Category: Mt Hood

After an unusually warm week with valley temperatures reaching upwards of 70 degrees, a late season storm was approaching Mt Hood and appeared to have the potential to deliver a significant powder punch on Monday. The forecast was calling for 8-12 inches overnight with temperatures in the low 20’s, so I made tentative plans to head north and spend the day in the old growth forests of Mt Hood’s backcountry with Ron. Telemetry showed 2 inches of fresh snow when I went to bed at 10:00 pm, but 16 inches was on the ground by 5:00 am in the morning when I woke. As part of my normal routine, I checked the NWAC report, and the avalanche danger was rated Considerable. After exchanging texts with Ron, we agreed it was a go and I hit the road heading north on I-5, arriving at his place around 7:00 am. We arrived in the parking lot around 8:15 am, with low visibility, moderate winds and moderate snowfall. It looked like about 18 inches of new snow had fallen overnight, and by 8:30 am we had packs shouldered and were on the skin track.

The temperature was hovering around 20 degrees, and though the snow was light, the winds had created wind slab in places. Touring out towards Sand Canyon, we noticed some compression cracks while skinning. Due to the conditions, we were quite cautious when crossing Sand Canyon, performing a couple of hasty pits and other tests. Results indicated the slab was reactive, but no bed layer was present. Continuing on, we came to the PCT crossing of the Little Zigzag Canyon near 5800 feet, the only point on our tour that posed any real objective danger. The west face of the Little Zigzag was the windward side, but still we were cautious on the descent. Even though the canyon walls are only about 100 feet high, they have potential to be dangerous in the right conditions. We skied down one at a time, and regrouped in a safe spot near the bottom of the canyon to discuss heading up the opposite side. Ron agreed to proceed cautiously, with the intention of performing another hasty pit when he was partway up the canyon wall and a few hundred feet from me. I waited as he set out, and snapped a picture of him heading out on his way (below). Shortly after, I put the camera away to focus solely on watching him.

About 10 seconds after I put my camera in the bag, I saw a shooting crack run out in front of Ron and heard him yell Slide! I watched as the slope shattered like glass and started to run down around him. At first, I thought it was small enough to just run by him, but the entire slope failed and came down. Even though it’s only 100 feet, it packed a mighty big punch and knocked him off his feet. In fact, the toe of the avalanche came down towards me and ran a few feet past me. I watched Ron move downhill slowly, and he appeared to slide about 30 feet before a second wave of snow covered him up. What happened next was a bit of a blur, but I remember seeing a hand wave once, and then it was gone. My initial thoughts were “shit, this is actually happening” and “how could he be buried on such a small slope.” I remember feeling a bit panicked and started moving towards where I’d last seen his hand, then stopped and regained my composure. Years of avy training in courses and on ski patrol took over, and I pulled out my beacon, got a signal and found him within what I estimate to be about 90 seconds. He was fully buried, with only half of one arm out and a portion of his face exposed. Later I learned his mouth had some snow in it, but he could breathe through his nose. Given he’d only traveled 25-30 feet, he was uninjured and I was able to dig him out in about 5 minutes. The next hour was spent digging for his ski poles, which we eventually found a few feet below the surface. The below picture shows the debris pile looking up the east facing canyon wall.

After we found Ron’s poles and regained our composure, we explored the bed surface of the slide and found a sun crust (which wasn’t present on the very similar and same aspect slope in Sand Canyon). The crust produced a quality one shear. The weak layer was the very light low density snow that has fallen as the storm cycle began, and the obvious slab was the wind slab created from the recent new snow and wind. In the hour or so that we looked for Ron’s poles, we had significant time to reflect on what happened, what we could have done differently, etc. There were a couple of key take aways from this event for both of us. First, there were obvious signs of instability, and we were aware of them. Skiing in the storm cycle is something many people (including me) do routinely and something that can be done safely. The difference from this tour is that normally the zones we ski on higher avy days can be reached without encountering any objective hazards. On this tour, the Little Zigzag is basically the one objective hazard between the car and the safe skiing zones, and it is a very small feature on Mt Hood. This is take away number one, and something I’ve known but obviously didn’t give enough credence too on this day – small slopes (and even really small slopes) can be dangerous in the right conditions and can ruin your day. They should be treated with the respect they deserve, and one should be especially cautious of them during high avy days as it’s easy to let your guard down and think that if they slide nothing will really happen.

Takeaway number two – if possible, completely eliminate the objective hazard. In this case, we likely could have crossed the canyon several hundred feet down the slope, which would have been prudent. And, of course, there’s always the option of turning around if a safe crossing doesn’t exist. My last take away relates to alpha angle and runout. Even though I felt I was in a safe spot if something were to happen, the toe of the avalanche ran past me by a couple of feet. In retrospect, the next time I’m out, I’ll be applying a larger safety factor to potential runout zones when skiing one at a time.

After our incident, and a discussion on what lay ahead, we made the decision to continue on rather than head back to the car, given the rest of the tour to get to our objective consisted of skinning through low angle glades. Around 11:30 am, we reached a suitable place to head downhill and peeled skins, making turns down through the nicely spaced old growth. The wind affected snow near treeline gave way to very nice powder protected by the shelter provided from the trees. The first run was good, but we skied a bit tentatively, wanting to make sure the conditions were bombproof, which they proved to be.

We skinned back up for another lap, and this time opened things up a bit, skiing the whole line from top to bottom, confident what to expect after our first lap. Ron snapped a few photos of me, and I returned the favor and pulled out my camera and fired off a few shots…

We utilized our existing up track and ended up making another three laps, each one as good as the last in the fresh snow. It continued to snow the entire time we were touring (the forecast had only called for less than an inch during the day), with and additional 5-6 inches falling since our morning incident. Around 2:30 pm, we decided it was time to head back to the car, knowing we still had to recross the Little Ziggy. Our skin track from the morning was completely filled in, so another 3 miles of trail breaking was the price we had to pay. Coming back to the Little Zigzag, we were extra cautious prior to crossing. Skiing downhill of the fracture line (to a point where the slope didn’t release) we performed extensive tests trying to get the slope to release – it didn’t. Skiing back up hill to our earlier crossing from the morning, we dropped in one at a time, skiing the bed surface, which had 5-6 inches of new snow on it. Ron went first, and I followed when he was over to the opposing canyon wall. The remainder of the skin out was uneventful, and soon we were back at the car, tired after a long, fun and lesson filled day.

The car ride back to Ron’s was filled with discussion about the day, and mostly continued discussion about our incident. At Ron’s, a cold IPA hit the spot before I embarked on the two hour drive home. Cruising down I-5, I was thankful for another day in the mountains and for the lessons learned from this day. Below is a parting shot of Ron skiing the trees.

It’s gonna’ be ugly this spring if it doesn’t snow soon I thought to myself as I checked the weather forecast again. As it sits presently, the snowpack in the Oregon cascades is running anywhere from zero to about 20% of normal. With 2014 three days away, I was jonesing for turns and decided it was time to get out to stretch the legs regardless of conditions. Ron and Todd were game as well, so plans were firmed up to do a tour up the  south side of Hood on Sunday.

I woke before my alarm in the morning, made some coffee and hit the road. A few hours later, I arrived at Ron’s and soon we were headed up the highway towards Timberline. As we neared Govy, we got our first glimpse of the mountain, and could tell the snowpack was dismal. In Govy, Ski Bowl was bare for the lower third of the mountain, with only a few inches coating the upper mountain around 5000 feet. As we neared Timberline, the snow finally started to increase in depth, to a whopping 20 inches or so near the lodge. We met Todd in the Climber’s lot, pulled out gear and started skinning up the canyon.

The snow was rock hard and very slick, kind of like skinning on a hockey rink on an incline. The sun was out, but a stiff wind kept us cool and the snow hard as we worked our way up towards Silcox Hut. Ron and Todd agreed to stop long enough for me to snap a quick photo…

Mixed with the icy snow surface was a decent amount of water ice, which made proper skinning technique a must even on the mellow slopes. Skinning over what normally wouldn’t get a second thought suddenly demanded more attention to detail, where a fall would hurt at the very least but could end up in slide.

The headwind which was blowing down the mountain and keeping us cool (but the snow firm) also kept the upper mountain shrouded in a cool lenticular cloud all morning….

A few hundred feet below Silcox Hut, I stopped to put my beanie on and set my sunglasses down in front of my pack for less than a second. Promptly, they were picked up by a strong gust of wind and blown down the slope. They kept sliding and sliding, and though I went after them, I never did find them. With the wind, they likely ended up in the White River canyon. That little mishap cost me a couple hundred feet, and by the time I caught up to Todd and Ron they were hunkered down under a rock. We made the call to descend from here, given the wind, and then maybe head back for another lap.

Even though it was icy, the snow skied decently. If it hadn’t been for the wind, it may have even been corn for our descent. Ron and Todd dropped in while I snapped a couple of photos. I followed, and found the best snow to be in the gully about halfway between our high point and the car…

Down at the car, the Climber’s lot was full, and we rehydrated and ate a snack. The wind picked up again, and Todd elected to head home. Ron and I stuck around for awhile, and finally the wind died down so we headed out for a second lap. Skinning up the second time was much nicer as the snow finally started to soften. I snapped the below shot looking down into the Salmon River canyon during a quick break on the uptrack, which snows the lack of snow on the lower mountain.

After passing some snowshoe enthusiasts (they were out in force — I’m guessing they don’t have anywhere to go either), we skinned partway up the Palmer snowfield with a few other skiers. By the time we reached an equivalent elevation with the mid-station around 1:45 pm, we could tell it would only be a few more minutes before the snow started to refreeze. The window for corn snow is pretty limited this time of year.

The second lap was quite a bit better than the first, and we did find a few spots where the snow resembled corn. I snapped a few photos of Ron while he ripped the snow on his handmade skis, then found a few fun turns in the canyon. Sitting back down at the truck in the lot, we both agreed it was nice to wrap up December with a greater than 3000 foot vertical day of riding

After a Mirror Pond pale ale and some grub, I hit the road home. Given the conditions, I’d have to say it was a good day, but compared to normal December standards it was well below average – it really needs to snow in a bad way! Here’s a parting shot from the day…

Late summer turns are always rewarding! Though the snowpack is down to only permanent snowfields and glaciers , the cooler mornings of late summer mean fall is on it’s way, and with the changing of the season comes the promise of fresh snows and a new winter. So, hoping for a fun day of late summer turns, I headed north on I-5 with Joe en route to Mt Hood. After a brief stop to pick up Ron, we arrived in the Timberline parking lot around 9:00 am and found Todd, who’d skied the night before and camped near the Zigzag Canyon to avoid the holiday crowds. After our gear was packed, we hit the trail with the intention of making turns on the Palmer snowfield and possibly beyond if conditions looked good. After the previous week’s rain, the air was clear for the first time in awhile…..

Before long we reached Silcox Hut, and stopped for a quick water break. Even though it was late summer, the day was warmer than the last several and the cold water tasted good. A minute or two later, our group was joined by Dan who’d stayed at the lodge the night before, skiing with Cindy on his birthday.

We arrived at the top of the Palmer a few minutes after 11:00 am, and soaked in the views of Mt Jefferson and the Three Sisters to the south. As usual, the views from the top of the Palmer didn’t disappoint. The north side of Jeff looked about usual for September, with a few spots that would make for good late summer turns….

Rather than head higher up on the White River snowfield, we made the decision to ride the Palmer and come back for a second lap to enjoy the smooth corn. All of us had to stop halfway down to rest our legs, a symptom of not skiing on a regular basis through the summer. At the bottom, Todd needed to head home, so we bid him farewell before heading back up.

The boot up the second time went much quicker for me, and I stopped to snap a few pictures here and there. When I arrived at the top, I saw some cool clouds over the mountain’s summit, and snapped a photo of Dan and Ron sitting on the rocks. That photos is shown below, as well as a picture of Dan and Joe on the boot track….

Run number two was equally as fun as number one, and I kept my camera in the bag until we were into the Mile Canyon. After catch a few photos, I handed it off to Joe who snapped a couple pictures of me enjoying some September turns….

Even though the spring and summer were remarkably dry, we were able to ski to within a few hundred yards of the parking lot, making for a quick hike out. On the trail, I snapped the below picture of Joe silhouetted against the sky with Mt Jefferson and Timberline Lodge in the background…..

Back at the car and in a comfortable pair of flip flops and shorts, we enjoyed one of Ron’s IPA’s, along with some fresh chips and salsa from my garden. Yes, late summer turns are great, and I’m looking forward to a good fall and powder filled winter!

“Conditions might not be the best, but they’re pretty good, and it is August” Dan said to me as we hiked up the Zigzag Glacier. If there’s one thing that defines summer snowboarding for me, it would have to be that quote. Such was the case this year as Dan and I headed up to Mt Hood in search of summer turns on the Zigzag Glacier. With most of this season’s modest snowpack having long since melted from Oregon’s volcanoes, we were hopeful the Zigzag would still be in condition for turns. If not, the Palmer snowfield would have to serve as an ample backup. Arriving in the parking lot around 8:30 am, we quickly loaded our packs and hit the trail, electing to leave skins behind and travel light. The mountain looked like it usually does in August, with the Mile Canyon still in good shape for turns nearly down to the parking lot….

Within thirty minutes we exited the ski area and headed west, winding our way through gullies and open scree, eventually linking up with some remaining snow patches that provided easier travel to the higher elevations. The Zigzag Glacier itself was a bit runneled and suncupped, but looked like it would ski without too much trouble, and as Dan reminded me, “it is August.” As usual when hiking up the Zigzag, Illumination Saddle looks like you can reach out and touch it, but getting there always seems to take longer than it should. Eventually, we reached the saddle and enjoyed the excellent views down onto the Reid Glacier.

Gazing over at a large rock perched above the Saddle, Dan noted he couldn’t believe it was still there, having seen it last year and thinking by now it would have surely fallen. After enjoying the views and eating a quick snack, we shouldered our packs and prepared to ride some August corn. Before we strapped into our gear, I snapped the below photo of Dan looking over the Zigzag Glacier…..

Dropping off the Saddle, the bumps were pretty rough, but not as big as the previous September. We picked a line to the riders right of the glacier, which seemed to have the smoothest snow. Though a bit bumpy, the snow actually skied pretty good, and we were stoked to be enjoying good turns in August….

Partway down the glacier, Dan grabbed my new Canon 6d from me and snapped a series of shots of some August snowboarding action, including the photo below…….

We skied down the Ziggy to nearly the top of the Mississippi Head Cliffs, stopping just above them to eat lunch and enjoy a well earned beer. It was starting to get warm as we headed back up, and both of us were a bit worried it may thunderstorm as the clouds started to build over Mt Hood’s summit……

The weather held off and eventually, after a hot and sweaty bootpack back up to over 9000 feet, we traversed the Zigzag back over towards the Palmer snowfield. Booting the last little bit to the top of the Palmer, we arrived just as Patrol was heading down for sweep about 3:00 pm. A minute or so later, we met a couple of other turns-all-yearer’s and chatted for a bit. Sitting at the top of the Palmer with nobody around in the middle of summer is something I always look forward to. Before long, we strapped into our gear and prepared to shred the Palmer…..

Riding the Palmer with nobody around is even better than chilling at the top with nobody in sight! Being able to open it up and rip as fast as you want is damn fun! We chose the line right down the center, just to the right of the public lane. The cool thing about riding after the snowfield is closed is that there aren’t any gates or fences dictating where you can ride….

After a brief stop at the Palmer mid-station to rest tired legs, we continued down the rest of the canyon, finding great snow all the way down. Here’s a shot of Dan cruising down the lower Palmer canyon….

The lower Mile was excellent cruising, and we skied to within a few hundred feet of the parking lot. A celebratory Oakshire IPA hit the spot after it was all said and done, and it’s always a good feeling tip back a beer in the summer sun after a good day of riding! Reflecting back on the day, it may not have been the most epic conditions, but it was indeed pretty sweet! Here’s a parting shot from the day of Dan enjoying some turns on the Zigzag!