July 8, 2006, Snow Dome, Mt. Hood
7/8/06
OR Mt Hood
1929
0
We arrived at 9 am to a nearly fully parking lot at Cloudcap, but I never did figure out where all those people were. About 20 or so made their way over to the Snowdome, which is a bit larger crowd than I've seen there before, but there was plenty of great snow and sunshine for everyone.
The bridge over Elliot Creek is not in place, but for now it is possible to cross on snow bridges (although that won't last too much longer.) The hike up the moraine seemed to go by quicker than in the past, and we soon found ourselves at the base of the snow. We caught up with several other parties in this area, and almost everyone started up the snow at the same time. Most people booted it up the snow, which was starting to get soft, but a few skinned their way up. As one of those who chose to skin, I have to say that the bootpackers seemed to make better time.
It was a clear, calm, and warm day, which contributed to a certain laziness at the top (about 9300 feet), although I couldn't help thinking that the snow would probably be better sooner rather than later. Nonetheless, we didn't get our skis pointed downhill until after 1:30 pm.
As it happened, the snow and the skiing were great. The crevasse on the west side of the Snowdome is open more than I've seen before, but it is easily bypassed, and I think the best pitch is right below it. Below that we stayed as far to the skiers' left as reasonable. With one carry through a rock band we continued down the bowls and all the way to the Timberline trail at 5800 feet. There are minor suncups on the lower slopes but not many rocks or sticks on the surface of the snow.
It was a little over an hour back to the parking lot on the Timberline Trail.
The bridge over Elliot Creek is not in place, but for now it is possible to cross on snow bridges (although that won't last too much longer.) The hike up the moraine seemed to go by quicker than in the past, and we soon found ourselves at the base of the snow. We caught up with several other parties in this area, and almost everyone started up the snow at the same time. Most people booted it up the snow, which was starting to get soft, but a few skinned their way up. As one of those who chose to skin, I have to say that the bootpackers seemed to make better time.
It was a clear, calm, and warm day, which contributed to a certain laziness at the top (about 9300 feet), although I couldn't help thinking that the snow would probably be better sooner rather than later. Nonetheless, we didn't get our skis pointed downhill until after 1:30 pm.
As it happened, the snow and the skiing were great. The crevasse on the west side of the Snowdome is open more than I've seen before, but it is easily bypassed, and I think the best pitch is right below it. Below that we stayed as far to the skiers' left as reasonable. With one carry through a rock band we continued down the bowls and all the way to the Timberline trail at 5800 feet. There are minor suncups on the lower slopes but not many rocks or sticks on the surface of the snow.
It was a little over an hour back to the parking lot on the Timberline Trail.
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