Understand
Government Camp is a small community located on the shoulder of Mount Hood in the Mount Hood national forest. Mt Hoods alpine village was established in 1849 when a mounted Calvary division was forced to abandon wagons, equipment and draft animals, because heavy snows made conditions impassable. The town was from then on referred to as "government camp" by subsequent emigrants crossing the cascades into the Willamette valley. Now the town is a destination for recreation and out door activities, best known as the summer time hub for alpine skiing. The local ski area boasts the longest season in North America with 400+ inches of snow year on top of a glacier, lifts are open through September.
