Snow Dome, Mt. Hood- July 30
7/15/08
OR Mt Hood
3348
1
Rain showers and wind on Tuesday night greeted me as I stopped at Charlie's Palace in Government Camp for the traditional local rituals. A lot of strange looks and comments as I explained my destination, but they had all heard the story before...
The Silverado Hotel was rockin' in the wind as the storm blew through at 6,000'. One star promised clearing skies and I soon could see the eastern sky. I put on my parka and bibs and walked through the horizontal rain to Cloud Cap where a candle burned in the window.
The morning dawned clear and cool. I took my time knowing I wanted the warmest part of the day for my destination about 9,000'. I took the second finger from the east up the bottom of Eliot Glacier. The far east line looked less direct, and lines to the west had too many crevasses for a leisurely trip alone.
The lower Eliot was good walking or skinning with minor route finding still and gaining Langille Ridge a short climb through a couple small cracks. Suncups were spaced 5-10' and the snow was just a few inches deep at worst. The snow dome was better walking than skinning.
I stopped just below 9,000'. I would have liked to have gone farther, but the skiing looked pretty good from where I was and responsibility was haunting me to return to the lowlands. I enjoyed slalom turns through the suncups- the tops were soft and forgiving mid-afternoon. I skied the far east finger of lower Eliot which was smoother than the ascent route- next west.
I saw two sets of tracks down the upper-middle Eliot, through the crevasses, below where Dan skied a few weeks before- nice line across a lot of snowbridges with crevasses to the sides.
I downloaded my photos, only to have my computer crash the next morning. Hopefully I will get the photos back to post, along with the other 150gb. Back up your stuff!
The Silverado Hotel was rockin' in the wind as the storm blew through at 6,000'. One star promised clearing skies and I soon could see the eastern sky. I put on my parka and bibs and walked through the horizontal rain to Cloud Cap where a candle burned in the window.
The morning dawned clear and cool. I took my time knowing I wanted the warmest part of the day for my destination about 9,000'. I took the second finger from the east up the bottom of Eliot Glacier. The far east line looked less direct, and lines to the west had too many crevasses for a leisurely trip alone.
The lower Eliot was good walking or skinning with minor route finding still and gaining Langille Ridge a short climb through a couple small cracks. Suncups were spaced 5-10' and the snow was just a few inches deep at worst. The snow dome was better walking than skinning.
I stopped just below 9,000'. I would have liked to have gone farther, but the skiing looked pretty good from where I was and responsibility was haunting me to return to the lowlands. I enjoyed slalom turns through the suncups- the tops were soft and forgiving mid-afternoon. I skied the far east finger of lower Eliot which was smoother than the ascent route- next west.
I saw two sets of tracks down the upper-middle Eliot, through the crevasses, below where Dan skied a few weeks before- nice line across a lot of snowbridges with crevasses to the sides.
I downloaded my photos, only to have my computer crash the next morning. Hopefully I will get the photos back to post, along with the other 150gb. Back up your stuff!
Nice report - glad you were able to get back up there. Hope you get the pictures back........
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