River men left home al 8
p. m. Saturday, reaching Chehalis,
Wash. the first night. They arrived
at Paradise Inn Sunday afternoon about
l o'clock, the speedometer showing
just 270 miles. The return trip was
begun at 10 o'clock Monday morning.
The party visited Tacoma and Olympia
on the return. They reached Chehalis
by O'Clock Monday evening. Travel
ing by way of Rainier, Ore, the route
taken on the up trip. they made Port
land shortly after the lunch hour Tues
day. The party Of enthusiasts arrived
in Hood River at exactly o'clock
Tuesday night. The total distance
travelled ia the 75 hours away from
home reached 575 miles. On the Sun
day morning journey over to the
Rainier Park road the junketers took
the road to Tenino. thus cutting off
about 20 miles from the regular route
through Olympia and Tacoma. The
TeninO road is paved with concrete a
large portion of the way. Indeed, q
majority of the Washington highways
have been paved with concrete, well
laid and Of excellent quality. These
roads are as appealing to the motor
car driver as the bithulithic highways
of Oregon.
The highways Of the great gravel
plains south of Puget Sound are tempt
ing for one who has the least desire TO
speed. Numerous stretches lie before
the driver as sraight ss a string for 10
miles and more. Indeed. they are 90
straight as 10 become mon0tonOus.
The so-csled Mountain road from Ia
coma to Mount Rainier is characterized
for some 30 miles out Of the city by It's
lack Of curves. High voltage power
poles linz the road on either side. So
uniform are the poles that the ribbon
like highway stretching away before
motorists between the vista Of poles
with their huge insulatOrs has kind
of appealing beauty.
The Mountain road has been paved
to la Grande, which is only about 20
miles from the entrance to the national
park. The remainder Of the road il
being regarded in many places. and
the entire remaining link will Be paved
next year or soon after. None Of the
highway within the park is paved.
The distance from the entrance gate 70
Paradise inn is just 20 miles. The last
six miles, although it is as vide -
many Of OreRon's mountainoUs main
roads. is OPERATED as q single track
highway. Traffic is released on The
even hour both from above and below.
The up and Down ears meet In the MD
die of the winding stretch All of the
PARK highway Is alluring. One BE- gwen
glimpse Of wonderful trees lt j.
likely that no road around Mount Hood
viii make available such q variety of
forest rianfs. One sees towering
Doaglas frs and frs q other varieties.
cedars. Sitka spruce. hemlocEs and sn
occasional pine. On st higher altitudea
are found Alaska cedafs and Alplne
iirf The latter trees start Uiih houFhs
from the very ground. Theg grow IKE
spires. their tfsnches Fery close 10
gether. ard when the deep SHOWS g
winter prevail the lower branchea rat