Holk Posted December 10, 2011 Share Posted December 10, 2011 Trip: Mt. Hood - West Crater Rim Proper Date: 12/9/2011 Trip Report: West Crater Rim has been a daunting goal for some time now, really only because of it's constant avy danger, but conditions were absolutely perfect up there Thursday. I've always wanted to climb this route, specifically the variation that I did, and am not sure if you would fully consider it the WCR route even? At any rate it was an awesome quick solo trip up the south side that lent to some better climbing than I had anticipated. A mellow approach, but upon turning up the rim it got steep [45-50], afterward becoming mellow again but with significant exposure. The bank on the left leading up behind Castle Crags looks a lot more gentle from this point of view than it really is. A narrow resting spot above Castle Crags. Awesome views of the Reid from up here and a little more accurate visual on slope angle. The iconic saddle midway up the Reid Headwall. Here I was faced with a traverse below or climbing above without certainty of what was around the corner. I chose the rime above. The ridge/rim above Castle Crags. The neatest looking ice formations seen to date. Awesome stuff, although I'm sure they'll come crashing down sooner than later. Upper slopes of the Queens Chair above the Reid Headwall. Kendall [pictured] and Jason had just climbed the Gates - good and steep and icy they said. Gear Notes: I used two axes, but you could've done it easily enough with one. Approach Notes: Headphones helped me ignore it this time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeanO Posted December 10, 2011 Share Posted December 10, 2011 Amazing pictures! Those ice formations are really cool, but I would never want to be underneath them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonG Posted December 10, 2011 Share Posted December 10, 2011 Cool! Hood is in pretty good nick right now, eh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B Deleted_Beck Posted December 10, 2011 Share Posted December 10, 2011 sweeet.. i probably watched you cross the western rim. our current job site sits with a full west face view of the mountain, and every damn day of this high pressure bliss i've been staring up at it, wishing i was there instead. excellent pics. how was wind? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhrmabum Posted December 10, 2011 Share Posted December 10, 2011 Good job yet again, Mr. Holk. Nice pics. I, too, have been gazing at Hood, wishing. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holk Posted December 11, 2011 Author Share Posted December 11, 2011 Hood couldn't be better right now for the time of year. The winds were next to nil and the overall temps were rather mild; it felt nicer than when I was up last July. And yes, there was some ice trickle, but most of those huge formations were easily avoidable and the rest was tiny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justcallmegary Posted December 17, 2011 Share Posted December 17, 2011 Nice photos! I remember bs'ing with you up there. Good day. Jason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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.