iain Posted March 22, 2004 Share Posted March 22, 2004 Climb: Mt. Hood-South Side Date of Climb: 3/20/2004 Trip Report: I love the south side climb, but you would see a grown man cry if you found me up there without skis these days. I had a meeting at Timberline at 0830, but I wanted to get a bit of exercise in before I sat around for hours over by little zig canyon. The solution was to leave Timberline at 0215 and get a south side ski in. Conditions were very good for climbing. Skinning conditions were great, and I got to the top of Palmer by 0315. I had the upper crater to myself, and was on the summit around 0600. The first climber of the day was approaching the hogsback as I was coming down. Here's a look down the hogsback from the gates. The blob on the ridge is my skis (I didn't think the 0600 summit ice festival would be a fun ski). The first climber of what would surely be a busy day is approaching. Here's a view of the Columbia River from the summit at sunrise as it lazily makes it's way to the Portland superfund site. The ski down from the hogsback was miserable, as would be expected that early in the morning. However, some new snow had been wind transported to the depression between Illumination Saddle and Triangle Moraine, so cutting hard skier's right at Crater Rock paid off somewhat, but not as much as usual. I pleaded for the fresh groom on the Palmer like those bitchy teenage ski racers at the summer camps. Here's a shot of Hood for those wondering how much coverage is up there right now. Plenty. Note the exposed rock below Steel Cliffs, and note the HUGE streak of debris that has been blown across Wy'East! Looks like we had some serious wind late last week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Posted March 22, 2004 Share Posted March 22, 2004 nice photos iain - what a great day. Here's to never ever ever hiking down the south side. Saw you and the pmr posse gathering in the climbers cave saturday morning. We skied down the reid and out through ramona falls - when I have a chance to cull some photos later today, I'll post a TR. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iain Posted March 22, 2004 Author Share Posted March 22, 2004 wow that sounds like a great ski. did you set up a shuttle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Posted March 22, 2004 Share Posted March 22, 2004 we did, but we needn't have bothered because my former friend the snowboarder left his keys to the shuttle in the van up at timberline. Also, the road to ramona falls was closed, so we pretty much had to park at Lolo pass road. So it was a longer day than planned, but a great ski. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Posted March 22, 2004 Share Posted March 22, 2004 there's still a lot of snow in there... we were able to ski down to within about 1/4 mile of the gate (which is at the bridge over the Sandy), so I doubt that road will be melted out for another month. I'll put up a TR later tonight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thrashador Posted March 22, 2004 Share Posted March 22, 2004 Glad you guys had a great ski. Snow 1/4 mile to the gate. Saw y'all at Illumination. Paradise was a bunch of fun. No navigation mishaps though I did put my sneakers on too soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Posted March 24, 2004 Share Posted March 24, 2004 thrash - glad you had a good day; thanks for the beta. We did pretty well navigationally until after the falls - then had a couple of issues finding the goddamn road. Ask dave for details... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ovr40 Posted March 27, 2004 Share Posted March 27, 2004 Hey, that first little dot was me! Glad to have met you, iain. My ride down in the death sled was interesting. Surprisingly, only a few more climbers came up that morning, may a dozen total. Wave next time you blast past (going up or down). Lon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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