Nestled in the picturesque surroundings of the Salmon River in Wemme, Oregon, the Arrah Wanna Lodge began its story in 1909 when George Routledge acquired 160 acres of timberland. At the time, the land sat about a mile from the nearest automobile road, making it an ideal mountain retreat.
Late in the season, around midnight on October 13, 1952, trouble began in the dry forests surrounding Mt. Hood. Flames appeared south of the Mt. Hood Highway, just east of Rhododendron, near Yocum Falls. As the fire moved down through Laurel Canyon, it stretched toward Flag Mountain. Initially, officials suspected a tree had fallen on a power line, sparking the blaze. However, the Sandy Electric Company suggested that men violating the hunting ban may have started the fire instead of the 33,000-volt power line.
Have you ever driven along Barlow Trail Road or Lolo Pass Road and wondered about their origins? These quiet, winding roads are more than just modern routes—they are living pieces of history.
For generations the native people would come each season from all directions between Spring and Autumn to stay and live their lives here on Mount Hood.
On September 13, 1914, motorcyclist Axel Kildahl of Lents, Oregon, made history on Mount Hood. Riding his Dayton motorcycle, he pushed his machine to an astounding 7,600 feet above Government Camp, setting a new altitude record for motor-driven vehicles on the mountain.
