Costanza

i understand, is there a list of good winter hikes anywhere (Specifically close to Portland)? I originally found Colchuck by searching "glacial lakes" because their blue beauty is one of my favorite things out there and since I know in the winter it wouldn't be the same it isn't ontop of my "must do" list, especially since the drive is hours upon hours away. I'd like to get some solid snowshoe,crampon, and ice axe experience. I really enjoyed the steepness of Aasgard also is why I originally came back to the idea of doing it in the winter. I plan on doing Mt.Hood this spring, but that is some time away. I'd also like to up my snow experience before so. At this point I do feel like this is taking away from this threads main topic (Colchuck Lake) and would be happy to make a new thread if need be!

the quick responses are extremely appreciated! I do understand the extra factors of difficulty included in this trip and would not take any of this lightly and I have done some research (based upon what I could find) to discover that the trail would be extended due to the snowed out roads and would accept this. I would be prepared for snowshoeing as well as crampon use if need be and these are things that leave me interested greatly as I'd like to become a well rounded mountaineer. Avalanches are a serious factor that I would not take lightly as well and I do appreciate this being mentioned. I did find this websight helpful, http://www.avalanche.org/tutorial/tutorial.html would anyone have any more to add to this beyond that websights information?

thank you for sharing! I did this trail this past August and would be highly interested in re-doing it (and hopefully up Aasgard Pass as I did in the summer) this winter. Does anyone have any recommendations about going through with this idea? I'd be going alone and It would be one of my first winter hikes, although I feel I could manage... I would be interested if anyone has some key factors they feel the need to tell me though before making the drive from Portland Oregon.