Historic Hood River
“Dollar Lake 9/23/17”
8-13-2026
Notes
I think Alva Day was just learning how to use his Kodak Autographic camera in September 1917 when he captured this view of Dollar Lake on the flanks of Mt. Hood. It looks like he was struggling with the stylus trying to scratch “Dollar” into the window on the back of the camera.
The landscape in this view has had a few years to recover from a wildfire. We know by the time Bill Bryan visited in 1965 the alpine forest had recovered. This forest burned again roughly a century later when the August 2011 Dollar Lake Fire burned through, as described in this fine article by Tom Kloster.
BethH
Cool to see Dollar Lk in 1917. Lightning fires happened and burned til they were naturally distinguished, I suppose. Although I think around this time is when the FS started trying to fight them.
Alva didn’t have the nice trails we have today, he was out exploring. Possibly from Cloud Cap….as it was built in 1889. Or the Lolo pass side.
Will
Arthur- This doesn’t look like Dollar Lk to me. I think it may be Bear Lk and that’s what is scratched into the plate. Others have any thoughts?
BethH
I think it says Bear Lk also. Didn’t look that close before.
ArthurB
Bear Lake. Hmm. I can see that. Will have to visit to check it out. I know of Rainy, Black and North lakes but not Bear Lake, which seems to be in the same area.