While The Clowder In the Powder was going on in Michigan’s UP, and setting records for attendance, a small group of forum members converged in Hood River, Oregon for a truly epic experience on Mt Hood. Previously, there have been three snowcat events on Mt Hood, and all were on the south side of the mountain - at Timberline Lodge. That facility was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930’s. However, more than 40 years earlier (1889) Cloud Cap Inn was built on the north side of the mountain. The Inn survived for several decades, though it never prospered. In 1942 it was sold to the government, and a few years later (1950) they were ready to burn it , as-in gasoline and matches in hand, when the Crag Rats intervened. The Crag Rats are the oldest mountain search and rescue organization in North America and they negotiated a long-term lease with the US Forest Service. The Crag Rats use it as a base of operations, and they have various organizational events at Cloud Cap during the year.
The Crag Rats are an all-volunteer organization and they eschew donations and fund-raising. Their agreement with the Forest Service requires it be maintained to a very high standard of originality…. all at their expense. But the Cloud Cap Inn needs a new roof, and it’s a very expensive undertaking. Two forum members, Sno-Drifter and Pontoon Princess, have been involved with the Crag Rats for quite a number of years and there is considerable respect and appreciation that works both ways. (I believe Sno-Drifter is an honorary Crag Rat, and the number in that group is a whopping one.)
Pontoon Princess and Sno-Drifter with Crag Rat Deno (pronounced Den-O ) in the background. Sno-Drifter is wearing the official Crag Rat uniform shirt, and all the money in the world won’t buy you that patch, and what it signifies.
The snowcat event at Cloud Cap Inn was quite literally a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. They were opening the doors of the Inn to us as a charitable event to raise some funds for the new roof.
After meeting in Hood River we drove up to a parking area where the snowcats were unloaded from their trailers, and then reloaded with gear for the trip to Cloud Cap Inn. There really wasn’t that much snow, but the wind started blowing. Fortunately, it wasn’t all that bad for the roughly 11.5 mile trip up to the Inn, and we were able to unload the machines without much difficulty. But the strength of the wind kept building. There are two wood stoves and a large fireplace inside the Inn and they were voraciously burning firewood trying to heat the Inn. But the wind… it was a howling. By no stretch of the imagination is the Inn "weather-tight”. Gaps in the siding and around windows and doors resulted in both wind and snow intrusion. The inside temperature was 47 degrees, and that’s with a bunch of people and the wood-burning devices going full-tilt. When the wind died down somewhat, the inside temperature quickly gained about 10 degrees! Being outside when it was really blowing was interesting. Visibility was very limited, and any exposed skin felt like it was being media blasted by snow and ice crystals. Strong wind gusts challenged one’s ability to stay mostly upright. But…I wouldn’t have missed this for anything.
The Crag Rats were incredible hosts. We had a Bluegrass band (Caleb Klauder, Reeb Willms and their friend Caroline Oakley) providing music, and the food? Well, it was AWESOME! Crag Rat James was a fantastic chef, and he was very ably assisted by Paula. Fantastic food, and lots of it!!!
Besides your humble scribe and Mrs Blackfoot, of course we had Mr. and Mrs Sno-Drifter, better known as Scott and Sue; and the Pontoon Princess (Jinn). But also, Mr. and Mrs. Pjointy Chops, Aaron and Anna; 1BG, Jack, Mrs 1BG, Jackie, and their two children (Yes, that would be the show-stealing Lil’ Capn and his little sister Lynnaia); Mr. and Mrs Tye One On (AKA: Nick and April); and even The Infamous WBJ1 showed up - all the way from Georgia. Most fortunately though, The Wonderful Jenn was there to keep him (somewhat) in line.
Many participants can personally vouch for the necessity of a new roof. The ceilings in several of the Inn’s guest rooms started “raining” the following morning. (Nick theorized that the very strong winds had blown snow into the attic, and when the wind had died down the temperature in the attic rose to the point the snow was melting and dripping through the wood ceilings.)
Is this a cool fireplace, or what?
On Saturday morning The Infamous WBJ1 convinced The Wonderful Jenn to go for a hike on snow shoes with him. But... he had an ulterior motive…and something up his sleeve (actually it was probably in his pocket). When they returned it was officially announced he had asked Jenn to marry him, and surprising many of us (most? all?) …she said yes! There was a moving champagne toast from Sno Drifter, and Caleb, Reeb and Caroline played a Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner song, The Right Combination. They followed that up with an impromptu song, Marry Me at Cloud Cap. It was Perfect! Seriously. No Hollywood director could have scripted it better.
Knowing what was going to happen, I wanted one last “before" pic.
The Crag Rats are an all-volunteer organization and they eschew donations and fund-raising. Their agreement with the Forest Service requires it be maintained to a very high standard of originality…. all at their expense. But the Cloud Cap Inn needs a new roof, and it’s a very expensive undertaking. Two forum members, Sno-Drifter and Pontoon Princess, have been involved with the Crag Rats for quite a number of years and there is considerable respect and appreciation that works both ways. (I believe Sno-Drifter is an honorary Crag Rat, and the number in that group is a whopping one.)
Pontoon Princess and Sno-Drifter with Crag Rat Deno (pronounced Den-O ) in the background. Sno-Drifter is wearing the official Crag Rat uniform shirt, and all the money in the world won’t buy you that patch, and what it signifies.
The snowcat event at Cloud Cap Inn was quite literally a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. They were opening the doors of the Inn to us as a charitable event to raise some funds for the new roof.
After meeting in Hood River we drove up to a parking area where the snowcats were unloaded from their trailers, and then reloaded with gear for the trip to Cloud Cap Inn. There really wasn’t that much snow, but the wind started blowing. Fortunately, it wasn’t all that bad for the roughly 11.5 mile trip up to the Inn, and we were able to unload the machines without much difficulty. But the strength of the wind kept building. There are two wood stoves and a large fireplace inside the Inn and they were voraciously burning firewood trying to heat the Inn. But the wind… it was a howling. By no stretch of the imagination is the Inn "weather-tight”. Gaps in the siding and around windows and doors resulted in both wind and snow intrusion. The inside temperature was 47 degrees, and that’s with a bunch of people and the wood-burning devices going full-tilt. When the wind died down somewhat, the inside temperature quickly gained about 10 degrees! Being outside when it was really blowing was interesting. Visibility was very limited, and any exposed skin felt like it was being media blasted by snow and ice crystals. Strong wind gusts challenged one’s ability to stay mostly upright. But…I wouldn’t have missed this for anything.
The Crag Rats were incredible hosts. We had a Bluegrass band (Caleb Klauder, Reeb Willms and their friend Caroline Oakley) providing music, and the food? Well, it was AWESOME! Crag Rat James was a fantastic chef, and he was very ably assisted by Paula. Fantastic food, and lots of it!!!
Besides your humble scribe and Mrs Blackfoot, of course we had Mr. and Mrs Sno-Drifter, better known as Scott and Sue; and the Pontoon Princess (Jinn). But also, Mr. and Mrs. Pjointy Chops, Aaron and Anna; 1BG, Jack, Mrs 1BG, Jackie, and their two children (Yes, that would be the show-stealing Lil’ Capn and his little sister Lynnaia); Mr. and Mrs Tye One On (AKA: Nick and April); and even The Infamous WBJ1 showed up - all the way from Georgia. Most fortunately though, The Wonderful Jenn was there to keep him (somewhat) in line.
Many participants can personally vouch for the necessity of a new roof. The ceilings in several of the Inn’s guest rooms started “raining” the following morning. (Nick theorized that the very strong winds had blown snow into the attic, and when the wind had died down the temperature in the attic rose to the point the snow was melting and dripping through the wood ceilings.)
Is this a cool fireplace, or what?
On Saturday morning The Infamous WBJ1 convinced The Wonderful Jenn to go for a hike on snow shoes with him. But... he had an ulterior motive…and something up his sleeve (actually it was probably in his pocket). When they returned it was officially announced he had asked Jenn to marry him, and surprising many of us (most? all?) …she said yes! There was a moving champagne toast from Sno Drifter, and Caleb, Reeb and Caroline played a Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner song, The Right Combination. They followed that up with an impromptu song, Marry Me at Cloud Cap. It was Perfect! Seriously. No Hollywood director could have scripted it better.
Knowing what was going to happen, I wanted one last “before" pic.
