Mount Hood, located about 50 miles east of Portland, Oregon, is one of the most climbed glaciated peaks in North America
Its relatively low altitude (compared to Rainier and Shasta), easy approach, and short hiking/climbing distance makes it very popular
On warm days it is recommended you get an early start (which is closer to midnight than sunrise), to be out of rockfall areas by 10am. We started about 3am from the top of the Palmer ski lift (8,600ft = 2.621m)
The Palmer Glacier above the ski lift
The South Side Route, which begins at the 5,800' Timberline Lodge parking area, is the shortest (< 3 miles) and most popular route to the summit
Interesting sun effect
At the ridge toward Crater Rock
Do not linger around the fumaroles which create oxygen voids that have asphyxiated (suffocated) unsuspecting climbers
At the snow ridge (known as Hogback, at 10,600ft = 3.231m) up to the bergshrund
We headed around left side
Route Stats Length: 8 miles Elevation Gain: 5300 feet
Back at the Timberline Lodge (5800 ft = 1.768m)
