Mt. Hood over Thanksgiving

[mhux]

Me and a friend are looking to climb Mt. Hood next weekend. I've taken a mountaineering/avy 1 course, and both of us have sport and multi-pitch climbing experience, but have never climbed a 'technical' mountain before. We're planning on the standard south side route, and might check out a few other routes depending on conditions/how we feel. I know the usual season is in spring, but can anyone tell me anything about climbing in late November? Also, besides the south-side, what other routes are good for beginners?

 

Thanks!

[ScaredSilly]

Check the weather, if it is not clear the day before, day of and for the next day or so after you plan climb then visit the lodge and drink some hot chocolate.

 

Basically, the weather this time of year can turn to shit quick. Thus with out knowledge of the hill and experience you could easily become a statistic. If you get a good weather window just stick to the south side.

[Sheep]

i doubt hood will have reasonable conditions for quite some time, its been dumping snow, over a layer of already unconsolidated snow, i imagine youll be postholing all the way up

[ARob]

Plus the really cold temps are keeping the new layer of fresh from consolidating all that quickly.

[stevetimetravlr]

The snow on Hood right now is so deep and light that travel in it is super burly and exhausting, as bad as it gets.

[jrex]

Last Thursday we spent 9 hours post holing up to Illumination Rock only to find tons of powder and zero ice, the only part of the climb that was some what enjoyable was the sunrise. If you want a learning experience then go for it if you have a weather window, just don't expect to summit. Oh and bring skis, board, sleigh, husky team...

[KirkW]

...snowcat...