With the top ridge being exposed we decided to walk over to the Old Chute before putting our gear on. I enjoyed the summit for about 5 minutes and immediately started the trek down. There are no activities scheduled at this location. From there we could see that the grade would soon prohibit skinning. From Devil's Kitchen you have two options.
Both routes are snow climbs, even in record breaking heat, which require some basic mountaineering skills and an extremely early start. Beginner backcountry skiers who have cut their teeth on Palmer's gentle slopes will find transitioning to Salmon River Canyon a smooth progression towards more exciting terrain. Skiing old chute mt. hood. When the terrain finally leveled off I realized I was quite a bit below Tilly Jane on the wrong ridge. Point 8, 514 is always surprisingly far, and the poor snow conditions and the fact that I had been sick during the night did not help.
Follow Palmer Glacier, along east edge (right side) to avoid interfering with ski trails (as directed by sign at climbers' trailhead), to Triangular Moraine above cat track (5° bearing from Silcox hut). Ascend the climber's right side of the Hog's Back to the top of this small ridge. There was some minor rockfall from the cliffs on either side of the chute, so I and a party of two nearby made sure we stayed in the middle of it. Without the distractions of my surroundings, or worse, the demoralizing view of just how far away and how high our objective is, I can easily fall into a rhythm and get lost in my thoughts. Arriving back at the car it was time to head back home. Time: Top of Palmer Lift - Base of Crater Rock: 1 hr 20 mins. The Best Backcountry Skiing on Mount Hood, Oregon. My approach (before the Palmer lift) on both the way/up and way down was not direct as I was not sure where the trail was. Roundtrip from Timberline Lodge: 6 hrs.
Dogs: While theoretically dogs can hike Mt Hood (legally), I would highly recommend leaving all pets at home for this one. At 11, 237', Wy'east (aka Mt. Ski Descent of Mt Hood. One must remember to exit the sloping plateau to the left, staying close to the Elliott Glacier moraine! Our skis scraped across the firm and icy snow, chattering with every turn. With changing snow conditions, the standard route up the Hogback and Pearly Gates can vary in steepness and difficulty. Please reference CCSO Case # 21-011237. Named after the three distinct volcanic peaks that crown Skibowl, Tom, Dick and Harry Mountain is a foothill of Mount Hood standing at just 5, 000 feet of elevation.
Top of Palmer - 9, 200': 1 hr 20 mins. Though we had only rode two runs it had been over 12, 000 feet in total. Our party of three started right about midnight. Normally I've climbed the left gate and after discussing with my partners and the other teams, it seems that the only reason people were going for the right gate was because that's where others were going. Mount Hood/West Crater Rim. Skiing on mount hood. Situated at 6, 000 feet of elevation on the mountain's southern flanks, Timberline Lodge offers rustic Oregon charm and a wealth of alpine history. There was already a guided group on a rope down-climbing the chute so I waited patiently for them at the base. Trailhead - Point 8, 514: 5 hr 30 mins.
Also want to give a shout out to my new Atomic Backland Carbon ski touring boots (the 2018-2019 version before the BOA lacing system) and their removable tongues. Oregon's highest mountain and unmistakable landmark offers something no other peak in North America can: some of the best powder skiing in the world year-round, much of it lift-served. When we arrived we were surprised to find that part of the Catwalk had collapsed in the middle, causing an already narrow walkway to shrink to the width of a balancing beam. Then enter the canyon. At the bottom we followed the last thin track of dirty snow all the way to the parking lot. Mount Hood South Route: Old Chute. Approaching Illumination Saddle. There's plenty of options too, whether it's staying among the timber or taking it above treeline at the head of the canyon. The climb was tough, but it expanded the edges of my comfort zone.