What’s the Deal with Mt Hood?
UPSIDE
Incredible geologic history, probably interesting to someone
Helpful beacon for itinerant Californians
Magma: fun to say
Meets all requirements for the definition of a mountain
Popped into existence at the very moment white Europeans arrived to name it
Could just be filled with confetti
Spares the lives of most climbers
A Vesuvian-style eruption may be the only thing that can preserve Old Portland
Majestic and stuff
Click for the Downside >>
DOWNSIDE
When you think about it, just a big pile of rocks
New Deal–built Timberline Lodge is enduring propaganda for Big Government, possibly communism
Blocks otherwise clear view
No drink cart when you reach 10,000 feet
Encourages area Sasquatch hunters
Supposed symmetry way overblown
The Yellowstone supervolcano is gonna make the whole thing look pretty lame
Would look better a little bit to the left
<< Click for the Upside
Image: Josemaria Toscano/Shutterstock, digitally altered by Portland Monthly
