Oregon — It’s been a rough week for the Mt. Hood community. The Grasshopper Fire has continued to cause damage in the forests of Oregon and has gotten closer to a critical hub for Oregon outdoor recreation.
For skiers, it created a major concern on Tuesday when Mt. Hood Meadows announced that they were under an evacuation order (Level 3). This was followed by the three other nearby ski resorts/areas announcing they had temporarily closed summer operations.
While things were looking bleak, things have moved in a positive direction over the past few days. The fire path has moved away from Mt. Hood Meadows. Additionally, crews are having better success in containing the fire. As of Friday, the fire has burned over 48,000 acres and is 23% contained.
While some social media users were concerned by rumors that it crossed the highway, the fire clearly still isn’t at a point of significant concern for the Oregon ski area. However, the ski resort remains under an evacuation order and will be closed through at least Sunday.
Meanwhile, other ski resorts have reopened following temporary closures. This includes Timberline Lodge and Mt. Hood Skibowl, both of which are home to various summer activities. Also under threat is Cooper Spur Mountain Resort, which actually didn’t operate for skiing last winter. They’re under Level 2 (“Be Set”) restrictions.
For outdoorsy people, the main casualty appears to be the Flag Point Fire Lookout. This was the fire lookout on Flag Point Butte. There’s been a fire tower there since 1924, with the latest iteration being constructed in 1973.
While not out of the woods yet, it’s a positive step over what’s been a concerning fire for the Hood crew.
Image/Video Credits: Mt. Hood Meadows, Cooper Spur Mountain Resort, @trailhaven
