Mt. Hood Solo?

[Das Beerd]

I'm not familiar enough with the standard route through the Old Crater (Mazama route, methinks) to know if I'll need to rope up or not. Is it doable solo this time of year without a rope team? I figure Friday night it's going to be a big game of follow-the-leader up there anyways. Advice?

 

Thanks!

[spotly]

Doable. Some teams do choose to rope up though. My thinking is if I'm not comfortable soloing when no one else is around, then I won't solo. When going alone, I don't rely on someone else being there to bail me out if I get sketched or I'm not sure of the route. Do your homework on the route and conditions then make good judgement calls along the way.

[Das Beerd]

So what about crevasse danger? From what I can tell it looks like this old crater route doesn't go over the schrund. Is that the case?

[eldiente]

You do not need a partner or a rope for the South side. It is often skied this time of year. If you go on a weekend you can follow dozens (hundreds) of people to the summit.

[Das Beerd]

Good skiing? That sounds sweet. All the way from the top or just below the crater?

[Joe_Poulton]

If you go the Mazama route (west crater rim) be prepared for some nice exposure on that summit ridge...If I remember correctly the ridge that links the western half of the mountain with the true summit is about as wide as your two feet...that's the only spot I thought a rope would have been a nice comfort when I did Leuthold awhile back...

 

You can ski off the top. Just choose a line.

[Maine-iac]

Ski from the top and charge hard.

[Das Beerd]

Rock and roll. From what I've heard falls above the Hogsback can really put a dent in you so I'm thinking I'll ditch the planks around crater rock and get some turns in from there down. Thanks for all the info.

[Bigtree]

Das Beerd, just climbed it last Thursday. The scariest thing for me was the fear of getting clotheslined by the hordes of inexperienced folks climbing above the Hogsback in the event there was a fall.

 

Also, you might find a second tool helpful on some parts of the descent should you decide to downclimb nose-in.

 

Lastly, don't be a lame ass like so many folks I saw who actually took a snow-cat ride up to ~ 8,500' before commencing their "climb".

[Das Beerd]

I was thinking I'd snow-cat up a few coolers of Black Butte Porter and sell them for $5 a pop to the decending hordes. It's still cheaper than Timberline.

[BillA]

Also, make sure you know your four basic responsibilities, carry seven different cell phones, AT LEAST two GPS units, an MLU and a black lab. If you follow all of these rules you might just live.

[Ken_p]

Don't forget a little teddy bear to hug and keep you calm after you fuck it up big time on the South Side Slog and need to ride out the wait for the helo.

[Das Beerd]

Good times were had by all. The summit was sweet and the crowds were surprisingly manageable (avoidable). Thanks for all the info.

[sobo]

...I'll ditch the planks around crater rock and get some turns in from there down...

Now go back and take the planks all the way up and schuss the bowl above CR.

[Maine-iac]

Hell yeah Sobo! My "goal" this year was to gap the bergshrund; but since we skied the Mazama chute when it was avy prone, I decided not to push my luck. Next year though....

[sobo]

Maine-iac:

Remember... "Discretion is the better part of valor."

 

I had neither when I yardsaled my way down the bowl below the Pearly Gates...

 

Good on you for recognizing an epic in the making and taking the requisite steps to avoid same.