May 18, 2008, Hood

After a conference in toasty Portland, Stephan S. and I decided to see if the heat wave's effects might magically avoid Hood on Saturday night. They did. Snow was consolidated, cramponable ~1-3" melt-freeze crust atop softer snow. Overnight campers reported hearing some "big" slides, but we heard nary a peep from the snowpack on our overnight ascent. Left Timberline at 11pm, topped out with a gaggle of Boealps not long after sunrise via the old chute. As Stephan doesn't backcountry ski, we forewent the corn cycle for a safe downclimb. I skied from the Hogsback on chattery proto-corn that softened into fun snow ~8k. The groomers were a fun curiosity - I've not skied a groomer since ~Dec 2002; my skiing's improved since then. Met a number of skiers on their way up (with better timing) and saw a number of TAY-ish names in the register. Hope y'all had fun.

Fun day with a good friend!