May 1, 2010, Pea Gravel Ridge, Mount Hood
5/1/10
OR Mt Hood
1727
2
Arrived at HRM parking area around 7am... headed up Heather Canyon trail for 1/2 mile to gain Pea Gravel Ridge. Temp was right around freezing... and precipitation was mostly sleet and groppel. Winds were already gusting strong... and expected only to increase as we climbed.
Route along spine of Pea Gravel ridge showed maybe an inch of new snow... with the east facing slopes being nearly scoured and the west facing slopes receiving the deposition. Winds were howling, nearly to the point of knocking us down... and precip had changed to snow by now. We climbed until the winds and visibility forced us to stop. We skied the west facing slopes of Pea Gravel from near the top of the ridge... slope was mixed bag of breakable crust, wind deposited snow, and heavy packed groppel. But it skied surprisingly well.
Skied out of drainage for a bit before climbing back up to the spine of Pea Gravel. From here we followed the ridgeline back to the cat track. By now it was snowing hard, but temps were rising rapidly, and snow was getting very sticky.
Beers and tacos from Full Sail brewery for lunch was the end of rugged by satisfying day on the hill.
(no pics)
Route along spine of Pea Gravel ridge showed maybe an inch of new snow... with the east facing slopes being nearly scoured and the west facing slopes receiving the deposition. Winds were howling, nearly to the point of knocking us down... and precip had changed to snow by now. We climbed until the winds and visibility forced us to stop. We skied the west facing slopes of Pea Gravel from near the top of the ridge... slope was mixed bag of breakable crust, wind deposited snow, and heavy packed groppel. But it skied surprisingly well.
Skied out of drainage for a bit before climbing back up to the spine of Pea Gravel. From here we followed the ridgeline back to the cat track. By now it was snowing hard, but temps were rising rapidly, and snow was getting very sticky.
Beers and tacos from Full Sail brewery for lunch was the end of rugged by satisfying day on the hill.
(no pics)
Nice - we were at Meadows and had similar conditions. There weren't too many people either so it was a good day. Hood's still got a good base, so early summer should be pretty good!
Agreed. It is shaping up to be a good, long spring season!!
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