[TR] Mt.Hood- Illumination Rock - Rime Dog variation 1/17/2013

[bedellympian]

Trip: Mt.Hood- Illumination Rock - Rime Dog variation

 

Date: 1/17/2013

 

Trip Report:

My partner Edward Corder and I went up to Hood to check out Illumination Rock routes for the first time. We had the bad luck of catching the warmest day of the past 2 months. Still managed to get some sketchy climbing in before everything completely dissolved around us.

 

Left car at 5ish. Poked around Illumination and eventually ended up climbing a lot of the same stuff as Rime Dog that Wayne Wallace TRed on. Reached the West Gable and rapped off the back side (one rap ~40m, on double ropes). Back at car by 3:45. We figured it was about AI4 with a short mixed section of about 5.8 rock half covered in rime (whatever that is in M rating).

 

More details on the awful ice conditions and photos on my blog... Mountain Mischief Blog http://mountainmischief.blogspot.com/

 

Gear Notes:

Double ropes, some old nuts and slings for rapping. Screws and pickets useless. Lack of common sense and large cahones were also handy.

 

Approach Notes:

Skis... which I don't recommend as it was super icy up and down. Just take 'pons and walk.

[wayne]

WOW, Never have I seen March Madness so fat. What kept you from trying it? The temps?

[bedellympian]

Yeah it was warm and there were a lot of ice chunks coming down where March Madness is even though the sun had just hit it. We were definitely disappointed not to be able to try it as it looked awesome.