December Programs

As the snow begins to fall in earnest, Mt Hood Volunteers are thrilled to introduce a full schedule of winter programs. Highlights include a walk with Timberline’s beautiful St Bernard Heidi at 10am on Friday and Saturday mornings, a snowshoe hike of Trillium Lake at 1pm on Fridays, and “Ski with a Ranger” on Sundays at noon at Timberline. Come join us!

December Program Schedule

Walks with Heidi at Timberline: Friday and Saturday at 10:00am

Join a ranger for a walk with Timberline St Bernard Heidi and a discussion of Mt Hood’s alpine ecology, recreation on the mountain, and the changing role of the St Bernards throughout Timberline’s history.

Timberline Lodge Tours: Friday-Sunday 11:00am, 1:00pm, and 2pm

Join us for a 30 minute tour of historic Timberline lodge. Free. Sno park permit required for parking at Timberline.

Government Camp History Hike

Accompany a U.S. Forest Service Ranger on a 2.5 mile round trip tour of Government Camp and the surrounding area. This hike will take participants through beautiful downtown Government Camp and into the forest above. Explore the rich history of Government Camp from the first settlers to the ski and snowboard industry boom.

Available upon request for booking please call/email Jonathan Schillo at 503-622-2016/jdschillo@fs.fed.us. Please make contact two weeks prior to the desired booking date.

The Civilian Conservation Corps in Zigzag, OR

Want to learn more about the development of the Zigzag area? Participate in our History of the Civilian Conservation Corps Program in Zigzag. The program details the history of the C.C.C. in Oregon and covers some of the life stories of the men that served in the C.C.C. at Camp Zigzag. Also the program will cover some of the history of the Oregon Trail and the Barlow Road which is in close proximity to the Zigzag Ranger Station, and program will detail the role of the C.C.C. in the construction of the historic Timberline Lodge.

 Available upon request for booking please call/email Jonathan Schillo at 503-622-2016/jdschillo@fs.fed.us. Please make contact two weeks prior to the desired booking date.

Passport to the Forest

All educators are invited to participate in a mobile conservation education program offered by personnel of the Zigzag Ranger District of Mt. Hood National Forest. The “Passport” is a mobile conservation education trailer focusing on four main subject areas: Botany, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Geology. The “Passport” can be set up with all four subject areas or individually to focus on one particular subject matter. All lesson plans are hands on, interactive, and designed with fun in mind to allow children to explore the natural world around them in a non-traditional classroom setting.

Available upon request for booking please call/email Jonathan Schillo at 503-622-2016/jdschillo@fs.fed.us. Please make contact two weeks prior to the desired booking date.

Trillium Lake Nature Walk/Snowshoe: Fridays at 1:00pm

Join a Ranger on an educational hike to Trillium Lake. This 4 mile round trip hike begins at 3,700 feet and meanders through the Mount Hood National Forest until finally reaching Trillium Lake and its panoramic and reflective views of Mount Hood.

Where: Meet at Trillium Lake Sno-Park just 2.5 miles East of Timberline Road.

When: Fridays at 1:00 pm starting December 9, 2011

Additional Information: Snowshoes recommended once the snow flies but not required. The trail to Trillium Lake is groomed in winter so it is passable without snowshoes. Be sure to bring warm comfortable clothes and water.

Cost: Free. Donations are not required but appreciated to ensure programs such as this can be continued in the future. Sno park pass required for parking at Trillium Lake.

Ski with a Ranger at Ski Bowl: Sundays at 12 pm starting December 18th, 2011.

New to Skibowl Ski Area or just want to learn more about Mount Hood Area? Take a guided ski or snowboard tour of Skibowl with a US Forest Service Ranger. Explore the trail system and learn more about the ecology and history of Mount Hood. Free to intermediate skiers and riders.

Where: Meet outside the Skibowl West ticket booths.

When: Sunday’s at 12:00 p.m. starting December, 18, 2011

Cost: Free. Donations are not required but appreciated to ensure programs such as this can be continued in the future. Sno-park pass required for parking at Ski bowl.

Ski with a Ranger at Timberline: Saturdays at 12:00pm starting December 17th 2011.

New to Timberline Ski Area or just want to learn more about Mount Hood Area? Take a guided ski or snowboard tour of Timberline with a US Forest Service Ranger. Explore the trail system and learn more about the ecology and history of Mount Hood. Free to intermediate skiers and riders.

Where: Meet at the U.S. Forest Service Desk inside Timberline Lodge.

When: Saturday’s at 12:00 p.m. starting December, 17, 2011

Cost: Free. Donations are not required but appreciated to ensure programs such as this can be continued in the future. Sno-park pass required for parking at Timberline.

 

November Schedule!

The Zigzag Ranger District is pleased to announce our November, 2011 interpretive schedule! This month, we continue to offer Timberline Lodge tours, a Government Camp History Hike, and the Passport to the Forest Program. Additionally, we are proud to announce a new program-The History of the Civilian Conservation Corps in Zigzag!

The Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) was a public works program that employed young men aged 18-25 during the great depression. A part of President Roosevelt’s New Deal program, the CCC played a great role in shaping the Mount Hood National Forest through forestry work, road and building construction, and more.

What are currently the buildings that make up the Zigzag Ranger Station were formerly Camp Zigzag, the longest running CCC built and operated Camp in the Mt. Hood forest. Hundreds of young men spent their formative years during the depression living and working in Zigzag, creating a rich history or not just architecture, but of stories, culture, and the depression itself.

The Zigzag Interpretive program has put together a program to share the history of Camp Zigzag through a walking tour, as well as a cultural and historic overview of the CCC’s presence in Zigzag from 1933-1941. More detailed information about all our interpretive programs offered this November can be found by clicking the link below. We hope to see you all soon! Have a great winter!

November Zigzag Interp Schedule

Thanks for a Great Summer!

…and stay tuned for our winter program schedule!

August Interp Schedule & Star Party

Wow. It is already August… where has the summer gone? This month, we have made two slight changes to our Interpretive schedule. Due to the popularity of the Salmon River hike, we have added a second hike on Fridays at 2:00 p.m in addition to continuing the Thursday 10:00 a.m. hike. To compensate for the additional hike, we have removed the Friday Barlow hike from our August schedule. However, the Barlow hike will still continue on Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. at Skibowl as usual!

Check out the pdf of our full August schedule here: http://mhfha.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/August-2011-One-Page-Flyer.pdf

__________________________________________________

Star Party

This Saturday evening (August 6th) at 8:00 p.m., the US Forest Service and RLK and Company will host a free “star party” outside Historic Timberline Lodge. Professors of astronomy Doug McCarty and Todd Duncan, along with a  number of knowledgable amateur astronomers, will provide telescopes for the public’s viewing pleasure and be available to answer questions. We will meet in the Barlow room inside the Lodge at 8 for a brief overview of what will be seen in the sky, and then head out to the parking lot and look at some stars, planets, and galaxies!

Note: Timberline is located at an elevation of 6,000 feet. Temperatures drop at night, so be sure to bring warm clothes with you! Coffee, hot chocolate, beer, and light snacks will be available for purchase.

_____________________________________________________

 

Woodsey Owl and Smokey Bear at Kiwanis!

The Summer 2011 Interp crew at Kiwanis last Thursday!

Star Party!

Last Saturday, Timberline Lodge and the USFS put on a very successful star party up at Timberline! Amateur astronomers from the area generously donated their equiptment (telescopes) and time to help eductate the public about various stars, planets, and galaxies that are visible from Mt. Hood at this time of year. If you were unable to attend Saturday’s star party, be sure to plan to attend the next one on August 6^th! More information is available at the following link- hope to see you there!

http://www.timberlinelodge.com/evening-under-the-stars-star-party-2/  

2011 Summer Interpretive Programs!

With temperatures well into the 80’s and clear blue skies this past holiday weekend, it seems that Oregon summer is finally here! Zigzag Ranger district is proud to announce the lineup of our summer interpretive programs at the Mount Hood National Forest, all of which are free and open to the public! More detailed information about our programs will be published within the next week, but in the mean time, check out our July schedule below.

________________________________________

Timberline Lodge Tours: Daily, at 11am, 1pm, 2pm, and 3pm

Timberline Alpine Talk: Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 12:00pm

Barlow Road Guided history hike: Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 2:00pm

Government Camp history hike: Saturdays at 12:00pm

Salmon River guided hike: Thursdays at 10:00am

Trillium Lake Campground campfire talk: Fridays and Saturdays at 7:00pm

Passport to the Forest: Sundays from 11:00am-2:00pm

_______________________________________________

*locations for these programs and more details can be found at this link: http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5310748.pdf

**If you have any questions, feel free to contact the ranger station by phone (503-622-2033), or visit our website at http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/mthood/

***We look forward to seeing you this summer!

-the 2011 Volunteer Interpretive Staff