pdk Posted October 8, 2007 Posted October 8, 2007 Anyone seen what conditions on the north face of hood are like? Either the gullies or the Eliot glacier headwall? Inquiring minds want to know. Mucho thankso Donnie Quote
Chad_A Posted October 8, 2007 Posted October 8, 2007 I can't imagine that things are formed up yet, just a guess. Might take a little while longer. Things might clear up enough today for you to get a glance, so go take a ride around the east side and let us know. Historically, November/December are the best months for the route, but I'm sure there's a lurker out there that's done it in October. Quote
ivan Posted October 8, 2007 Posted October 8, 2007 October 31st 2003 was the best day imaginable for the n side! w/ all this recent precip i imagine it'll be getting good real soon. Quote
pdk Posted October 8, 2007 Author Posted October 8, 2007 Yeah, i don't remember ever getting up there this early in the season before. But its been colder/wetter than usual. I think the key is to get good conditions while still being able to drive to cloud cap. Because i'm lazy. Quote
ScaredSilly Posted October 8, 2007 Posted October 8, 2007 About this time 15 years ago I ran up the Spur right after a recent storm. Primo conditions on the route with ice going up through the upper 500 feet. I had the whole mtn. to myself not another soul up there. And yeah the road to Cloud Cap was still open. Quote
twinkie Posted October 8, 2007 Posted October 8, 2007 When does the Cloud Cap lot usually open in the spring? Quote
snodger Posted October 9, 2007 Posted October 9, 2007 I was up there over the weekend, don't have time now to dig out the camera and post pix right now but will try later tonight. Seems to me that the gullies were not "in" - mostly a bit of fresh snow over rock. It looked like there might be a couple of icy runnels off the cliffs climbers left of the N face. more later- stay tuned Quote
ivan Posted October 9, 2007 Posted October 9, 2007 and warmed up considerably today, so starting the freeze/thaw thang - i likey! Quote
area51 Posted October 10, 2007 Posted October 10, 2007 Here's a shot from yesterday morning, albeit from my back porch.... Quote
pdk Posted October 11, 2007 Author Posted October 11, 2007 OOOOO - thanks. Looks like it probably needs a little work before it's in. But we might head up this weekend anyways. Quote
snodger Posted October 11, 2007 Posted October 11, 2007 here's some pix from last sunday, I was thinking of getting in some turns on the snow dome but a combination of a late start and the trashed condition of the elliot crossing turned it into a jaunt with skis on my back... This one is from near where the temp. bridge used to be - there's now a huge gully there where you can practice your batmanning skills on the fixed ropes then here's one from a bit farther up the Elliot: It was sure beautiful up there on sunday. I was hiking in my polypro shirt and sweating while all around it was cloudy and drizzling. At the time there was a dusting at the TH and along the way up it got deeper with drifts up to my knees. the dome looked like it had ample freshies, with the upper crevasses still open, but I'm sure all that has changed with the warmer temps... Quote
pdk Posted October 13, 2007 Author Posted October 13, 2007 thanks for the photos everyone. Keep em coming if you get more. It looks like the routes need some time to shape up. Quote
letsroll Posted October 15, 2007 Posted October 15, 2007 woot wooot wooot..looks like ski time soon Quote
PaulO Posted October 16, 2007 Posted October 16, 2007 A bit of the North Face and Cooper Spur from Sunday the 14th: Quote
letsroll Posted October 16, 2007 Posted October 16, 2007 nice little day hike. Looks like great conditions to take the little one. How did he fair? Cooper looks to be in good shape, think I will have to get on that one soon. Quote
PaulO Posted October 16, 2007 Posted October 16, 2007 It was perfect conditions and truly a windless, beautiful day. We wasted an hour at one point when I decided the somewhat snow covered main trial looked better than the ridge and ended up kicking steps through some REAL hard snow for a hundred feet or so while hanging on to Savio but we still made it to top of the hill in about 4 hours. He is a real trooper. Of course the 5 cup thermos of cocoa he packed helped a lot! Quote
billbob Posted October 19, 2007 Posted October 19, 2007 N Hood Ranger station says the road to Cloud Cap/TJ will be closed soon. This may be the last weekend you will be able to drive all the way up until June-ish next year. Quote
letsroll Posted October 19, 2007 Posted October 19, 2007 THnks for the info. Was thinking about heading up sunday, hope road is still open. Quote
PaulO Posted October 19, 2007 Posted October 19, 2007 I would call by close of business day today and ask specifics. With the forecast for 15" - 20" of snow by Sunday at 6K (and lesser amounts as low as 3500') I'll bet they shut the gate today. Even if they do not the road may be impassable anyways. Just the mud made it interesting in spots last Sunday for my old Sentra. Hood River Ranger station Phone number is 541-352-6002 Quote
letsroll Posted October 19, 2007 Posted October 19, 2007 just called and they are not planning on closing the road till the end of the month. You may not be able to get up there due to snow but gating is a non-issue. Quote
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