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MOUNTAIN TIMES The
INDEX
Mountain Profile............................... 2 Fire Focus............................................ 6 Opinion............................................8–9 The Woodsman.............................. 17 Museum Chatter........................... 18 Health....................................... 24—25 Crossword/Sudoku....................... 28 The Viewfinder .............................. 29 Classified Ads.................................. 32 Transitions........................................ 33
JULY 2024
Vol. XXXII, No. 7 n A Free, Independent Newspaper n www.mountaintimesoregon.com n SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF MOUNT HOOD n
Welches, Brightwood, Wemme, Wildwood, Zigzag, Rhododendron, Government Camp, Sandy and Boring
OR HWY 35 Overpass to be Resurfaced
Taking The Mountain in Stride
By Adrian Knowler The Mountain Times
The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is expected to launch a bridge deck resurfacing project on the Oregon Highway 35 overpass at the U.S. 26 interchange near Mt. Hood. Motorists should expect some delays as the overpass operates with one lane at a time during the resurfacing, though the road and U.S. 26 will remain open during the entirety of the project, according to an ODOT statement. Construction is expected to continue through the spring of 2025, subject to change due to weather or other unforeseen conditions. The project will replace deteriorated concrete and repave the bridge as well as replacing the existing bridge railings to current standards, replacing the bridge joints, and applying new striping to the repaired
By Patti Jo Brooks
For The Mountain Times
The race is on! The Huckleberry Running Festival is happening again this year in Welches. Run among the fir trees through the Mount Hood National Forest with your friends, neighbors and even some out-of-staters. Drawing from a wide geographic area, last year’s group of approximately 400 runners, though primarily from the local area, also included runners from all across
Oregon and about twenty other states. “I don’t know if we’ve officially gone international or not – we’re waiting for our first Canadian runner,” shares Mike Oslund, one of the race’s owners. What sets this run apart from others is that it’s such a great location. “People really enjoy it up here,” Oslund points out. The Huckleberry Running Festival, also known as the Huckleberry Half, has changed hands a few times over the years. According
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to Olsund, it was founded around 2012 by Breanna Skinner, a local resident who put on the run for her friends in Welches. Several years later it was acquired by Brady and Annie Mordhorst who ran it for a few more years. Oslund became aware of the Huckleberry Running Festival when Annie Mordhorst, the current owner at the time, and his co-worker as well, asked if he could volunteer for the run. Oslund remembers reflecting on the See RUNNING Page 14
Longtime Resident Celebrates 90th Birthday By Margaret Branson For The Mountain Times
Maryellen Englesby, noted author of “Township Pompeii, A History of Government Camp,” recently celebrated her 90th birthday. An open house was hosted June 3rd at her Government Camp home by her son Lee Englesby and daughter Susan Englesby. Born Maryellen Loveland in Portland, the family moved to Government Camp in 1937 and soon included brother Ed. Her father worked five
days a week in Portland and would bring supplies for the family on weekends. There was no electric or telephone service to residences of Government Camp until after World War II. Maryellen attended Welches Grade School and graduated from Sandy High School. Maryellen started skiing at age six. That love continued with ski racing through high school. She began working at West’s Ski shop at age 12. After graduation she married Joe Englesby and they opened a ski shop known as
The Trollhaugen. They operated the ski shop until 2009. Joe and Maryellen raised Susan, Lee, and Eloise. The first recorded birth was Eloise in Government Camp. Husband Joe died in 2014. Fiercely independent, Maryellen continues living with her Maine coon cat, Jaquetta. Maryellen loves to walk daily in Government Camp. Her book “Township Pompeii, A History of Government Camp” is available at the Mt Hood Museum and Cultural Center.