What the motor home traveler will not understand is the range in prices for campsites between Oregon’s Mt Hood National Forest, and the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in Washington. The Lost Lake campground lists $20 for a no-hookups camp at the gate, which since the concessionaire that operates the very expensive store collects the fees, turns out to be $23 to spend a night on supposedly public land. In contrast, you can have a full hook-up for $16 at a private park at Trout Lake, or camp for $10 at a Yakima Indian Reservation (they own the East half of Mt. Adams) site, or even free at a Gifford Pinchot National Forest campground.

A couple of years ago the Mt. Hood Forest Supervisor wanted to make the must-do Eagle Creek hiking trail a reservation only proposition. He was beat down by the public, but apparently he is of the mind that people do not belong in National Forests, and following the lead of the National Park Service in the Grand Canyon, must believe that one way to limit visitors is to gouge, in the gorge. Apparently he has an ally with the Lost Lake resort owner who charges $4 for a shower (even in remote Alaska the highest price we have ever seen was $3), and his rowboats rent for $40 per day!


Government today also owns the Bridge of The Gods, but it happens to be the Town of Cascade Locks. The toll for a dual tire motor home is $1.50, and the benefits of that income are readily visible in the city park and museum well worth visiting.(continued next page)