AARON1 Posted October 9, 2003 Posted October 9, 2003 Need input for planning a trip up to Mt Hood. I plan to ride up to Timberline lodge from NE Portland pulling a B.O.B trailer with my AT ski and climbing gear in it. I'm going to do this pretty early in the year (April, May) before the burgshrunde opens up. The plan is to ride up climb to the summit ski down and ride home. What I am not sure of is what time to leave Portland. I don't really want to ride Hwy 26 in the dark and I don't want to climb to early in the night. From my house it is about 55 miles to timberline lodge. This may be wishful thinking but, if I can average 8 to 10 mph it would take 5 1/2 to 7 hours on the bike part. Has anyone ridden to timberline lodge and how long did it take? I also don't want to do this by myself. The climb an the ski down would be a breeze, I'm more worried about Quote
Alex Posted October 9, 2003 Posted October 9, 2003 If you are planning to ride up to Govie, its a fairly flat ride up to Rhododendron, then gets steep for the last 20 miles to T-line Lodge. Though the shoulder is wide, truck traffic sucks. Might want to plan it all for a Sunday, when weekend traffic is heavier but truck traffic might not be so bad. Â Personally I dont think Hood is really a good enough ski to warrant lugging up the extra crap all the way from PTown. You could ride with everything in a pack and forgo the trailer..? I know it wont sound as dramatic when you tell the tale in the bar, but I doubt you will be all that much slower up or down the mountain..skiing off the top can be good but can also be icy enough that skiing is just as fast as walking. Â just my .02 Â Alex Quote
Billy Posted October 10, 2003 Posted October 10, 2003 Are you for real? Or is this a troll..... Quote
iain Posted October 10, 2003 Posted October 10, 2003 I have vowed never to descend Mt Hood w/o skis again. Life's too short. Damn right they are worth the weight Quote
iain Posted October 10, 2003 Posted October 10, 2003 If two 2x4's was all I had I would still haul them to the summit and duct tape 'em on before descending that thing w/o skis  remember, salmon hash is served until 10:00am at the lodge Quote
rbw1966 Posted October 10, 2003 Posted October 10, 2003 But the ratskeller serves beer and is absent that yuppie atmosphere of the lodge. Quote
Figger_Eight Posted October 10, 2003 Posted October 10, 2003 AARON1 said: Need input for planning a trip up to Mt Hood. I plan to ride up to Timberline lodge from NE Portland pulling a B.O.B trailer with my AT ski and climbing gear in it. I'm going to do this pretty early in the year (April, May) before the burgshrunde opens up. The plan is to ride up climb to the summit ski down and ride home. What I am not sure of is what time to leave Portland. I don't really want to ride Hwy 26 in the dark and I don't want to climb to early in the night. From my house it is about 55 miles to timberline lodge. This may be wishful thinking but, if I can average 8 to 10 mph it would take 5 1/2 to 7 hours on the bike part. Has anyone ridden to timberline lodge and how long did it take? I also don't want to do this by myself. The climb an the ski down would be a breeze, I'm more worried about  Right on Aaron I have a friend who did something similar Quote
skykilo Posted October 10, 2003 Posted October 10, 2003 rbw1966 said: But the ratskeller serves beer and is absent that yuppie atmosphere of the lodge. True, but I can't pass the opportunity to gawk at my favorite hottie barkeep at the Ramshead. Quote
cracked Posted October 11, 2003 Posted October 11, 2003 skykilo said: rbw1966 said: But the ratskeller serves beer and is absent that yuppie atmosphere of the lodge. True, but I can't pass the opportunity to gawk at my favorite hottie barkeep at the Ramshead. What's her name again? Marcy? Quote
skykilo Posted October 11, 2003 Posted October 11, 2003 Yeah, let's go rock the South Side with a fat kicker over the 'schrund and a big pillow freshiez landing. Extra points for dodging the buckshot coming out of the Pearly Gates. Extremo, you with me? Quote
Thrashador Posted October 11, 2003 Posted October 11, 2003 iain said: If two 2x4's was all I had I would still haul them to the summit and duct tape 'em on before descending that thing w/o skis  d00d, lemme know when you're up for it. i wanna snap some pics. Ya gots ta double pole plant, wear woolies or knickers, and either bright yellow helly hanson rubber rain top or an old reversible green/white army anorak. talk about postmodern. Quote
cracked Posted October 11, 2003 Posted October 11, 2003 skykilo said: Yeah, let's go rock the South Side with a fat kicker over the 'schrund and a big pillow freshiez landing. Extra points for dodging the buckshot coming out of the Pearly Gates. Extremo, you with me? I'll provide some faceplant entertainment. Quote
iain Posted October 11, 2003 Posted October 11, 2003 9" of new at T-line these days....scenic skyride is STILL open, must be a blast Quote
texplorer Posted October 11, 2003 Posted October 11, 2003 If you ski down hood you are a lamo freshiez lover and not a "real" climber. Skis are aid. Hike off like a real man. Quote
Thrashador Posted October 11, 2003 Posted October 11, 2003 texplorer said: Skis are aid. Hike off like a real man. Â Yo mama's aid; I know chicks on stix (read "real women") who will have punked all the beer at the Ram's Head before your sorry ass is halfway to your cat ride descent from the top of the Palmer. Quote
cj001f Posted October 11, 2003 Posted October 11, 2003 rbw1966 said: But the ratskeller serves beer and is absent that yuppie atmosphere of the lodge. I prefer Charlie's - it's a step down from the 'skeller (but how about that pin deal!) Quote
Alpine_Tom Posted October 11, 2003 Posted October 11, 2003 If you're serious about this, it seems like the prudent thing to do would be to try the ride up there now, some weekend day, to see what it's like. YMMV, as they say. Then you'd have a much better idea what you'd be up against. If I were doing something like this, I'd probably do the ride portion during the day, and budget most of a day for it. Bring a sleeping bag and bivvy sack. Find a bivvy spot someplace on the lower mountain and sack out until, say, 4:00 AM. Then do the summit, come down. That'd put you back at Timberline noon or 1:00 or so, and you should be able to bicycle home before dark. Â I don't ski, but you can get from the summit to the parking lot in 2 hours on foot without pushing it. Saving the bulk and weight of hauling skiis on a trailer 110 miles up to Timberline and back down would more than make up the difference in time saved descending with skiis. Quote
AARON1 Posted October 13, 2003 Author Posted October 13, 2003 Hell ya I am serious about this trip. I am currently planning to ride up to Timberline to get an idea on how long it will take. Any takers. Quote
sketchfest Posted October 14, 2003 Posted October 14, 2003 Yeah, I might be interested, when do you plan on doing this ride? Quote
rbw1966 Posted October 14, 2003 Posted October 14, 2003 I might be interested as well. Like most others, I'd walk down the south side as opposed to hauling skis the whole way. Â I know an older guy who pedaled to t-line and climbed the south side. Did this a few years ago. His name is Peter I think. Â Don't let anyone piss on your dreams Aaron--go for it. Quote
Thrashador Posted October 14, 2003 Posted October 14, 2003 Mt. bike or road? Mt. might be the call. Can avoid cars on the way up by taking FS 2612 near Rhododendron and ride single track back. Quote
iain Posted October 14, 2003 Posted October 14, 2003 Just take it easy on Timberline Rd. There was a brutal biker vs. car up there a few months back and numerous close calls. The water and gravel on the road make life difficult for the biker. yuck. Maybe West Leg Rd. would be the choice to get you up to Timberline. Good luck! Quote
AARON1 Posted October 14, 2003 Author Posted October 14, 2003 I did not think of Mt. Biking it. The only problem I really don't want to ride my Full suspension bike 110 miles. Thats all I got other than my road bike. Quote
Thrashador Posted October 15, 2003 Posted October 15, 2003 I like the whole idea. Might it be a wee bit more intresting(i'm a lil' drunk, hehe) ta avoid as much main line car twaffic as possible. Personally, exhaust in my lungs is a big fat buzz shackle no matter the end goal. Quote
shuksan Posted October 16, 2003 Posted October 16, 2003 I might be interested too. I'd thought about doing this before, and figured a bivy stop made sense before starting up from T-line. Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.