Original Ram's Head, Timberline Lodge

This is an original Ram's Head Corbel that was on the outside of the Lodge. A corbel is the end of a structural beam that projects from the side of the building. They are common on log cabins. At Timberline Lodge the exposed ends of the beams were carved into animal heads. One of the problems with carvings like this on exterior wood is that the carving creates crevices, for example the area behind the horns next to the building wall. These areas trap moisture, allowing fungal rot to develop, especially when adjacent to rock, which also tends to trap moisture. As the wood has rotted over the years it has been necessary to make replacements. This corbel was replaced with a replica and the original was saved and moved inside for display.