Wildfire Smoke From Grasshopper Fire Temporarily Shuts Down Timberline Lodge Ski Area, OR

UPDATE: Timberline Lodge has now been placed under a Level 1 (“Be Ready”) evacuation notice as the Grasshopper Fire continues burning east of Mount Hood. The historic lodge remains open, but outdoor operations have been suspended because of heavy wildfire smoke. Officials say forecast wind shifts have reduced the immediate threat to the lodge, and Timberline expects to resume outdoor activities Thursday if conditions continue to improve.

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Clearly, Mother Nature isn’t pleased right now. Hundreds of wildfire plague Canada at this time, shrouding the East Coast of the United States in smoke, the Pacific Northwest is getting hit heavily with smoke as well, and globally huge blazes are raging in France, Spain, and Greece. In Oregon, a nearby fire has just forced one of the region’s most iconic ski resorts to temporarily halt operations.

• Related: Growing Wildfire Approaching Montana Ski Resort

The Grasshopper Fire near Timberline Lodge is a lightning-caused wildfire burning in the Mount Hood National Forest since July 23. As of Tuesday, August 4, it had grown to roughly 34,659 acres and was about 19% contained, according to wildfire resource InciWeb. Currently, Timberline Lodge on the west side of the mountain is under a Level 1 “Be Ready” evacuation notice and has shut down mountain operations. The historic hotel itself remains open, however: it will only close if the level is raised to 2.

“All outdoor operations are closed on Wednesday, August 5th, due to wildfire smoke,” Timberline Lodge wrote in a social media post Tuesday. “The historic lodge remains open. We look forward to the winds shifting away from Timberline Wednesday afternoon. Stay inside and stay safe!”

Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort on the east side has been put under a Level 3 “Go Now” mandatory evacuation as of Tuesday morning and has fully evacuated, though firefighters say it has good defensible space, according to KATU2 local news station. At the same time, the north and south faces of Mount Hood are at Level 2 “Set.”

Air quality at Timberline has been fluctuating between roughly 130-180 AQI which is an unhealthy level, prompting many guests to leave early despite the lodge staying open. More than 1,200 personnel are assigned to the fire, and local authorities warn that easterly winds and critical fire weather could drive further growth. Highway 35 remains open for now, but people are strongly urged to avoid nonessential travel around the mountain and to monitor evacuation levels before heading up.

Given how actively the situation is evolving, if anyone is planning to travel to Timberline it’s strongly advised that they check the Watch Duty app or Clackamas County alerts before heading out.