Trip Report: Early Spring Mount Hood Climb
When: 3/20/2018
Location: Mt Hood - South Side Route
Conditions: Perfect blue bird day, very light breeze, temperatures were near freezing most of the day.
Duration: Full day, but can be done as an overnight (weather permitting) or light and fast half day depending on fitness.
Difficulty: Moderate. In good conditions with basic mountaineering skills this climb is very doable. Things can get dicey quickly with low visibility, poor snow conditions, and/or rock and ice fall. Know the conditions, have proper equipment, and know how to use it.
Kid Friendly: No
Pet Friendly: No
Usefull links:
www.outdoorproject.com
www.nwac.us
www.mountain-forecast.com
The Full Report:
As we roll into spring here in the PNW it’s easy to start dreaming of the warm sunny summer days ahead. As temperatures in Portland reached the 60s with clear blue skies a couple times over the past few weeks, one could almost be forgiven for thinking the ski season is almost over. In reality, the spring corn and ski mountaineering season is just getting underway. While the most popular seasons to climbing the PNW volcanos is spring and summer, the early season weather windows offer excellent opportunities for ski mountaineering without the crowds common later in the spring.
My fellow Next Adventure co-worker Raven Cashen and I had been trying to get out for a ski tour higher up on Mount Hood for a little while and really lucked out recently when it all finally came together. There was a two-day weather window that opened up Monday and Tuesday, March 19-20th. It had been about a week of moderate temperatures with no substantial snowfall on Hood. NWAC was forecasting low avalanche conditions below, near, and above tree line. The weather forecast had clear skies, light breeze, and temperatures in just above freezing at 5000 feet and in the mid 20's near the summit. And most importantly, we both had the day off.
Even with the perfect weather window, our plan was still to take it easy and see how the day progressed. Neither of us are expert mountaineers, me far less so than Raven, and we hadn't spent much time together in the backcountry. Raven had boot packed Hood to the summit before, and I had never spent much time high on the mountain. So, maybe just skin to Illumination Rock or Devils Kitchen see how things looked and, if things good, maybe push on toward the summit.
We left the parking lot at Timberline Lodge headed up the Magic Mile just before 8am. This is quite a bit later than most summit bound mountaineering parities. We split the climb into four rough sections with a snack break in between: (1) Parking to top of Magic Mile, (2) Magic mile to top of Palmer Chairlift, (3) Palmer Chairlift to Hogsback Ridge, and (4) Hogsback Ridge to the Summit (if that seemed appropriate). Every mountaineering party we passed on the way up reported excellent conditions, no rock or ice fall, and quality snow the whole way. All green lights and the idea of the actually going to the top became more and more possible.
We made sure to take our time and enjoy ourselves and the views as we moved up the volcano. I was surprised and amazed by how high up it really feels as you move upward bit by bit. The mountain can seem both deceivingly small and large at the same time.
At the base of Hogsback Ridge, we snacked transitioned from skis to crampons and boot packed our way up the ridge, through the pearly gates, and up to the summit. I have hiked on the north side of hood seen excellent views of Helens, Adams, and Rainier altogether. I have also seen perfect views from the south slopes of Hood of Jefferson, and Sisters. The panorama from the top is definitely special. It puts the whole region in context and makes the world feel somehow huge and small at the same time.
As we made our way back down a combination of the altitude, sun, and gentle dehydration began to take a toll and had to take it a bit easy. Still, the snow was a bit heavy from the strong sun all day but still excellent skiing. I was able to ski from the pearly gates and then the approximately 3.5 miles of continuous snow back down to Timberline Lodge. This was by far the longest ski run of my life.
Definitely tired and a bit dehydrated after the long day I felt stoked and blessed by the perfect conditions. This was my first of hopefully many summits and ski descents of the many PNW volcanoes.
As we come into spring the prime ski mountaineering season is just beginning and taking advantage of these early weather windows helps avoid the crowds high up on the volcanoes commonly seen later on in the spring and summer.
The Full Report:
As we roll into spring here in the PNW it’s easy to start dreaming of the warm sunny summer days ahead. As temperatures in Portland reached the 60s with clear blue skies a couple times over the past few weeks, one could almost be forgiven for thinking the ski season is almost over. In reality, the spring corn and ski mountaineering season is just getting underway. While the most popular seasons to climbing the PNW volcanos is spring and summer, the early season weather windows offer excellent opportunities for ski mountaineering without the crowds common later in the spring.
My fellow Next Adventure co-worker Raven Cashen and I had been trying to get out for a ski tour higher up on Mount Hood for a little while and really lucked out recently when it all finally came together. There was a two-day weather window that opened up Monday and Tuesday, March 19-20th. It had been about a week of moderate temperatures with no substantial snowfall on Hood. NWAC was forecasting low avalanche conditions below, near, and above tree line. The weather forecast had clear skies, light breeze, and temperatures in just above freezing at 5000 feet and in the mid 20's near the summit. And most importantly, we both had the day off.
Even with the perfect weather window, our plan was still to take it easy and see how the day progressed. Neither of us are expert mountaineers, me far less so than Raven, and we hadn't spent much time together in the backcountry. Raven had boot packed Hood to the summit before, and I had never spent much time high on the mountain. So, maybe just skin to Illumination Rock or Devils Kitchen see how things looked and, if things good, maybe push on toward the summit.
We left the parking lot at Timberline Lodge headed up the Magic Mile just before 8am. This is quite a bit later than most summit bound mountaineering parities. We split the climb into four rough sections with a snack break in between: (1) Parking to top of Magic Mile, (2) Magic mile to top of Palmer Chairlift, (3) Palmer Chairlift to Hogsback Ridge, and (4) Hogsback Ridge to the Summit (if that seemed appropriate). Every mountaineering party we passed on the way up reported excellent conditions, no rock or ice fall, and quality snow the whole way. All green lights and the idea of the actually going to the top became more and more possible.
We made sure to take our time and enjoy ourselves and the views as we moved up the volcano. I was surprised and amazed by how high up it really feels as you move upward bit by bit. The mountain can seem both deceivingly small and large at the same time.
At the base of Hogsback Ridge, we snacked transitioned from skis to crampons and boot packed our way up the ridge, through the pearly gates, and up to the summit. I have hiked on the north side of hood seen excellent views of Helens, Adams, and Rainier altogether. I have also seen perfect views from the south slopes of Hood of Jefferson, and Sisters. The panorama from the top is definitely special. It puts the whole region in context and makes the world feel somehow huge and small at the same time.
As we made our way back down a combination of the altitude, sun, and gentle dehydration began to take a toll and had to take it a bit easy. Still, the snow was a bit heavy from the strong sun all day but still excellent skiing. I was able to ski from the pearly gates and then the approximately 3.5 miles of continuous snow back down to Timberline Lodge. This was by far the longest ski run of my life.
Definitely tired and a bit dehydrated after the long day I felt stoked and blessed by the perfect conditions. This was my first of hopefully many summits and ski descents of the many PNW volcanoes.
As we come into spring the prime ski mountaineering season is just beginning and taking advantage of these early weather windows helps avoid the crowds high up on the volcanoes commonly seen later on in the spring and summer.