The annual Ski the Glade fundraiser is still officially on for Saturday, March 7 — even though there isn’t any snow to be found on the 3.5-mile Glade Trail from Timberline Lodge to Government Camp.

That’s because Timberline management has agreed to step in and allow Ski the Glade participants to ski and snowboard at the ski resort rather than attempt to replicate a Mount Hood tradition that only works when there is snow. The resort will honor Ski the Glade passes as lift tickets and give participants vouchers worth $10 for the Cascade Dining Room at Timberline Lodge.

Timberline’s move comes as welcome news to the nonprofit Mt. Hood Cultural Museum in Government Camp, which relies on the annual fundraiser for support.

“The mountain community supports one another in good times and bad,” said Lloyd Musser, curator of the museum. “With Timberline’s help, our event will take place in a tough snow year for the mountain.”

Ski the Glade attracts a loyal group of skiers each year, many of whom skied the historic trail back when it was regularly groomed. The museum provides shuttle service to Timberline and Mt. Hood Ski Patrol volunteers including 85-year-old Mt. Hood legend Buzz Bowman provide patrol services.

The Glade Trail, along with the Alpine and Blossom trails, was built by the Forest Service for skiers skiing from Timberline to Government Camp. Over the years, skiers could take a bus from Government Camp to Timberline and ski back on the Glade Trail. The trail was groomed for about 20 years from the 1960s to the 1980s, but is no longer maintained.

The Museum gets a permit from the Forest Service to open the trail once a year, and Timberline grooms the trail as a donation to the museum. Except for when there is no snow to groom.

Jeff Kohnstamm, president of Timberline Lodge and owner of RLK Company, said he was happy to help the museum come up with a creative solution to the low-snow year.

“Timberline supports the Mt. Hood Museum and appreciates their dedication to capturing and sharing this area’s rich alpine heritage, and Ski the Glade is a wonderful and important annual event,” Kohnstamm said.

The Mt. Hood Cultural Museum in Government Camp celebrates the rich history of Mount Hood through interpretive exhibits and educational programming. The museum features six galleries that highlight the history of the mountain’s early exploration, winter sports, settlement and natural history. It is open seven days a week from 9 to 5.

For ticket information for Ski the Glade, call the museum at 503-272-3301. For more information about the Mt. Hood Cultural Museum, contact Bing Sheldon, president of the board, at 503-445-7301.

Last modified: February 21, 2015