Maine-iac

Ski from the top and charge hard.

Just imagine if winters were cold here along the West Coast. Those Californians would get the price of oil down pretty quickly if they actually had to heat their houses. A good sweater and set of windows does an amazing job. Also YES to public transport; those Europeans have a few things figured out.

We saw all of the pits dug on the Hogsback and wondered why people were even bothering to do that... it is on a completely different aspect. We talked/watched a few people descend the Old Chute and felt it was safe. We made sure to hike fast up it, and ski carefully down it. I skied first, and made a few hard cuts up high and it felt very solid. My two friends watched and made sure nothing broke loose up above me, then they each skied one at a time with the others watching. I think skiers have a slightly different appreciation for avalanches than climbers do. We wanted to ski the entire cute, but the last 40 or so feet were a weird rim ice and snow mix so we downclimbed through that. But other than that the chute felt good. Cant wait to get back up there!!!

Skykilo, what time were you up there? I was part of the 3 skiers who skied the Mazamma chute (the photo on backcountry mag is of me), we reached the summit at 945am.

Was up there last weekend and yesterday. The gates are in, with 60 degree snow/ice last week I didn't place any gear except for the descent where i put in a picket for an anchor for a friend to rap. As of yesterday afternoon, nobody had gone through them so there will be new snow. Old chute was good yesterday, possibly some slab avys to come though. There was a solid boot pack from well below the hogsback up to the top of the hogsback, and then about 10 people did the traverse up though the old chute yesterday. There is a good snowbridge for the PGs. The snow has been freezing very well at night, and warming up nicely in the day. The sun hits the hogsback right about 9ish and the Old Chute is in sun completely by 11. Bring skis for the ride down!! http://www.backcountrymagazine.com/ * if you look closely you might be-able to see my smile!!!!

Skiing is in on Hood http://www.backcountrymagazine.com/ p.s. Im glad everybody decided not to summit yesterday, it made for a lovely empty summit, and we didn't have to worry about anybody getting in the way for our descent.

Nothing is better than face shots in June, well maybe July.

Ya it is open. Had friends go that way last weekend, and said they could drive right to the TH.

Fuck yeah! The only time I have put my skis away in the past two years is when I go home to maine during the summer. I would still climb in the rain, what happens if you have to back off of a climb because of rain? You cant be totally new to the experience. Climb and rap in the dark for the same reason.

I was up the S. Side of Hood over the weekend, and I found half a split board just laying in a pile of rocks between the climbers trail and illumination rock, I brought it over to the climbers trail and put it standing up in the middle of the "trail". It stayed there for all of saturday and until i came down around noon today (sunday). I left a found note at the climbers registration place, but figured this board reaches many more people. If you can describe its color and make, we can can figure out a return option. send PM for info.

I was up the S. Side of Hood over the weekend, and I found half a split board just laying in a pile of rocks between the climbers trail and illumination rock, I brought it over to the climbers trail and put it standing up in the middle of the "trail". It stayed there for all of saturday and until i came down around noon today (sunday). I left a found note at the climbers registration place, but figured this board reaches many more people. If you can describe its color and make, we can can figure out a return option. send PM for info.

Thanks guys for all of the info. I am thinking about bringing up all of my gear near to a camping spot near illumination rock, then going for the Summit, then descend back to the gear and try for the circumnavigation. I will be with a friend who is pretty new to mountaineering, so our main goal will be just the standard south side route, but if she is feeling good we will probably take two full days plus or minus one day to do the circumnavigation. I will post a TR about the trip, and try to get some current pics of what the glaciers look like for people to reference. Again, thanks for the info.

I am planning on having skis. Cobra, are you saying staying high above MHM is a slog versus dropping low (bottom of Heather Cannon) and then dealing with the runout of White River? If I skirt around the very top of Heather, top of Cascade lift cant I miss the moraines associated with the bottom of the White River glacier, staying above 7000?

I am thinking about doing a circumnavigation of Hood, and I was just looking for any advice for routing options. Ideally I would like to stay high on the mountain, going clockwise, try and stay just at the base of Yocum Ridge and right around the level of Ladd Glacier, then coming back up to around 8000 to cross Eliot Glacier. But looking at a map and from what i remember of the area above Mt. Hood Meadows it gets pretty steep and maybe a little difficult (not really looking for a technical challenge, but will have glacier gear), should i just follow Wy'East route back towards Timberline? I have a 4 day weekend the next few weeks so i feel that should give me plenty of time, weather permitting; but any advice would be great! Also, because of last weeks warm spell, are the cracks starting to open up a little, and the streams raging? Thanks, T.H.

3 fingered jack is starting to get quite rocky. Almost the entire actual mountain (viewed from the south side) is free of snow. Spent friday saturday and most of today on the lower slopes and it was melting very very fast. lots of running water and rockfall.

Have you ever done a Dulfersitz???? sure in a pinch i would do it, but never for fun. I mean if you like friction burns on your crotch and shoulders, and burning holes in your gear, than ya go for it.... I practiced it once, and i couldnt decide between having my ass on fire, or all of my weight on my balls.

Just got 10 days straight! Woohoo spring break. Sadly i was solo for all of it so it was mostly at Hood Meadows. But in the 10 days they got 98 inches of snow, so it wasn't too bad....

The guy in the red coat was contemplating the Mazama route, but alas, was picked up in the lodge of Timber line by dmuja. Getting those skis through the gates was not very fun, nor was coming down through them, but the ski from the top of the Hogsback was fantastic.

Hey, Its almost spring break for me, and i will be headed up to Hood from thursday the 20th through till the 30th, for my break. Im looking to see if anybody would be interested (weather and avy condition dependent) in either doing a little climbing, a little climbing/skiing, or just a little BC skiing. If everything goes well i want to try and get out and ski Tom Dick and Harry, ski the south side, and possibly climb the Sunshine route, or some other interesting looking route. As well, i will most likely have a pass for Meadows, so if the weather just blows ill be cruising around the resort. Since all of my friends are heading south (bishop/redrocks/smith) for break i will be lonely and looking for some company. Woot 700 inches for Hood!!! Thats one epic snow cave. - Maine-iac

Bring your skis for McLaughlin. I had a fantastic ski from the summit to the car last year. It was a little bit of a pain finding a trail going up through the trees, so just blast straight up from the car park. If you are ever heading past Eugene drop me a line.

I've got a Magellan eXplorist 200. It is at least 4 years old, and doesn't receive the best signal in dense woods (are there any that do?) and it has no topo map or any bells/whistles on it, but since i feel im solid with my map/compass i just use it as a back up. It works great and has quite good battery life. GPS is nice, but map and compass is where it is at. I have also managed to log 21961 miles on it but i guess thats what happen if you like to know where you are while flying....

Step 1- Marinate steak tips in oil, soy, and weird mix bought in grocery store for a while. Step 2- Soak corn on the cob for 30 mins in water. Step 3- Prepare grill. Step 4- Wrap corn in tinfoil. Step 5- Cook corn for 10 to 15 mins, turning. Then add steak to grill. Step 6- While the steak is grilling don't touch it! Sear it, then flip it. Step 7- Once at desired rawness remove from grill, along with corn. Step 8- Let it sit, and run inside and grab a very cold Sam Adams Summer ale. Step 9- Eat Step 10- Repeat joygasims in mouth means a job well done.

Mix a little of Milwaukee's finest and a few more ATVs and you have yourself a real 'merican sport.

Oh hell ya there is climbing in Eugene! Some of the best basalt crack climbing this side of Springfield. Muffy, if its nice weather ill gladly show up with a rope. What time were you thinking about climbing?

Im rockin' a pair of Line Prophets, with a turned up tail. And let me tell you, i don't think i have ever been so frustrated with my skins (a pair of G3s) coming off the tail of them. I was just thinking i would throw some ducktape on the backs, and call it good. I dont think i could bring myself to notch the tails.... But thanks guys for the info, its nice to know im not the only person with this problem.