Timberline Lodge — The Last Day
📍 Timberline Lodge, OR
The last day — our first adventure started with a short trip down to Government Camp to allow Doug to see what we saw yesterday. After that, we three decided to do the Magic Mile Sky Ride. We drove up to Timberline Lodge, Guest Services, ticketing… up to the third floor, out the door, past the lodge to the ski lift. Nice man slowed the lift down so we could get on easily. It has been a looonng time since I rode one of these!
The ride up was in clear air. Keith had a good grip on the bar the whole way up — and down. So weird to be on a ski lift but no snow underneath.
Love the “No Profanity” alert and then… we could see the tip of Mount Jefferson above the clouds. It was warm at the top. We could see skiers and snowboarders enjoying the manufactured snow.
You could watch the skiers above. They had a second lift chair to take them to the top.
On the trip down, we could pick out the truck (white with two canoes on it) in the parking lot.
Timberline Lodge
We were scheduled to have our farewell meal in Timberline Lodge in the Raven’s Nest. There was time to go around the lodge and take pictures of some of the craftsmanship which the CCC provided so many years ago.
Constructed in 1937, Timberline Lodge stands on the south slope of Mt. Hood at an elevation of 6,000 feet. It is a 55,000 square foot structure, rising out of the pristine alpine landscape and is still used for its original intent — a ski lodge and mountain retreat for everyone to enjoy. Declared a National Historic Landmark in 1977, Timberline Lodge is one of Oregon’s most popular tourist attractions.
Farewell at Raven’s Nest
The venue for our last meal together was beautiful. We had a view of the mountain from our seats and so much good food. There were awards and Keith got special recognition for his contribution to the trip. I heard from more than one person who was touched that he had a personal connection and that he shared it with all. He was presented with some thoughtful gifts and I may have shed a tear. This group was so great to travel with. We got to know every single one of them as the days went on. We shared meals, experiences, many hours in museums, and helped each other with things that went wrong (except for Rob’s truck — GMC had to do that job!).
Our travelers shared their musical prowess with guitars, ukuleles, and there was a trombonist but he set his instrument aside to be a conductor. We sang Country Roads, This Land Is Your Land, and Home on the Range. Took one back to camp days — and Keith especially, as Country Roads is sung at Camp Raven Knob every week at the last campfire during summer scout camp.
The 2026 Nuts For Ruts Gang
Little Zigzag Falls
On the way back to the trailers, Doug had us divert to see Little Zigzag Falls. He overheard a clerk at a store tell someone about them so we wandered there. A short hike up and we found this:
Mother Nature has let trees fall and disintegrate, making homes for new critters and shading the water. According to the sign, there is a real explanation about why this walk along the water made me feel so good. Negative ions. The sign says:
“One way negative ions are generated is by breaking the surface tension of water. Falling water does this. Inhaling these ions increases the amount of oxygen in your brain, kills germs that cause illness, and increases serotonin levels (improving mood, increasing mental alertness, and relieving stress). The amount of negative ions in the forest, especially near moving water, is thousands of times greater than in your home. No wonder waterfalls are such popular hiking destinations!”
Tomorrow we part from the others, travel east and take some great memories with us. And lots of pictures of course!
I have loved sharing it with all of you.
Some practical takeaways from this experience (borrowed from The Random Vibez):
- Be open to meeting new people; every encounter has the potential to become a meaningful friendship.
- Recognize that new friends can rejuvenate your spirit and offer perspectives you may not have considered.
- Cherish both old and new friendships, as each contributes uniquely to your life journey.