There is a rich tradition on Mount Hood of skiing from Timberline Lodge down to the alpine village of Government Camp, but it only works when there is snow at 4,000 feet.

Lack of snow the past two season has put a damper on the annual Ski the Glade fundraiser to support the Mt. Hood Cultural Center and Museum in Govy. This season is looking dramatically better, with a 100-inch base at 6,000 feet—and more importantly a 50-inch base at 4,000 feet. As a result Ski the Glade is back on track for Saturday, March 5 with shuttle service from Govy to Timberline all day, lunch and a reception at the end of the day. All proceeds will go to the Mt. Hood Museum, which preserves and celebrates the rich history of Mount Hood.

Ski the Glade is a throwback to pre-chairlift times on the mountain when the Glade Trail was regularly groomed for skiing and skiers could catch a shuttle from Govy to Timberline and ski the Glade all day. In even earlier times, skiers ascended the old-fashioned way, on foot. Over time, skiers and Forest Service employees established the Glade, Alpine, Blossom, and Cascade trails. The Glade trail was groomed for skiers for about 20 years, from the 1960s to the 1980s.

The map below, an old Forest Service Map from 1941 on display at the Mt. Hood Museum, shows the trails historically used for skiing between Timberline and Government Camp. Note the asterisks marked “Warning: Skiers Get Lost” in Sand Canyon and the upper Salmon River:

Tickets for Ski the Glade are $100 for museum members and $125 for nonmembers. They may be purchased through the museum by calling 503-272-3301.

Here’s how Mt. Hood history buff Emilio Trampuz explained the Ski the Glade tradition in a previous, more detailed article for Shred Hood:

The Glade Trail was built by the US Forest Service in 1937 as part of the Timberline Lodge ski complex. The trail roughly follows the route of the original Blossom Trail, dating to 1888 or earlier.

Before the advent of ski lifts, skiing consisted of either jumping or trail skiing. Trail skiers climbed on skis equipped with climbing skins, to the Timberline Lodge area and skied back to Government Camp.

Ski the Glade day participants are shuttled to Timberline in shuttle vans, escorted by local guides and senior members of the Mt. Hood Ski Patrol, and served lunch. Shuttles will run from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.

All of the trails connecting Timberline to Govy are marked with letters attached to trees:  A for Alpine, G for Glade, and B for Blossom.  There used to be many signs, but over the years, many have fallen and disappeared.  Alpine and Glade trail signs are large and painted orange-red.  The Blossom trail signs are small blue rectangles.

For more information on Mt. Hood trail skiing, check out the article by Museum Director Lloyd Musser Trail skiing on Mt. Hood – A Long Standing Tradition.

For more info about mountain heritage see Mt. Hood Museum’s website, or better yet visit the mueum itself and become a member. The museum features six galleries that highlight the history of the mountain’s early exploration, winter sports, settlement and natural history.

Sponsors of Ski the Glade include Timberline Lodge, the Village of Government Camp, Oregon’s Mt. Hood Territory and EcoShuttle.

Thanks to Emilio Trampuz, Janet Paulson and Lloyd Musser for background information about the Ski the Glade tradition, and for the maps.

Last modified: February 21, 2014