Time for Mt. Hood

Good Friday Morning!

Well, I was planning on going in to work this morning for a bit, but my boss told me to take the entire day off. Nice.

Last weekend I didn't do any training. I would have loved to have headed up to the Sierras, but work sent me to Amsterdam for the weekend to meet the 90 plus Dutch kids that are coming to the States this year. Not only did I meet the kids, but I got to see a bit of Holland, and more importantly, meet with our great Dutch partners. Good weekend... one that was jam-packed and didn't even give me enough time to get over jet lag.

I've been back home since Sunday and climbing a bit in the gym, but mainly I've been trying to recuperate for this weekend, the huge step up to Rainier, Mt. Hood. Check out these gnarly pics! Above right is the peak and below is the final push to the summit through the "Pearly Gates". Although Hood isn't that high, about 11,200, it's heavily glaciated and a peak that routinely takes a few people a year. Whereas here in the Sierras peaks tend to be relatively smaller crags, Mt. Hood is a full, cascade volcano many times larger that any Sierra peak. The mountain is huge, creates its own weather and it truly stands alone from any other landform in its vicinity by at least 5000 feet. Hood is step up, a true stepping stone to the biggest, most challenging cascade volcano, Mt. Rainier.

I'm flying to Portland this evening, then headed up to the Timberline Lodge where, with my uncle, we will take classes in roped mountaineering, various self arrests, maybe some crevasse rescue and glacier travel. We'll retire early tomorrow, then wake up around midnight on Sunday morning and begin our long climb through the snow and up the South ridge, through the Hogsback and the Pearly Gates to the summit. Here's to hoping for great weather and an amazing time! I will report back early next week with photos and some cool thoughts.

Summer starts today and why not start out the new season with a donation to Bay Area Wilderness Training in my name? Now's the time that kids can get out on life-affirming wilderness trips--they're out of school, have lots of free time and the weather's perfect. Donate now to BAWT, help me reach my goal and help to get these great Nor. Cal youth outside! Just head on over to the Donation Page !

Many Thanks and Happy Trails!