While researching the Indian name for Mt Hood, I have concluded that the name has probably been lost to history. However, an internet search will turn up several legend stories with many similarities and a few differences. The problem with these legend stories is that they all seem to make their appearance after a book was published in 1890, The Bridge of the Gods. In later editions of the book, the name Wy'east is used for Mount Hood, but no evidence can be found that Indians ever used the name.

In one version of Balch's story, the two sons of the Great Spirit Sahale fell in love with the beautiful maiden Loowit, who could not decide which to choose. The two braves, Wy'east and Pahto (unnamed in his novel, but appearing in a later adaptations), burned forests and villages in their battle over her. Sahale became enraged and smote the three lovers. Seeing what he had done, he erected three mountain peaks to mark where each fell. He made beautiful Mount St. Helens for Loowit, proud and erect Mount Hood for Wy'east, and the somber Mount Adams for the mourning Pahto.

In another telling, Wy'east (Hood) battles Pahto (Adams) for the fair La-wa-la-clough (St. Helens). Or again Wy'east, the chief of the Multnomah tribe, competed with the chief of the Klickitat tribe. Their great anger led to their transformation into volcanoes. Their battle is said to have destroyed the Bridge of the Gods, a rock formation that used to span the Columbia River.