Mt. Hood offers free summer programs
    The Volunteer Interpretive Program at Mt. Hood National Forest (MHNF) is offering free summer activities for families, children and outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds through the end of August.

    The Program is lead by a group of five student interns and six community volunteer Rangers who will lead free guided tours of Timberline Lodge, nature hikes, recreation, visitor information and special programs to the nearly 2 million visitors the forest receives each summer.

   “Our programs bring the forest to life for thousands of visitors, tourists and families each year,” U.S. Forest Service special use program manager and interpretive supervisor Christy Covington said. “Interpretation tells the forest’s story, from ecology to history, fire prevention to wilderness safety and more. The volunteer interpretive program offers the public a way to get the most out of their forest visit.”

    Tours of historic Timberline Lodge run daily at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. and last about 30 minutes, covering all the public areas of the Lodge, including the history of the construction, the architecture and design themes, artwork, mountain ecology and more. These tours will conclude at the end of September.

    The volunteers also staff a Forest Service information desk in the lower lobby of the Lodge from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., answering questions and offering info about Timberline and recreation in the forest. Visitors can stop by for information and to obtain publications, maps and more from the friendly staff.

    In addition to the tours, the volunteer interpretive program offers daily nature walks at 2 p.m. at Timberline, weather permitting, guiding visitors on a 2-mile informative walk starting behind the Lodge. The hikes offer insight into the geological and climbing history of Mt. Hood and the plants and animals of the region.

    The volunteers will also provide guided hikes at Trillium Lake on Saturdays at 10 a.m., leading visitors 2 miles around the sub-alpine lake, focusing on wildflower identification, water ecology, tree growth and a variety of other topics. Immediately following this hike, visitors can attend a history talk and hike related to the Barlow Road at Summit Meadows in the Trillium area at 11:30 a.m.

    A new program this year will be Smokey’s Trail, a hiking activity for children that will be offered on Sundays at noon at the ZigZag Ranger Station. Children and parents can meet Smokey Bear, learn about fire prevention and each lunch with the big guy at the Station’s History House, which will soon serve as the new headquarters for the interpretive program.

    Another new program the volunteers have put together this year is Wild Wednesdays at Wildwood Recreational Area near Welches. At the day use area, children’s groups can participate in fun activities in conservation education at 1 p.m. through mid-August.

    To round out your Mt. Hood visit, the Program offers weekly campfire programs at Trillium and Timothy Lakes every Saturday at 7 p.m. Special guests Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl will often make appearances, and the campfires will bring families together in a fun and educational way.

    The team hopes to offer campfire programming at Timberline Lodge and Government Camp this year as well, which would most likely start in August, due to the snow level, said Covington.

    For more information about the program, contact Christy Covington at (503) 622-3191 ext. 668. To schedule a group tour at Timberline, contact the R.L.K. sales office at (503) 272-3252. Email mthoodvolunteers@hotmail.com to be updated on the latest news.

Summer Bike League
   Rising gas prices and green initiatives has prompted Seattle’s Cascade Bicycle Club Education Foundation to launch a Summer Bike League. This fun program allows cyclists to track miles for errands, fitness/fun and bike to work/school. There are also several special events and clinics planned throughout the summer.

    Clinics include Bike to Work/School July 29; Bike to Market (errand-running by bike) July 31 and Aug. 21; Of-Road Skills Aug. 5 and Trailside Repair Aug. 12 and Aug. 26. All classes are free to registered participants and held from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Cascade Bicycle Club, 7400 Sand Point Way N.E., Seattle.

    To register for the Summer Bike League, log onto http://cbcef.org/sbl/summer-bike-league.html