Timberline Lodge » news

What’s In Store This Winter Season At Timberline?

brian — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:56:22 +0000

Winter is around the corner and Timberline has great things in store for guests this winter. An El Nino system is predicted to influence our winter weather here in the Pacific Northwest, and if weather forecasters are right, it sounds like we’re in for lots of snow at Timberline’s 6,000-foot elevation!

The Mt. Hood Fusion Pass: Now in its 4th season, this popular unlimited season pass to both Timberline and Mt. Hood Ski Bowl is the best and most exciting value on Mt. Hood. Fusion Passes are on sale now at www.mthoodfusionpass.com and are being sold at all Portland area REI stores on October weekends. Two great mountains – Endless Fun! Click here to visit the Mt. Hood Fusion Pass web site for more details.

The New Timberline Complete Pass: Yep…Hook, line, and sinker – lock, stock, and barrel – skis, boots, and poles! You name it…this is the whole enchilada! Since Timberline boasts the longest ski season in North America and perhaps the finest summer ski and ride program anywhere in the world, it was only logical to now offer this new premium annual lift pass product. The new Timberline Complete Pass offers lift accessed skiing and riding for as long as we are open, winter, spring, summer, and fall, with no blackout dates, all for $999. Are you ready for yearlong skiing and riding? Timberline is! Click here to learn more about this special pass.

eTicketing and Online Reservations: Visit www.timberlinelodge.com often! You’ll see us roll out new improvements to our website every month. And, look for special discount offers! In order to offer up great value and an easy and expedited online purchasing process, Timberline is launching a new eTicketing program as well as an improved online reservation system for lodging. A new EXPRESS window at our ticket office will accommodate those who purchase their lift tickets online with a down-loadable voucher. We are identifying other such opportunities throughout our operation to reduce hassle, increase value, and get folks out on the slopes faster.

January is Learn a Snowsport Month: Make this season the season you learn a snowsport, improve your techniques, or introduce a friend to your favorite winter snowsport. Governor Kulongowski has officially proclaimed January 2010 to be Learn a Snowsport Month in Oregon. A statewide promotion is underway to promote all the goodness that comes with skiing and riding the slopes and enjoying an active winter lifestyle in Oregon. We are pleased to announce that Steve Muise has joined our professional staff as the new Director of Timberline’s Snowsport Center. Steve will soon be rolling out new learning programs with an energized focus on freestyle terrain for all ability levels.

Timberline Culinary Series – Fireside Brunch and More: Historic Timberline Lodge offers Oregon’s only ski-in/ski out lodging as well as the first rate Northwest Fresh cuisine of chef Leif Eric Benson. Easy access in and out of the lodge and a new fireside brunch will guarantee an elegant but convenient experience, first-rate service, and a sampling of the region’s best culinary offerings.

New Winter Entrance: A newly designed and constructed winter entrance is now in place at the entrance of Timberline Lodge. This stunning and innovative design was created by the Portland architecture firm of Rhiza A&D. We are ready for the snow to fly!

Timberline Lodge Proud To Sponsor OPB’s Ken Burns New Film: The National Parks – America’s Best Idea

brian — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 20:22:06 +0000

Beginning September 27th, OPB will air Ken Burns’ 12 hour, six part series on America’s National Parks. Ken Burns’, the world’s foremost documentary film maker co-produced the series with Dayton Duncan. It is not simply a nature film. Like other Burns films, it is documentary history, and it is a dramatic story, full of struggle and conflict, high ideals and crass opportunism, stirring adventure, and enduring inspiration. It is a human story filled with unforgettable characters, from prospectors to presidents, outlaws to artists. And, it is the story of an idea – and idea that is constantly tested, constantly evolving, and inherently full of contradictory tensions: between individual rights and the community, between preservation and exploitation, between one generation’s immediate desires and the next generation’s legacy.

While not in a national park, Timberline Lodge, located in the Mt. Hood National Forest, was born from the same period in our history, and from the same ideals as the parks movement. It too represents “America’s Best Idea” along with Crater Lake National Park to the south. R.L.K. and Company, operators of Timberline Lodge are proud of this history and are proud to sponsor this important television event along with co-partners REI, and the Oregon Energy Trust. Lovers of Timberline Lodge will also love The National Parks -America’s Best Idea. Tune in to OPB at 8 pm. on September 27-October 2.

Volunteerism, Collaboration, Innovative Architecture Produce New Winter Entry to Timberline Lodge

brian — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 23:29:25 +0000

Sandy, OR – Since its construction in 1937, providing pedestrians winter access to Timberline Lodge when snows envelope the Lodge to depths exceeding 20 feet has always been a challenge. Over five years have now passed since a non-profit corporation, Friends of Timberline, seized the initiative to solve the problem and began raising funds and in-kind services which now total $773,000. The fruit of the working coalition consisting of Friends of Timberline, RLK and Company (operators of Timberline Lodge), and Mt. Hood National Forest is the graceful reticulated design of Portland’s innovative architecture firm, rhiza A + D. Installation of the new winter entry is scheduled for the week of September 20. The ribbon cutting ceremony of Timberline Lodge’s New Winter Entrance will occur at 3:45 p.m. on October 3, 2009. Media outlets are invited to attend.

Like a snowdrift blown against the National Historic Landmark’s massive masonry façade, the design created by Ean Eldred and Peter Nylen of rhiza A + D emerged as the winner of an international architecture competition. “It will be an icon next to an existing icon,” said Joachim Grube, President of Friends of Timberline, the non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and restoration of Timberline Lodge. Consisting of 12 aluminum arches covered with translucent polycarbonate panels, the one-of-a-kind components are being fabricated by IMD (Innovative Metal Design LLC).

Gary Larsen, Mt. Hood National Forest Supervisor, and Jeff Kohnstamm, President of RLK and Company jointly committed to logistically and financially supporting this project. “The original architects from the 1930’s had their own interpretation of the Lodge. Today, we have a new age of fresh thinking architects with their own interpretation. Timberline Lodge is the people’s Lodge so the spirit of what people think today is important to how we continue to see the Lodge,” said Gary Larsen, Mt. Hood National Forest Supervisor. Jeff Kohnstamm, President of RLK and Company added, “As operators of Timberline Lodge, we are pleased to support this project which will enhance both this beloved structure and the experience of our visitors.”

Construction of new footings, concrete steps, and landings for the Lodge’s main entrance was also accomplished mainly by in-kind services of a coalition of contractors, sub-contractors, and suppliers under the coordination of Hoffman Construction Company. In addition, generous grants from several foundations also helped make this project a reality.

Media Contacts: Joachim Grube, Friends of Timberline at 503-503-221-0150 or 503-572-7646 (cell); Jon Tullis, RLK & Co., Operators of Timberline Lodge at 503-272-3134; Ean Eldred, rhiza A + D Architecture and Design at 503-484-5495; or Rick Acosta, Mt. Hood National Forest at 503-668-1791.

2009-10 Winter Season Passes Now Available Online

brian — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:50:44 +0000

With our summer ski & ride season now wrapped up, it’s time to look forward to winter. With a dusting of snow over this past weekend, we can already feel a great winter season coming up!

We’ve just launched our online pass sales with lots of great options for you:

Mt. Hood Fusion Pass
Unlimited skiing and riding at BOTH Timberline Lodge and Mt. Hood Skibowl.

Weekday Plus Pass
Ski any weekday at Timberline until March 30th (Monday-Friday, except holidays), and then the pass ‘pluses’ to an unlimited season pass thru May 31, 2010.

Flex Passes
Available in both 5 and 10 credit options. Each credit is good for one day of lift access thru May 31, 2010. This is a fantastic option for skiers and riders that don’t want to commit to a full season pass — giving you a discount of 35% – 45% off regular priced daily lift tickets!

Timberline Season Pass
Unlimited skiing and riding at Timberline Lodge.

CLICK HERE for more information and to purchase your pass online.

Timberline Lodge Is Showcasing Oregon Bounty with New Culinary Series

brian — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 00:13:36 +0000

What started in the wake of the economic downturn as a value proposition to lure lunch guests back to Timberline Lodge, has blossomed into a first class culinary attraction that showcases the bounty of Oregon. Inviting guests to a “Taste of Oregon,” historic Timberline Lodge has developed the Farmers Market Brunch Summer Culinary Series. Guests are thrilled to find a convenient and value-oriented buffet selection of Northwest fresh cuisine every day in Timberline’s main lobby from 11:00 am. till 3 pm. Under the direction of Timberline’s Executive Chef Leif Eric Benson, the lodge’s culinary team began reaching out to various growers, producers and food industry advocates to collaborate on the buffet offerings. What they found was a vibrant community of regional food enthusiasts that felt that historic Timberline Lodge was the perfect setting to showcase their foods.

Each week this summer, the Lodge featured different foods that are produced locally. So far, the brunch has focused on strawberries, cherries, USDA lamb, hazelnuts, pink shrimp, Dungeness crab, albacore tuna, potatoes, pears, and local coffee roasters. The variety, quality, and selection of fresh local foods has combined to be most impressive.

Due to its quick success, this new brunch format at Timberline Lodge will become a regular year ’round offering. A Farmers Market Brunch Fall Culinary Series begins in September focusing on wines, wild mushrooms, meats, and all the autumn produce harvests which make Oregon one of the most desirable food regions in the world.

USDA Secretary Vilsack Announces Economic Recovery Projects For Forest Facilities And Trails

brian — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 23:18:22 +0000

Sandy, OR – Mt. Hood National Forest will receive $4.25 million dollars to improve facilities at Timberline Lodge, the national landmark jewel, which was created by FDR and the Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression of the 1930s. The work is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) for Forest Facilities and Trails and was announced by Secretary Tom Vilsack on July 21, 2009. The 191 projects, funded at more than $274 million, are located throughout the US Forest Service in 32 states.

The work at Timberline Lodge will employ numerous contractors and employ such trades people as painters, carpenters, electricians, masons, pipe fitters, roofers, and road construction crews. “The Recovery Act projects we’re announcing today are central to creating jobs and building a better, stronger economy in the future,” said Secretary Vilsack. “These projects exemplify President Obama’s commitment to sustainability, reducing our environmental footprint, and increasing energy efficiency, which will benefit the 178 million people who visit the National Forests each year, while generating additional tourism and stimulating local economies.”
Some of the work at Timberline Lodge should begin within the next 90 days and continue for upwards of one year. Still other work will begin within the year with contracts planned to extend for up to one to two years after commencement. Work includes exterior painting of the lodge, window replacement, emergency power generator replacement, construction of a climber’s register and welcome plaza, chimney restoration, water supply system improvements, roof repairs, and other work.

“This is fantastic news for Timberline Lodge and everyone who loves it. Public works is at the heart of Timberline’s heritage”, said Jon Tullis, spokesman for RLK and Company, operators of Timberline Lodge. Jon went on to say, “In fact, Timberline Lodge was built during the Great Depression by the New Deal’s W.P.A. It was a stimulus project itself, and it is interesting that it has provided economic stimulus throughout the past 72 years, right up until today. But yes, we are struggling with some deteriorating infrastructure and costly historic preservation work, so the fact that Timberline Lodge will once again receive stimulus dollars is very meaningful and timely. You know, it has been said that our future lies in preserving our history.”

In addition to the funding for Timberline Lodge, Mt. Hood National Forest also received $1.4 million dollars for trails work. The ARRA funding will be used to employ people to logout and brush trails, improve trail tread, and reconstruct and constructs trails.

The Forest Service Trails System provides access to a wide diversity of users including hikers, horseback riders, mountain bikers, cross-country skiers, snowmobilers, and all-terrain vehicle enthusiasts. In many ways, the benefits of maintaining the trails system are similar to those of roads. Trail maintenance includes protecting soils and reducing erosion, along with clearing vegetation, controlling invasive species, and removing downed trees. Repairs and upgrades to trail head and parking areas will improve access and safety for trail users. All of this is labor-intensive work requiring skilled workers to be hired under ARRA.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act also directs the Forest Service to improve, maintain and renovate public and administrative facilities. As with the roads and trails system, there is currently a large backlog of maintenance needs for public facilities. Maintenance needs were identified through extensive studies of specific public facilities needed to support the primary outdoor activities that are best provided on the National Forests and grasslands.

Workers hired under ARRA will maintain facilities so that they contribute to safe, high quality outdoor experiences for citizens. Once work is completed these buildings will be more energy efficient, use less water, have a smaller environmental footprint and save taxpayer money.

Media Contacts:
Rick Acosta (Mt. Hood National Forest) at 503-706-4497
Jon Tullis (R L K, and Company, operators of Timberline Lodge at 503-272-3134

Lifts will be open through September 7th for Summer Season!

brian — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 19:02:22 +0000

As the west coast is seeing record-breaking heat, we’re still loving the weather up on the Palmer Snowfield at Timberline. With plenty of snow, our lift operations will be going strong through September 7th, 2009.

It’s been a great summer so far. We’ve seen the US Ski and Snowboard Teams training for the upcoming Winter Olympics, campers from all over the globe at the world famous Windell’s, High Cascade Snowboard Camp, and Mt. Hood Summer Ski Camp (just to name a few!), and we’ve had some great events like the Bonfire Pipe To Pipe.

August is shaping up to be a great month of summer snow, blue skies, and perfect Oregon weather. Come up for some skiing and riding*, enjoy our Farmers Market Brunch, and grab a FREE music concert. Life doesn’t get any better!

* Our public freestyle terrain will be closing as of August 15th.

Starting September 8th, we’ll be taking a three-week break to do annual maintenance on our lifts. During this time period Historic Timberline Lodge will be open for tours, dining and overnight stays. We’ll also continue to run our Magic Mile Skyride weekends in September from 10am to 4pm (except for the weekend of Sept. 12-13 when it will be closed for routine maintenance).

And if the snowpack permits, we’ll be opening back up for our Fall season in the beginning of October.

You can stay current with our weather and snow conditions by visiting our conditions page. Our live webcams will give you a great look at what you’re missing!

We look forward to seeing you up here soon…

Timberline Lodge Launches New Online Reservation System

brian — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:19:17 +0000

Time is precious, now more than ever. Realizing this, Timberline Lodge has invested in an enhanced online reservation system that will make the task of booking a room reservation online even easier. With multiple improvements over our last online reservation system, booking a room is now more fun and efficient.

Powered by the iStay booking engine from iHotelier, booking a room at Timberline is now incredibly simple. The new single-screen interface allows you to search for rooms by date, or conversely, see future availability based on a specific room type.

After finding your room, a quick click on the ‘continue reservation’ button in the bottom right corner of the screen takes you to a single ‘check-out’ screen where personal information and payment is entered.

The booking engine is complete with new photography of all the historic room types at Timberline — giving you a great tour of our various room interiors. Just click the thumbnails below the main photo window to explore all of the images.

The new reservation system serves both Timberline Lodge and The Lodge At Government Camp.

Give it a try for yourself by clicking here. We look forward to your future stay with us!

Celebrate Oregon’s 150th Year With Free USFS Programs

brian — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 22:57:19 +0000

Mount Hood National Forest (MHNF) volunteers will give the public a chance to celebrate Oregon’s 150th year with free programs focusing on history, the outdoors and conservation this summer.

“Every year, we give thousands of visitors a more interesting and valuable look at the mountain that is so identifiable statewide,” says Lawson Reif, head of the volunteer interpretive program in the ZigZag Ranger District of MHNF. “You can’t celebrate Oregon’s 150th anniversary as a state without a visit to Mount Hood.”

To celebrate the anniversary, Lawson and the Forest Service created a brand new exhibit for Timberline Lodge’s Rachael Griffin Museum, which features 150 years on Mount Hood and includes photographs, artifacts and history.

In the historic Barlow Room, The Builders of Timberline, a 22-minute video on the construction of the Lodge, will be played at 12:30 p.m., giving visitors an inside look into the New Deal era building.

The Work Progress Administration (WPA) workers who constructed Timberline camped in tents for 15 months at Summit Meadows, which can be seen from the bird’s eye view of 6,000 feet at the historic Lodge.

“Summit Meadows was a resting point for weary pioneers in the 1800’s,” volunteer Grace Saad said. “The men who built Timberline were following in the footsteps of the great American travelers of the Barlow Road.”

Mount Hood itself was also a huge draw for early settlers of Oregon like Elijah (Lige) Coalman who summitted Mount Hood 586 times.

Volunteer Rangers will provide several guided hikes from Timberline this year as well, one with a focus on the climbing history of Mount Hood and a visit to the site of an old climber’s cabin.

Rangers will also provide free tours of the Lodge at 11 a.m. and 1, 2 and 3 p.m. The tours will touch on pioneer and Native American history, as well as the construction, hand-crafted furnishings, art and textiles of the National Historic Landmark.

Alpine talks, guided hikes on weekends and special events at Timberline will cover topics such as wildflowers, climbing history, geology and fire prevention. Rangers also staff an information desk in the lower lobby from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., where they let tourists in on local secrets like the best place for a beer, the cheapest taco, the best waterfall hike or the most secluded campground.
After a Saturday at Timberline, visitors can enjoy 7 p.m. campfire programs at Timothy or Trillium Lakes starting the weekend of July 4 and wake up for a guided hike in the forest, to learn about the plant and animal life that make our state so unique. Treks start near Government Camp and Welches and are less than 3 miles. Hikers will be rewarded with a postcard view of Mount Hood from Mirror Lake or a peaceful moment in the moss-draped maples and old growth firs of the aptly-named Salmon River.

The history lover might prefer a short hike focusing on the Barlow Road at Mount Hood Skibowl West, where the kids can hop a shuttle to Skibowl East for go-carts, mini golf and a mean hot dog. Learn about pioneer travel and area history or take the lift to Tom Dick Peak, for a view of 5 Cascade volcanoes and an alpine lake.

Rangers will also provide a plethora of other activities this summer, especially for children, including Junior Ranger Day, Festival of the Forest, Wild Wednesdays at Wildwood Recreation Area, Smokey’s Trail, and special tours, hikes and service projects for large groups.

“Oregon’s history is so rich,” Reif says. “It’s great to be able to provide activities for the children and families that set our state apart. We have 150 years of history to celebrate. I only hope the next 150 are as exciting.”

For a full schedule of events, to book an event or tour for a large group or more information, visit www.mthoodvolunteers.wordpress.com, email mthoodvolunteers@hotmail.com, or call Reif at (503) 622-3191 ext. 610.

You can also read more about these programs here on timberlinelodge.com

Media contact: Grace Saad
Phone: 503-929-6244
Email: grace.saad@hotmail.com

Sarah Baker Munro Book Signing at Timberline!

brian — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 23:18:31 +0000

Please join author Sarah Baker Munro at Timberline Lodge to celebrate the release of her new book — Timberline Lodge, The History, Art, and Craft of an American Icon.

July 25th • 1:30pm – 3:00pm • Barlow Room

Timberline Lodge—the magnificent Oregon icon on Mount Hood—is one of the few twentieth-century American buildings of its size constructed and furnished entirely by hand. Dedicated by Franklin D. Roosevelt in September 1937 and a National Landmark since 1977, the lodge attracts nearly 2 million visitors per year.

From construction to decoration, Works Progress Administration funds employed more than 400 workers and 100 artists, including a photographer who took the forbidden photo of FDR in his wheelchair and a ski patrol who bunked in the stable.

Timberline Lodge is both a museum of craft traditions and an active mountain destination. The first Magic Mile chairlift at Timberline was the second chairlift in the nation. The exterior of the lodge was used in the opening scene of The Shining, and visitors can see a piece of Room 237’s door and the axe immortalized by Jack Nicholson in the movie.

Richly illustrated with historical photos and stunning new color photography, Timberline Lodge includes biographical sketches of nearly 60 artists and describes more than 250 works of art in the collection.

Educated at Pitzer College in Claremont, California, and the University of California, Berkeley, where she received her master’s in folklore, Sarah Baker Munro is past president of the Board of Friends of Timberline. Active with Friends of Timberline since 1975, she coauthored the 1978 catalog and has revised and updated the guidebook to the lodge through several editions. She has been voted the historian of Timberline Lodge by Friends of Timberline.

Timberline Lodge, The History, Art, and Craft of an American Icon
Pub Date: July 2009
ISBN: 978-0-88192-856-3
224 pp, 110 color photos
90 b/w photos
8 1/2 x 10″, hardcover
$34.95