“In a world where you can be anything, be kind.”
MOUNTAIN VENUES with MENUS Local Drinks and Dining Guide
— Clare Pooley
Page 19
Postal Customer Prst Std U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 39 Welches, OR.
The View Finder Page 23
Vol. XXXI, No. 6 n A Free, Independent Newspaper n www.mountaintimesoregon.com
Landscape Photography by Gary Randall
June 2023
n SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF MOUNT HOOD n Welches, Brightwood, Wemme, Wildwood, Zigzag, Rhododendron, Government Camp, Sandy and Boring
By Ty Walker
Mt. Hood Baking Co. Debut a Sold Out Success
For the Mountain Times
The Mt. Hood Baking Company was welcomed with open arms into the Welches business community on opening weekend May 6-7. The bakery’s debut was a real hit for customers with a taste for delicious sandwiches and fresh-baked bread. “It was awesome,” owner Susan McWilliam said of the grand opening event. “We completely sold out both days.”It was really wonderful. Cool people and a great community.” McWilliam, who co-owns the business with her wife Jessie Hawkins, has found a niche on the mountain. A former owner and chef at Redwood Restaurant in Portland, McWilliam brings more than a decade of cooking experience to the table. Her culinary skills landed her an appearance as a contestant on the Food Network TV show “Chopped.” She didn’t win but she made a big
Mt. Hood Baking Co. Sourdough
INDEX Mountain Profile........................................... 2 Fire Focus...................................................6–7 Opinion............................................................. 8 Local News........................................... 10–12 Wildcat Tracks............................................ 13 The Woodsman.......................................... 15 The View Finder ........................................ 23 Museum Chatter....................................... 20 Transitions.................................................... 27 Health.................................................... 22–23 Crossword/Sudoku................................... 26 Classified Ads.............................................. 28 Real Estate .......................................... 26–27
impression. Cooking is only one of her talents. A singer-songwriter who plays piano and guitar, she grew up in Mexico City and spent time in New York and Los Angeles pursuing music as a career. When music didn’t pay the bills she always had cooking to fall back on. She set her piano and guitar aside to focus on her business full-time. Mt. Hood Baking Company is as warm and inviting as its aromatic breads. The quaint eatery has wooden floors and black ceiling fans. Inside
seating is provided by five cozy tables and three roughly-hewn large benches that complement the rugged motif outside on the patio. The bread selection is irresistible. You can just smell the goodness wafting from the oven. Sourdough, baguettes, ciabatta, bruschetta. They have it all. If meats like ham, turkey or chicken salad aren’t your thing, try a veggie sandwich on their hearty multigrain bread with seeds. And don’t forget to top it off with a decadent pastry or two. McWilliam and Hawkins, a school-
teacher, commute to work from their home in Sandy and employ only a parttime pastry chef besides themselves. They expect to expand the days they are open to Thursday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. when school goes on summer vacation. Mt. Hood Baking Company is located at 24525 E. Welches Road in Welches. You can reach them by phone at 503322-6623. Their hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Their website is under construction at mthoodbakingcompany.com.
Meets Zigzag’s New US Forest Service Ranger By Ty Walker
For the Mountain Times
There aren’t too many people who can say they make a living doing what they love. Nicholas Seibel can. And does. The new Zigzag National Forest District ranger gets to spend his days working in the great outdoors. On Mt. Hood. The mountain he loves. “My passion in life is the outdoors and in nature,” Seibel said. “That got me looking into opportunities in the forest service after I retired from the military.” His enthusiasm for the next chapter in his life is transparent. After 24 Photo courtesy Mt. Hood National Forest - US Forest Service Facebook years in the U.S. Air Force, the active “We’re just getting ready for the 43-year-old was ready for a new chal- leading task forces during national emergencies such as hurricanes Har- summer season,” Seibel said. “With lenge. In the Mt. Hood National Forest he vey and Irma. As a member of Oregon the amount of snow that we’ve had has found a new career that matches Air National Guard, Seibel has come this year, it’s putting our backs against his skill set, learned on the job during to know Mt. Hood well, leading and the wall getting the campsites ready humanitarian and disaster relief participating in search and recovery so people can recreate.” Seibel manages a staff of about 50 missions. It turns out that his proven missions to locate and rescue lost or employees, half of whom are seasonal abilities as a team builder and strong injured hikers. Seibel began his new career at the workers of all ages. He has spent much leader in the Air Force are wanted in Zigzag Forest Ranger District on May of his first weeks on the job getting to the woods as well. Seibel served as a combat controller 8. The Zigzag Ranger District spans know his staff as well as other leaders in the U.S. Air Force. He deployed to 250,000 acres on the west side of the in the Mt. Hood community. He recently attended a wildland fire combat zones seven times, providing Forest, including busy campgrounds support to both air and ground forces and trails, ski areas, and summer cab- prevention and preparation conference in numerous high-risk missions, in- ins. The district also includes most of hosted by Timberline Lodge that recluding Afghanistan, Iraq and Beirut. Bull Run Watershed, which provides portedly drew 250 representatives of Seibel has extensive experience in drinking water to about a million local fire districts, forest rangers and businesses. emergency management, including Oregonians. See RANGER Page 5