Original real photo postcard (RPPC) showing the Mt. Hood Skiway at Government Camp, Oregon, with the photographic caption:
“Looking toward lower terminal of Mt. Hood Skiway”
The dramatic photograph looks down the Skiway cable route toward its lower terminal at Government Camp, with the cables and support tower prominently visible against the snow-covered Mount Hood landscape.
This was no ordinary ski lift.
The Mt. Hood Skiway was an unusual aerial transportation system connecting Government Camp with Timberline Lodge. Rather than conventional gondola cars, the system famously used two modified city buses suspended from overhead cables to transport passengers up and down Mount Hood. The Oregon Historical Society preserves numerous contemporary photographs of the system, including the lower terminal at Government Camp and the suspended buses.
The Mt. Hood Aerial Transportation Company operated the Skiway from 1951 to 1956, making this May 1952 postally used RPPC a contemporary image from the very beginning of the Skiway's short operating life.
The reverse bears a very attractive and clearly readable:
GOVERNMENT CAMP / OREG.
MAY 24 / 1952
circular postmark.
Even better from a postal-history standpoint, Government Camp is a relatively young post office. As shown in the postal-history reference supplied with the card, the Government Camp, Clackamas County post office was established in 1931 and remains active.
The card bears two green 1¢ George Washington stamps and was addressed to Mr. & Mrs. David Hughes, Box 56, Taft, Oregon.
There is also a lengthy handwritten message discussing the snow conditions, including the observation that there was “6 ft. snow in cabin camp” and mentioning Timberline.
This one crosses several collecting categories:
Oregon postal history + Government Camp + Mt. Hood + skiing + Timberline Lodge + unusual transportation + RPPC.
The Mt. Hood Skiway is particularly collectible as an oddball transportation subject. Contemporary Oregon Historical Society photographs confirm that the suspended vehicles were literally modified city buses, including photographs showing one hanging beside the lower terminal with “Skiway to Timberline Lodge” painted on its side.
So I would absolutely use “Aerial Tram” and “Skiway” prominently in the listing rather than treating this simply as a Mt. Hood snow scene.
Post Office: Government Camp, Oregon
County: Clackamas County
Postmark: GOVERNMENT CAMP / OREG.
Date: May 24, 1952
DPO: No — active post office
Post Office Established: 1931
Destination: Taft, Oregon
Postage: Two 1¢ George Washington stamps
Total Postage: 2¢
Usage: Genuine period postal use
The Government Camp cancel is bold and highly legible, with the town, state and 1952 date readily visible.
Most importantly, the 1952 postmark establishes that this RPPC was circulating while the Mt. Hood Skiway was actually operating, rather than being a later historical reproduction.
Type: Real Photo Postcard (RPPC)
Subject: Mt. Hood Skiway
Location: Government Camp, Oregon
County: Clackamas County
Mountain: Mount Hood
Related Location: Timberline Lodge
Year Posted: 1952
Era: Linen/Photo Era
Country: United States
Postage Condition: Posted
Original/Licensed Reprint: Original
Theme: Transportation, Skiing, Mountains, Oregon, Postal History
Features: Real Photograph, Postally Used, Handwritten
Transportation: Aerial Tramway / Skiway
Destination: Taft, Oregon
Number of Items: 1
Good vintage used condition with expected age and handling wear.
The photograph remains sharp and strongly contrasted, with excellent visibility of the Skiway cables, tower, snow-covered terrain and surrounding forest. There are scattered dark spotting/marks visible primarily in the sky/snow area, along with minor edge and corner wear.
Reverse has period handwriting and normal postal handling marks. Both stamps remain attached and the Government Camp, Oregon 1952 cancellation is exceptionally clear.
Please review photographs carefully for exact condition.
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