Met Jon & Allen up at Timberline to climb Mt. Hood.
| Me & Jon hanging out next to "Le-Monster" . . . the overnight camping situ in the lot at T-line for he & Allen (Allen Light photo) |
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The snowpack was pretty hard on the eyes. Looked a lot more like July coverage than early March.
| Jon picking his way through the boneyard just above Timberline |
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| Tromping up the climber's trail just below the base of the Palmer (Allen Light photo) |
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| The ants beginning to assemble below Crater Rock |
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| Allen humping the sticks - all kinds of crazy water ice and verglas in here made skinning a frustrating chore (Jon Carney photo) |
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| Approaching the Hogsback |
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| Good view up the Hogsback ramp to the Pearly Gates |
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| Allen approaching the Hogsback with the (incredibly bone-dry) White River Canyon behind him. Mt. Jefferson in the distance. |
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| Some cool riming in the Pearly Gates. Got pretty warm and these things were beginning to tumble more frequently when we started to make our way down. Good day for wearing the brain bucket |
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| A view back down through the Pearly Gates, the Hogsback and Crater Rock below. Thankfully not too many parties queued up in through here. |
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Allen almost to the top. You can see the upper tip of Crater Rock below and
left.
At the upper left are the slopes of Mt. Hood Skibowl, which has been open for skiing maybe only a dozen days this season (dirt on the lower slopes pretty visible even from up here). |
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The view looking North from the top.
Bull Run Reservoir and Lost Lake visible in the distance to the right |
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| Allen at the top. Mt Rainier and Mt Adams in the distance |
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Looking down onto the Eliot Glacer and Cooper Spur (at right).
The lack of snow coverage down there right now is stunning - given that this is a pretty reliable spot to get turns in May and June most years |
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These 3 dudes were endless entertainment when we returned to the parking
lot. There probably weren't under the influence or anything . . .
Got chased off a little hill by one of the Timberline people, then proceeded to the Salmon River Canyon with their sled rig, inner tubes, and a flat shovel to set up a bitchin' kicker |
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