January 24, 2017, Mt. Hood, Illumination Saddle
1/24/17
OR Mt Hood
2454
4
Went to climb Reid Glacier Headwall. Dropped skis at Illumination saddle. Wallowed through knee to waist deep snow on the lower Headwall. Turned around due to wimp-factor ando not wanting to swim all the way to the top in those conditions.
This is a ski forum so enough climbing talk. I wish we brought our skis up the Headwall because the snow was pretty stable. Just starting to wind load, but no major propagation. The Headwall would have skied really well. We got back to the saddle met by 35mph sustained wind with 60+ gusts. If we weren't so tired and wanted the best turns, there was nice, soft snow on the fall line from the saddle. But we only got a couple good turns there before traversing across to the top of the lift. Along the lift it was typical waves of wind blown pockets with some scowered spots. Bumpy, but still soft and nothing was grabby. Hit the last thousand feet of untouched couderoy to the parking lot. Then to Huckleberry Cafe for pancakes and beer at 9am.
Video for your viewing pleasure:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=k06TwahgfB0
This is a ski forum so enough climbing talk. I wish we brought our skis up the Headwall because the snow was pretty stable. Just starting to wind load, but no major propagation. The Headwall would have skied really well. We got back to the saddle met by 35mph sustained wind with 60+ gusts. If we weren't so tired and wanted the best turns, there was nice, soft snow on the fall line from the saddle. But we only got a couple good turns there before traversing across to the top of the lift. Along the lift it was typical waves of wind blown pockets with some scowered spots. Bumpy, but still soft and nothing was grabby. Hit the last thousand feet of untouched couderoy to the parking lot. Then to Huckleberry Cafe for pancakes and beer at 9am.
Video for your viewing pleasure:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=k06TwahgfB0
Love the video man. Thanks very much for the Hood report. I'm hoping to head that way soon.
Some interesting wind-affected snow on your traverse there, and cool ice crystals in the air with your tailwind
It was a blast. The snow was kinda weird. Sugary and soft. It was really cold up there. That kept it soft. We could have had some epic turns down from the saddle if we didn't bother to traverse high.
Great vid and nice work. The traverse back to mile chair with the spin drift out pacing you had a very cool illusion to it.
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