June 6, 2015, Illumination Rock, Mt. Hood
6/6/15
OR Mt Hood
2293
1
Saturday was the last weekend to use our Timberline Fusion passes. The lift starts at 8am and runs to 2:30pm. You ride the Magic Mile lift with your skis in your lap no snow. When you get off the lift you can walk down to the ramp of the Palmer or ride over the mud/snow. It was quiet early and the salted groomed runs were in great shape. The ski camps showed up around 9am. A large group of Ski Patrollers from around the West Coast were having fun and refreshing their skills. The 'students' were learning the 'fun' of controlling a toboggan going downhill with a large person in it.
After 2 hours of skiing groomed runs we started the long traverse on skier's right. We stopped and put on the skins and headed towards Illumination Rock. The snow was in nice shape as we climbed. In the distance we saw some folks building a jump near the 'Rock'. When we arrived the snowboarders had finished the jump and were going for air. It was great to see the young women boarders doing their thing along with the guys. We went to the northeast side where it was quieter and we were out of their way. This spot is usually the beginning of the circumnavigation of Mt Hood. The crevasses were beautiful from our location. As we were getting ready to ski down we met several skiers/boarders who had summited and were using the descent towards Illumination Rock. One of them had found a split board that had been stuck in the snow for a long time older gear, rusty, etc. Skiing down the upper part of Zig Zag glacier was great. It was so good it was tempting to go further down, but we finally made a strong left turn to get back to the top of Magic Mile lift. We got there around 2pm, tired but very pleased with ourselves, and downloaded to the base of the Magic Mile lift. We are heading east for more snow in MT, WY, and CO hopefully.
1 Mt.Hood Zap 68 years ;)
2 Crevasses Jill 70 years ;)
3 Illumination Rock
After 2 hours of skiing groomed runs we started the long traverse on skier's right. We stopped and put on the skins and headed towards Illumination Rock. The snow was in nice shape as we climbed. In the distance we saw some folks building a jump near the 'Rock'. When we arrived the snowboarders had finished the jump and were going for air. It was great to see the young women boarders doing their thing along with the guys. We went to the northeast side where it was quieter and we were out of their way. This spot is usually the beginning of the circumnavigation of Mt Hood. The crevasses were beautiful from our location. As we were getting ready to ski down we met several skiers/boarders who had summited and were using the descent towards Illumination Rock. One of them had found a split board that had been stuck in the snow for a long time older gear, rusty, etc. Skiing down the upper part of Zig Zag glacier was great. It was so good it was tempting to go further down, but we finally made a strong left turn to get back to the top of Magic Mile lift. We got there around 2pm, tired but very pleased with ourselves, and downloaded to the base of the Magic Mile lift. We are heading east for more snow in MT, WY, and CO hopefully.
1 Mt.Hood Zap 68 years ;)
2 Crevasses Jill 70 years ;)
3 Illumination Rock
