Location: North 45:22.411, West 121:41.759 (GPS on the summit)
Oregon HP, USA
Climbed June 23. 2006.
Difficulty: YDS class 3 (fairly steep snow)
Information:
How to get there:
This mountain is located in northern Oregon and
Portland is the nearest city. Locate Hwy. 26, and travel
eastward. This road serves a small resort area called Government Camp with
lodging and restaurants. From here, the 10 kilometer mountain access road
forks left and climbs to about 1800 meter where there is a single, pretty
fancy lodge - Timberline Lodge. There is a large parking area as well as
ski lifts that operate around the year on the lower, south slopes of the mountain. Route description:
Start from the parking lot and head directly up along the east (right) side of
the downhill slope. As your reach the top of the ski slope, continue straight
uphill (perhaps slightly more left) in order to reach a local horizon (ridge) above.
There may be a short section of (mostly flat) rock as you continue on a pretty
broad ridge in order to reach a slightly steeper snow slope that extends up towards
the crater. Climb this slope (your general direction turning a bit more to the right) and
enter the crater keeping close to the left side rocks. The crater is sort of divided
into two parts with a more distinct snow ridge that climbs gently towards the steeper
slope higher up. Climb this snow ridge, then traverse the steeper slope on your right
hand side just below a distinct crevasse (bergschrund) until reaching a point where
it can be crossed. From here, the route ascends a pretty steep (45-degree) snow slope,
then gains more elevation by a left-right zig-zag before entering the chute called
Pearly Gate. Many parties choose to protect this part of the climb with
snow pickets and belayed climbing. (To climb it roped, but unprotected is dangerous
as an individual fall is unlikely to be arrested by the team.)
Above this chute, the terrain becomes much easier and only a short
section remains before the summit is reached.
One should note that the slopes above the Pearly Gate chute is full of rocks that may
melt loose and fall down (in particular, the left side when
viewed from below). Similarly, ice blocks could also avalanche. One should be
out of this area before the sun softens the snow too much. Comments:
We had the great honor of meeting Jean Aschenbrenner and
Ken Nolan on the summit. They arrived shortly after us, as we
passed them near the Pearly Gate (where they protected their climb on the
steeper section).
Jean
was the first woman to complete all 636 Colorado summits
exceeding 13000 feet, while
Ken
would be the first person to climb all 1781 Colorado
peaks exceeding 11000 feet. When Olav was passing Jean, she asked if he was
together with Helge and me (we were already near the summit). With an affirmative reply,
she asked where we lived and upon hearing "Norway", she questioned/remarked that we were
(very likely?) familiar with ice and snow conditions.
We climbed this mountain at a rather good pace. Leaving the parking lot at
0630, we arrived at the summit already at 0945, an average rate of ascent exceeding
500 meter per hour (including several short rests as well as pausing for photography).
We spent an enjoyable 30 minutes at the summit before descending with arrival back at the
parking lot at 1200 - noon, a total trip time of 5.5 hours.
Resources:
Images
Mount Hood as seen from the parking near Timberline Lodge.
