Headed home from the mountain after a long day of the best sport in the world…skiing! Tired and don’t want to drive home? You aren’t alone. But wait, there’s a better answer! Cascade Ski Club, of course! (Be sure to watch our video tour below after you read this post.)  Cascade Ski Club or as the locals call it, CSC, is our before and après ski lodge, a skier’s dream! This lodge boasts not 20, not 50, but 85  individual bunk beds.  There are also 15 additional bunks (two are full size mattresses) spread out over the three private rooms, all complete with very comfortable mattresses! I love this lodge! 

The Cascade Ski Club lodge is located in the heart of Government Camp, on Mt. Hood, across the street from Mt. Hood Ski Bowl. It has a huge parking lot (which is a very nice perk, as parking in Government Camp is hard to come by, a massive historic lodge structure and huge backyard. The whole property is about 2.5 acres, right in the center of Government Camp, Oregon. CSC also has lockers available to rent at the start of the season, allowing skiers and boarders to store away their gear and not have to haul it home every weekend. But what if the gear is wet? Just stick it in the drying room, crank up the heat and fans, and relax! Nothing else to it!

While your gear is drying, make yourself a cup of DELICIOUS complimentary hot chocolate, coffee or tea and then sit by the fire and relax with friends and great conversation. Once you hear the dinner bell, run over for a $10 All-You-Can-Eat dinner, with so many different choices. The meals are prepared by our wonderful lodge caretaker, Sarah and her husband James. They both add a level of personalization and comfort that just makes this lodge even more appealing. Once you are loaded up on dinner and cookies, (don’t forget the 7-layer bars!) head back out to chat by the roaring fireplace. Oh, and pop down to the wine cellar to grab a drink (21 and older). For the under 21 year olds guests, they can head down to the family room to watch some movies, pop some popcorn, or just relax. Kids can also head outside to play in the snow, or roast marshmallows over the fire pit outside.

After the night’s fun, head upstairs to get ready for bed. In the morning, pop downstairs for a nice warm shower and then back to the dining room for either a continental or french toast breakfast complete with eggs, bacon or sausage, yogurt, cereal, toast, peanut butter and much more, again prepared by our beloved Sarah and James! Then head downstairs to get your toasty, dry gear from the drying room, grab your skis and boots from your locker, do a quick wax at the waxing stations, and then hit the slopes! You have a choice of premium ski resorts within minutes of the lodge. Mt Hood Ski Bowl is literally right across the street, Historic Timberline Lodge Ski Resort is just a short 5 mile drive, or head to the more modern Mt Hood Meadows about 20 minutes away.

Cascade Ski Club was founded in 1928 and the lodge was built in 1947. CSC originally devoted itself to Nordic Skiing and Jumping events, but today they encourage all types of skiing. The founder of CSC was ski legend Hjalmar Hvam, one of the country’s top competitors in 1930 and the inventor of the first releasable ski safety binding. Cascade Ski Club is the oldest continuously operating Ski Club that began solely for skiing in Oregon, and as such has striven to promote skiing as a popular activity. CSC also is known for building and maintaining the first nationally sanctioned ski jump in Oregon.

Cascade Ski Club is a great place for skiers and boarders and families to share stories, ski history, their love for the mountain, and much more! Walking in the front door, you are always greeted by friends who have become like family in just one short ski season. My Dad says it’s like the old TV show Cheers, where you walk in and “everyone knows your name”. I, having only just joined this special community this season (2017-2018), ask myself every time I am up how I have not discovered this little slice of heaven before. I would highly encourage Mt. Hood skiers and riders to check CSC out, and everyone who is on other mountains to find your version of CSC. We at NW Skibum are proud to call this lodge and Mt. Hood our home mountain and our home away from home. See you next time on nwskibum.com!

Joshua
Lead Kid Editor and Co-Founder