Towards the end of March, with an Alps trip coming up and a rather underwhelming season in the west, we decided it was time to head north. Yes, the PNW has even less SWE compared to average than California. However even 5% of average in the PNW looks like nuclear winter compared to this year's dusting in the sierra. So due north we flew.
We had been maintaining lofty dreams of getting a true lashing from the north cascades. Steep, high, tight couloirs with monster approaches were on our minds. Unfortunately, as we were descending into Seattle, we flew right into a characteristically grey, warm, wet atmosphere that promised not to leave our sight for the duration of the trip. Except. Maybe. Sunday...And it seemed that the further south, the better.
So armed with a promise of moderate avalanche danger with warm mushy southern slopes in the afternoon, we beat it south to Mt Hood. The plan was to get to the Timberline parking lot early enough to get some sleep before alpine starting to be clear of danger before the sun wakes up the shooting gallery. Our pit stop in Portland nearly derailed these plans as we all discovered P-town has incredible craft beer! Bridgeport, Rogue, Deschutes...We were like kids in a candy store and risking getting almost as sick...We decided we loved Portland so much that we had to stay the night...yeah, I think that's how that went...
So our alpine start began at 8am...Hey, we were pretty proud of that...
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My very good friend here, was still wondering what could have possibly distracted us from meeting him in the parking lot at 4am...He's an Oregon native and was my college room mate, so he should have known (sorry bud!)
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Initially our plans were to climb Hood via the Leuthold couloir. Two things derailed this plan: 1) Portland, 2) that funky cloud capping the summit that guaranteed bullet proof conditions in the Leuthold. Sure, it might have been fine for climbing, but we generally prefer to climb what we are going to ski and it was sure to be better descended in crampons...or ice skates.
So the plan was to put our tail between our legs, suck it up and join the masses up the hogsback and through the pearly gates. I could hear the mountain saying "hey, you got some sun. Enjoy."
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Through the pearly gates
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Success against all (objective and subjective) odds!
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So this is supposed to be a ski trip right?
First we went this way.
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Then we ran into this little issue. Trying to descend to the left into the Wy East Face we appeared to have two options: 1) Mandatory 100ft cliff huck - out. 2) Icy traverse to MAYBE a better descent option. This inspired great inquiry, posturing and debate. This probably would have worked out OK but after intense caucusing, only one of us was man enough to give it a go. The rest of us successfully reduced him to our poor world of inadequacy and we all walked back up to the top. Hey, it was getting late and we also didn't feel like hitch hiking from meadows to timberline...Trust me. OK, just drop it. I'll give you some more photos.
Looking down to what would become the site of the great debate of Mt Hood of March 29th.
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Returning to the top, the consensus was to descend the old chute.
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It never warmed up so this thing was totally bullet proof. I've never been so happy to have a metal ski...and it's not even that steep!
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ripping
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The upper mountain is beautiful
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And down we skied. And back we drove. And in Portland we stopped...again...Thanks Portland. You're the best.
