Mt Hood Railroad Still in Recovery

Last week, we rode the Mt. Hood Railroad, but were disappointed to find that last year's storm washed the ground out from under the tracks between Odell and Parkdale. Their website doesn't reflect the fact that you can't ride the excursion train to Parkdale, but if you take a trip out to their depot in Hood River, you can find some interesting facts about the damage that the track sustained.

Even though the trip was cut short, the day was beautiful, and the views were gorgeous. There was a 1/2 hour stop in Odell, which is a small community nestled in the Hood River Valley. Most of the people on the train enjoyed ice cream at the local espresso shop, and took a break from the heat by relaxing in their "living room" style atmosphere, complete with couches, and two computers with high-speed internet.

There is one gas station, a grocery store, and a few other small shops in Odell. Along the way, the train picked up two cars of lumber and brought them back to Hood River, as we made our way back towards the Columbia River to the depot. It was a wonderful trip, highly recommended for those who wish to see parts of the valley that you can only view from the train. They are also working on getting the steam engine up and running, an extra special treat for train enthusiasts.