January 26, 2015, Mt Hood, White River glacier
1/26/15
OR Mt Hood
2633
0
Left Timberline climber's lot at 11:30am, 53F, calm wind and filtered sunshine conditions at 6K. Reached 10.3K at 1:50pm in 35F, moderate/strong west wind (30G40kt) via south climb route. Wind: light at 7K, moderate at 8.5K, moderate/strong above 9.5K. Soft wet snow to 6.5K then smooth, firm MF above. Adequate coverage above 7K. Ski crampons above 8.5K, boot crampons above 9.5K. No rime chunks. No blowing snow.
Eased with caution into White River headwall in hopes that steep, south facing, wind sheltered slope would yield softer conditions. It did! Firm, but dependable edging. Continued down White River glacier to 6.5K. Nice skiing below 8.5K on wind sheltered slopes. Exposed crevasse bands in usual spots. Never hit a rock anywhere.
No signs of instability but smooth bed surfaces...
Not a bad ski descent considering our predicament.
Eased with caution into White River headwall in hopes that steep, south facing, wind sheltered slope would yield softer conditions. It did! Firm, but dependable edging. Continued down White River glacier to 6.5K. Nice skiing below 8.5K on wind sheltered slopes. Exposed crevasse bands in usual spots. Never hit a rock anywhere.
No signs of instability but smooth bed surfaces...
Not a bad ski descent considering our predicament.
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