Mount Hood Timber Stands Controlled by UN!

Reported August 16, 1998
Estacada, Oregon USA

We determined that the Cloud Cap area on the north side of Mount Hood would make a great location for a secret UN base, so we planned a recon of the area. The route we charted was at a relatively high altitude and so it was necessary to wait until August for it to be free of snow. This is because my unit wasn't fully equipped with winter camouflage, and we didn't want to stick out like a sore thumb on the side of a mountain while UN snipers took potshots at us.

We took Highway 35 north from Hood River to the Cooper Spur Ski Area and took the turnoff is between mileposts 73 and 74. We headed west on Cooper Spur Road for 3.3 miles to the Tilly Jane Junction. Then we turned left onto FR 3512 towards Cloud Cap, and followed the signs for about 10 miles up a very rough gravel road to the Cloud Cap Campground.

From the parking lot, we hiked through the primitive Cloud Cap Campground 200 feet to a message board at the head of a trail junction. The message board encouraged us to fill out a "permit" - like hell was I going to give them details on our team and our planned route! We pressed on, following the Timberline Trail towards Gnarl Ridge. Our pointman, Cpl. Skinner, carefully checked for booby traps and land mines as we proceeded. After about 100 yards, the path forked and we kept to the left (the right path goes to the bottom of the Eliot Glacier.) After another half mile, we climbed into a gully at the head of Tilly Jane Creek.

When we emerged from the forest, we spotted a UN observation tower.

When we emerged from the forest, we spotted a UN observation tower. Mount Hood's snowcapped peak was in the background, and so we were able to clearly see the guards' movements. We skirted the tower and kept downwind to avoid detection. After another half mile, we encountered a trail junction where we turned right onto trail 600B. After only 200 more yards, we encountered a small shelter. Upon examination, we discovered it contained timber cutting equipment and a large cache of Chinese AK-74 assault rifles and hand grenades. We jammed up the assault rifles barrels with sticks and dirt clods to make them unusable.

We continued along the path which switchbacked another 2.6 miles up the Cooper Spur Ridge. As we got closer to the top of the Eliot Glacier, the views of Mt. Hood got better and better. While we were up there, we looked at some of the crevasses through our high-power rifle scopes-- they sure are quite a sight!

We made it to the top of the trail, which is just beyond a crest with a huge boulder called "Tie-In Rock". The trail intel book said that it was given that name because it is the place where climbers usually tie into. We headed down the opposite side of Cooper Spur Ridge. After approximately 3.12 miles, the forest stopped and we entered a clear cut zone. Our pace slowed, due to the lack of foliage for cover.

After we crested the next ridge, we spotted two helicopter gunships patrolling over a large, UN base. We grabbed some dirt and low crawled to a position with good cover overlooking the base. Cpl. Skinner did a sniper crawl to the edge of the UN base and was able to get there unseen.

The UN base was manned by 3 battalions of UN stormtroopers with artillery and helicopter gunship support [click for larger image].

After several hours Cpl. Skinner returned to our position. He reported that the base was manned by 3 battalions of UN stormtroopers with artillery and helicopter gunship support. He also had overheard an officer target ordering a communications NCO target to radio subject "Comrade Clinton" with request that the Department of the Interior give the "Timber Company" a permit to clear-cut the trees on hill 231. Cpl. Skinner also recovered a pair of lumberjack overalls with an insignia that read North-West-Oregon Timber Ltd.

Our trail then descended gradually for about one mile before switchbacking steeply down to a footbridge across the Coe Branch. Then we climbed a wooded ridge to Elk Cove, which is a cliff-rimmed basin with lupine, paintbrush, and an scenic view of Mount Hood and the Coe Glacier.

That is all.

Sgt. Rock
E-mail

Do you have questions, comments, or additional information? Take it to the U.N.I.T. discussion group...

[ Browse Reports | About Us | Talk ]
[ Join Us | Comments & Suggestions ]