Silcox Hut
Encyclopedia
The Silcox Hut is a small rustic mid-mountain lodge located at 6950 feet (2,118.4 m) elevation on Mount Hood
, Oregon
, United States
. It is approximately 1000 feet (304.8 m) vertical above Timberline Lodge and roughly one mile distance directly up the mountain.
Silcox Hut was built by the WPA
and finished in 1939. It was named after Ferdinand Silcox, the fifth Chief of the Forest Service
, 1933–1939.
The hut was the upper terminal of the original Magic Mile chairlift
and housed the lift's upper bullwheel
in what is now the guest sleeping quarters. It was also intended as a warming hut and starting point for climbers. After the chairlift was relocated in 1962, it was abandoned and became derelict due to vandalism and fierce mountain weather.
In 1966 the Portland State University Outdoor Program leased the Hut. The students of the Program made a few improvements to the hut including repairs to the fireplace hearth and new window shutters. Program Alumni consider this lease the first action taken to save Silcox Hut. There was discussion between the US Forest Service and Timberline Lodge to burn down the hut because of its condition. Even though the Program enjoyed access to the mountain provided by Silcox Hut, they could not counter the seemingly constant vandalism and had to relinquish the lease.
Silcox Hut was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1985.
In the same year, the Friends of Silcox Hut was created as a non-profit organization.
The initial restoration proposal was made by climbing enthusiasts and guides, and it was their intention to operate the facility.
Over the course of the late 1980s and early 1990s, The Friends of Silcox Hut renovated and reopened Silcox to the public in 1993. Although they intended it partially as an overnight hostel and restaurant for climbers, it is now rented out to groups of up to 24 for overnight lodging and hearty meals by RLK, the operators of Timberline Lodge. It is available for group day use such as weddings and anniversaries.
The Friends of Silcox received several awards for its restoration, including the People's Choice Award and the Craftsmanship Award from the Portland AIA Awards Program in 1993.
The Friends of Silcox Hut carries on as a non-profit maintenance and special projects group to protect the integrity of the restoration. Its board is entirely made up of architects and craftsmen and others deeply involved in the original restoration. Lifetime and annual memberships are available with all proceeds supporting restoration efforts.
Recent special projects included a snow tunnel for the south entrance engineered to withstand 25 feet of compacted snow.
Mount Hood
Mount Hood, called Wy'east by the Multnomah tribe, is a stratovolcano in the Cascade Volcanic Arc of northern Oregon. It was formed by a subduction zone and rests in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is approximately 1000 feet (304.8 m) vertical above Timberline Lodge and roughly one mile distance directly up the mountain.
Silcox Hut was built by the WPA
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
and finished in 1939. It was named after Ferdinand Silcox, the fifth Chief of the Forest Service
United States Forest Service
The United States Forest Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, which encompass...
, 1933–1939.
The hut was the upper terminal of the original Magic Mile chairlift
Magic Mile
The Magic Mile is an aerial chairlift at Timberline Lodge ski area, Mount Hood, Oregon, U.S. It was named for its unique location above the tree line and for its original length...
and housed the lift's upper bullwheel
Bullwheel
A bullwheel is a large wheel on which a rope turns, such as in a chairlift. In that application, the bullwheel that is attached to the prime mover is called the drive bullwheel, with the other known as the return bullwheel....
in what is now the guest sleeping quarters. It was also intended as a warming hut and starting point for climbers. After the chairlift was relocated in 1962, it was abandoned and became derelict due to vandalism and fierce mountain weather.
Silcox Hut was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1985.
In the same year, the Friends of Silcox Hut was created as a non-profit organization.
The initial restoration proposal was made by climbing enthusiasts and guides, and it was their intention to operate the facility.
The Friends of Silcox received several awards for its restoration, including the People's Choice Award and the Craftsmanship Award from the Portland AIA Awards Program in 1993.
The Friends of Silcox Hut carries on as a non-profit maintenance and special projects group to protect the integrity of the restoration. Its board is entirely made up of architects and craftsmen and others deeply involved in the original restoration. Lifetime and annual memberships are available with all proceeds supporting restoration efforts.
Recent special projects included a snow tunnel for the south entrance engineered to withstand 25 feet of compacted snow.