Mt. Hood Climb July 9nd, 2001

Mt. Hood located in north-west Oregon is proclaimed as the most climbed mountain in the world.

Other than an icx axe and crampons used near the top, no special equipment was needed for this climb.

To see a topograghical map of the mountain click HERE

Ascent route is marked with the red line. Climbers are told to hike clear of the skiing area, all the snow at the bottom of the picture is the ski area.

The day before I would climb, I surveyed the area and was suprised to find lots of active skiers and snowboarders (it's July!).

This chute heads down to the ski lodge.

Climbers in foreground are from Kentucky, I met them the next day on the mountain while coming down. Building at the right is the Timberline Lodge, used in the movie "The Shining".

I started my climb at 12:40AM at an elevation of 5,800 ft, there were half a dozen other climbers in the parking lot by the time I got there.

Photo taken at 10,000 ft looking down at the first steep portion of the climb.

The next portion called the "Hogs Back" is kind of a razor edge snow bank where I put-on my crampons and proceded to the base of the last steep portion of the climb.

This last section was the steepest of the climb. The climber at the bottom left is preparing to jump over a crevas. The "V" in the rocks where the climbers are headed is called the "Pearly Gate".

Reached the summit (11,200 ft) at 6:00AM, mountain shadow in background.

From the summit looking down the south side.

From the summit looking down the north side.

I stayed on the summit till 6:45AM then retreated to the parking lot by 9:35AM, early enough to drive down to the Columbia River and windsurf the rest of the day.