Quick vacation

Toe at Namanu

This summer seems a blur. We were very busy with family in June/July and then spent most of August recovering (at least a week inside due to the smoke from forest fires across the west coast).  Sasha (our 14 year old shepherd mix) is ancient and has had a number of health issues that kept us relatively close to home or taking vacations in turns. The one exception was a family trip we took with my mother to Mt. Hood. We were only gone overnight, but we had an amazing time.

Mom wanted us to visit her childhood summer camp, her favorite place in the world. I did family camp there as a teenager (we lived out of district, so I did not qualify to be a regular camper) and we have taken Toe to family camp, but he was very young when we went (only three!) and barely remembers it. J had never been to the famed Camp Namanu. So, on Open House day (for campers to see camp and meet the counselors beforehand) we drove three hours to Mt. Hood. Toe played games with the counselors in the meadow and we had a tour of the camp. It was a lovely afternoon and we have decided to sign up for family camp next year (with J joining us!).

Camp Namanu is on the banks of the Sandy River on Mount Hood, so Mom reserved us a bunk room at Timberline Lodge and we proceeded up the mountain to experience another mainstay of my childhood. Yes, this is the hotel from The Shining (only the outside). No, it is not remotely creepy.

Timberline Lodge

Mount Hood, J, and Toe

Above the clouds!

The Lodge was built during the Great Depression as part of the New Deal and has served as a ski lodge/hotel ever since. There is now a lodge below for skiers but the hotel draws many visitors to see the incredible architecture and artistry. We went to dinner in the main dining room and then Toe took a dip in the pool. I dipped my toe in and decided I'd rather lifeguard fully clothed. It was chilly! Because of Toe's CF, he is not allowed in hot tubs (they can harbor bad bacteria that can get into his lungs) and J and I don't partake when Toe is around. Mom, however, had a soak and enjoyed herself.

In the bunk room

CF Life does not stop on vacation.

The next day, we took a guided tour of the Lodge and were completely overwhelmed by the information about the building's construction. Some highlights:

• The building has no metal holding it up. Only wood and stone.
• It was created using Ponderosa Pine, Doug Fir, and volcanic rock from further up the mountain, leftover glass, wood, any scraps they could get. All of the wrought iron decorations were made from scrap metal.
• The wood was hand-hewn and the building was constructed without the use of machinery (mechanical cranes, electric saws, bulldozers, etc.).
• Stonemason immigrants from Italy built the chimney and mixed ground volcanic rock with cement for mortar, which is why the chimney is still in such good condition.
• All of the curtains, chairs, tables, benches, beds, upholstery were all created and are maintained specifically for the lodge.Those were also created using old army jackets, wool sweaters, leftover fabric.
• The Lodge was built in 15 months!

Wooden pegs and gravity hold this building in place!

Chimney - second floor. The chimney runs from the ground floor through the ceiling.

Entrance to the Blue Ox cafe where there are amazing stained glass murals.

 The craftsmanship of the building was incredibly inspiring.They built a thing of beauty with the intention that it would last a very long time.

On our way home, we took a detour to observe the damage done by the Elk Creek fire last summer. The old highway still goes past Crown Point, but was closed after Multnomah Falls.We drove along the Interstate and saw the damage for miles. It's hard to convey in photos. Many of the trees on the hillside looked like toothpicks or like defoliated deciduous trees but they were once evergreens. Many trees had scorch marks on their trunks. It was important for us that Toe saw this to understand a what a single act can do. We were all pretty quiet on our way back to Portland.

Crown Point - Temps in the 90's. Toe was not impressed by the view.

Those trees on the crest were once evergreens

Note the scorch marks on the trunks.

Even though it was just an overnight, we all had an amazing time. I'm SO glad Mom suggested we do this and that Ron and Jamie gave her the time away (and Miss R watched Sasha for us!)