In the 1920s, development around Mount Hood was on the rise. The construction of the Mount Hood Loop Highway opened the southern side of the mountain to auto tourism, making it possible to visit Government Camp year-round — at least in theory
In the summer of 1915, the U.S. Forest Service launched a bold experiment: a seasonal fire lookout stationed at the summit of Mount Hood. Elijah “Lige” Coalman, a seasoned mountain man and Forest Service ranger, took on the task.
At the very peak of Mount Hood once stood a fire lookout cabin — perched above the clouds and held together by grit, timber, and the legendary efforts of Elijah “Lige” Coalman. But in the summer of 1932, Summit the cat on Mount Hood became part of that story
In the 1920s and ’30s, tourists came to Mount Hood for snow, scenery, and rustic lodging. But for a short time, they also came to see the Government Camp bears.
In the early 20th century, long before travelers zipped up Highway 26 to the ski lifts and resorts of Mount Hood, the trip to the mountain was rugged and uncertain. The road, built on the bones of the old Barlow Trail, was steep, narrow, and either muddy or dusty depending on the season.
