First Truck of the Season Arrives at Government Camp - 1919

This one-ton Chevrolet truck with a full load made it to Government Camp on April 1, 1919, enabled by an 11-man crew, who spent 10 days digging through snow to travel the last nine miles. Wooden "tracks" shown here were used to keep the truck from sinking into the snow, but the crew also needed to dig through snow ranging from two to 11 feet deep, as well as build bridges in some cases.

Stunts like this were undertaken to get publicity, and the Oregonian complied with a long article on April 6. After the accomplishment, the truck returned to Portland and was put on display at Regner & Fields Chevrolet. In the background are the old Government Camp Hotel, built in 1910, and the earlier 1899 Mountain View House to its right.

-- This photo is restored and printed by Old Oregon.