Off to Mt. Hood: An Autobiography of the Old Road

"It took us an hour and a half in those days to drive just from Rhododendron to Government Camp"

"How's the road?" That was the question that was most frequently asked of us who drove the motor stages over the old road to Mount Hood. It was a question that had to be answered differently to different people. If it were asked by an "oldtimer" who knew the road well, the answer was a simple "good" or "bad." If the questioner was a stranger, one had to find out what he considered a "bad" road to be. If he were a person used to mud and dust, corduroy and plank, bumps, sand and rocks, with trees here and there that nudged in close to the ruts, it was easy to give him an idea of the conditions that prevailed for the particular day. If he were not used to such things, it was far wiser to change the subject, else you might lose a passenger before ever getting started."

This is how Ivan M. Woolley describes driving to Mount Hood from Portland.  His first road trip from Portland to Mount Hood was with Bert Higley in his 1909 Peerless.  The followin year, during summer breaks from college, Mr. Woolley's acquired a job as a driver for a commercial car service.  In those days, most visitors would not drive their own vehicle on this somewhat sketchy road; they hired a driver.  And only the adventurous even made their way to the mountain.  It could be a multi-day trip, with the first day's drive from Portland to Sandy and the 2nd day's drive ending in Welches.  The most difficult part of the drive was to Government Camp where the road ended.

"Horseless Carriages" such as those seen in this August 1915 photograph will return to Government Camp on July 28, 2011 when the Horseless Carriage Club of America tours
Mount Hood and Timberline Lodge. Over 100 pre-1915 Horseless Carriages will travel a
portion of the Loop Highway proposed in 1915 and constructed in 1922. The drivers in
this photograph were promoting construction of the Mount Hood Loop Highway.
 

 
To learn more of the history of the history of driving to Mount Hood, you can read Ivan M. Woolley's book, Off to Mt. Hood, written in 1959, in full online.  The online version is scanned from the original book including several photos of early "horseless carriages" making their way along the Mt. Hood Highway during the early 20th century.
 
For more information about the history of Mount Hood, you can also visit: mounthoodhistory.com online or tour The Mt Hood Cultural Center and Museum in Government Camp, Oregon.

Oregon’s Mt Hood Territory to host Episode for New TV Series Getting Away Together

New series showcases the ‘togethering’ trend of sharing vacation rentals with friends and family.

Getting Away Together, a new TV series airing on PBS member stations, is featuring Mt Hood, Oregon in an episode of the show’s premier season. Unlike other travel shows, Getting Away Together brings the concept of “togethering” to television. Getting Away Together will feature the benefits of staying in a professionally managed vacation home as well as travel tips for patrons visiting The Villages of Mt Hood. The show will be filmed at a Mt Hood Vacation Rental in Zigzag, Oregon as well as several locations throughout Clackamas County this month.

Slated to air in October 2011, the Getting Away Together series features a new group of travelers each episode as they unwind with meaningful travel experiences in fun locales, with vacation rentals as their home base. As this “togethering” trend continues, people are selecting vacation rentals for multi-bedroom accommodations and a sense of comfort under one roof.

The Vacation Rental Managers Association (VRMA) is introducing the show as part of its Discover Vacation Homes awareness initiative, together with series sponsors TripAdvisor®, CSA Travel Protection and 13 dynamic travel destinations.

“Getting Away Together is a unique opportunity to showcase the benefits of staying in a professionally managed vacation rental home and the remarkable attractions Oregon’s Mt Hood Territory features,” said Alex Risser, president of VRMA. “Staying in a professionally managed vacation rental home is a unique lodging option which allows families and friends to stay together, under one roof, in a fully furnished home. Patrons are able to have a comfortable, relaxed vacation while experiencing all facets the location offers,” said Risser.

Vacation rentals are one of the fastest-growing hospitality categories in North America, with groups of friends and families discovering them now more than ever. There are millions of vacation rental choices across North America, from individual owners to professional companies who maintain and service vacation rental properties and their guests each day which includes all of the proper inspections, secure reservation services, housekeeping, landscaping, laundry, etc. Professional vacation rental companies provide all the benefits of other lodging options with additional amenities and value, including extra values or coupons for local activities, shopping and dining, as well as free rental cars, gift cards, home features and more.

“One of the core issues facing the vacation rental industry remains the lack of awareness surrounding the lodging option,” Risser said. “Getting Away Together is an ideal outlet for increasing awareness and serves as an educational tool for traveling patrons, which in turn, increases tourism revenue dollars for each destination the series features.”

The series is being produced by the Emmy Award-winning PineRidge Film & Television Company, who has proven travel series success with Great Hotels, Great Vacation Homes, Passport to Europe and more. Getting Away Together portrays the professionally managed vacation rental experience in an authentic and informative manner.

Visit http://www.gettingawaytogether.com/ for more information about episodes, best-kept trip secrets, expert takeaway tips and other links and resources to help you make travel decisions along the way. “Like” the TV series on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GettingAwayTogether and follow the show on Twitter @GetAwayTogether.

About the Vacation Rental Managers Association (VRMA)
VRMA is the professional trade association of the vacation rental property management and hospitality industries. Founded in 1985, VRMA has more than 600 property management and associate members throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and Caribbean representing approximately 150,000 vacation rentals, condos and villas.

About VRMA’s Discover Vacation Homes Initiative
Discover Vacation Homes is the trusted public voice on vacation rentals, providing an official resource for vacation rental travel information. As the awareness initiative of the Vacation Rental Managers Association, it represents approximately 150,000 rental homes, condos and villas from more than 500 of the most well established vacation rental management companies in North America, Central America and the Caribbean.

About PineRidge Productions
As a division of Jerry Smith Film & Television, PineRidge Film & Television Company develops, produces and delivers quality television programs, utilizing an Emmy Award-winning production team. Since 1985, PineRidge has commissioned more than a thousand half-hour shows and 34 hour-long Prime Time specials. Perhaps best known for their series on Discovery Travel Channel including Great Hotels, Passport to Europe, Passport to Latin America and Samantha Brown's Weekends, PineRidge also produces for HGTV, Fine Living Network, Food Network and PBS stations nationwide.

About TripAdvisor
TripAdvisor® is the world's largest travel site, enabling travelers to plan and have the perfect trip. TripAdvisor offers trusted advice from real travelers and a wide variety of travel choices and planning features (including Flights search, Vacation Rentals, TripAdvisor Mobile and TripAdvisor Trip Friends) with seamless links to booking tools.

About CSA Travel Protection
CSA Travel Protection, a Europ Assistance company, is dedicated to providing affordable travel insurance and emergency assistance services to protect travelers’ valuable investments and provide the peace of mind one deserves while traveling. Since its inception in 1991, CSA has developed a reputation for standing behind its customers and evolving products and services to meet their needs. Through superior customer service, extensive experience and industry-leading innovation, CSA is with its clients every step of the way, whenever and wherever they are needed.

For More Information:

Amanda Drake
727.420.8395
Amanda.drake@ypartnership.com

Betsy LaBarge
866.794.6813
betsy@mthoodrentals.com

Sandy Mountain Festival

“Sandy Celebrates 100 Years of Pioneer Spirit!”

The 39th annual Sandy Mountain Festival in Sandy, Oregon celebrates the city’s 100th birthday this year. The nearly week-long party kicks off with the parade down Proctor Ave on Thursday, July 7 and continues through the weekend with live entertainment, over 150 artists and 20 food booths on display in Meinig Park, a carnival and events for kids.

The best way to make sure you don’t miss any of the festivities is to stay in a Mt Hood Vacation Rental for the long weekend. Reserve one of our Featured Mt Hood Vacation Rentals, July 4-8 and receive an automatic 10% discount.

Kids' Pet Show on Wednesday, July 6 at 10:30 am behind the Sandy Aquatic Center. Bring your pet and show off some tricks.

Kids' Bike Derby on Thursday, July 7 at 10:30 am at the Cedar Ridge Middle School track. Categories for kids ages 3 and up.

Sandy Mountain Festival Parade, Thursday, July 7 at 7:00 pm. Enjoy a true home town parade that features horses, antique cars, floats, marching groups and Sandy's five-generation court.

Sandy Music, Fair and Feast in Sandy's Centennial Plaza.  Thursday Night is Family Night, 6:00 -11:00 pm featuring Anything Goes Band (the band will not play during the parade). Free to attend.

The Junior Talent Show is on Friday, July 8 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm (with cake and ice cream!). 6:00 pm to 12:30 am is entertainment for people 21 and over. Enjoy the beer and wine garden, margarita booth, concessions and main stage entertainment with live music from Dirt Farm Cowboys and Crush.

Open Microphone Session is on Saturday, July 9 from 3:00 – 5:00 pm. Those 21 and over will enjoy live music featuring Lock, Stock & Barrel and Crush from 6:00 pm to 12:30 am in the beer garden with beer, wine and margaritas. Get your $2 off admission coupons from Sandy Les Schwab!

Kids' Carnival and Events will open after the Parade on Thursday and continue through Sunday, July 7 - 10. Other kids’ events include a pet show, bike derby, puppet shows and a kids’ parade.

Birdcage Theater Performances throughout the day on Friday and Saturday, July 9 - 10. Enjoy Oregon Old Time Fiddlers, Penny’s Puppets, the Sandy High Jazz Quartet and more!

Dale Nicholls Front Stage features live performances of music throughout the day on Friday and Saturday, July 9 - 10.



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