Homeowners in the Mt. Hood Corridor are a lucky bunch. The area is plopped in the middle of a deciduous rainforest, with gorgeous scenery and a great local vibe. Homeowners’ and business owners’ roofs, however, have a tougher life. The Mt. Hood Corridor sits in a transitional microclimate that bridges the gap between the lowlands of Oregon and the elevation of Mt. Hood. That means roofs have to endure harsh winds, rapidly changing temperatures, and unforeseen winter weather. 

Before I climb into this month’s topic, an update to last month’s column on park/parking passes. A faithful reader reminded me that you can get a free day-use pass to any of the several Clackamas County Parks, including Barlow Wayside, through our local public library system. To reserve, you’ll need a library card and access to the library web site, www.ci.sandy.or.us/library (click on Cultural Pass Express). Note that your pass must be printed out and displayed on your vehi

As children awaited the arrival of Santa Claus, Mount Hood ski resorts and hydrologists alike were hoping and waiting for the arrival of the next big winter storm.  As of Dec. 15, Timberline Lodge, Meadows and SkiBowl were all still waiting for enough snow to open, and USDA supervisory hydrologist Matt Warbritton and his team were likewise looking for some lower temperatures and wintery precipitation to hit the Hood, Sandy, Lower Deschutes region (and other parts of the state