6/4, Mt. Hood - Reid Headwall (central couloir variation)

It was about 10 am yesterday, I was sipping coffee at a library computer in Hood River, and I became aware of the reality of the weather situation. Being misled by almost all forecasts, I checked out the forecast discussion from NWS, a low exiting east over northern Nevada was the source of clouds and showers yesterday, while a strong frontal system was predicted to hit today. Leaving a window for yesterday afternoon.

Inspired by Amar's late day assult of the Inter Glacier the other day, I quickly drove to Timberline, It was snowing and cloudy when I got there about 1230, and left shortly after. I broke out of the cloud deck at around 7.5k, just below the top of Palmer. From there I skinned up to the west of Crater Rock, and up onto the west rim of the crater, to where I knew the central couloir entrance was on the other side. I scoped the couloir, found about 1 to 2 feet of new snow, with a slight suncrust (1/4"). It was just starting to catch direct sunlight, so I waited ~1 hour, for the crust to soften a little, scouting the upper constriction for ice while I waited (all soft deep new snow).

The skiing was superb, the upper part of the couloir narrowed into a constriction, (deep new snow with a slight crust) then it opened up to a wide face like feature, then narrowed into a narrow couloir, then opened back up for the lower part. Snow became heavy powder in the middle of route, then slightly wet towards the bottom. There were NO RUNNELS! I was able to spot the bergshrund with little difficulties. The skiing down to Palmer from I. rock was fabulous, but then I was immersed in thick cloud cover all the way down to timberline. I was fortunate the cloud deck stayed at 7.5k. I sough no one else up there, or any sign of anyone the entire day.