Judd97 - May 3, 2018 4:22 pm Date Climbed: May 3, 2018
HP# 27
Up the South Side through Pearly Gates. Pearly gates are in fantastic condition and with the Hogsback lining up perfectly. Looked better than Old Chute, in my opinion. Good snow, 1 AM start and (somewhat) low crowds. What a day!
Went up the left pearly gates chute, decent amount of people on the mountain but we managed to be ahead of the largest crowds of the day. Great sunrise and expansive view on top.
wdimpfl - Dec 22, 2017 4:32 am Date Climbed: Aug 15, 1969
Failed Attempt
During the summer of 1969 I drove to the Pacific Northwest with Nancy Rose from Oakland, CA to climb peaks in the Cascades. The first peak we were going to climb was Mt. Hood. I had hoped to climb a glacier on the west side of the mountain instead of the standard route. We hiked up past Timberline Lodge in fog the afternoon after we arrived at the road head. The next morning we passes over the SW ridge and began descending the ice to the glacier below. The climbing was too difficult for Nancy so we climbed back up to go up the hog's back route, ascending the glacier next to the SW ridge, dodging large rocks as they fell from the ridges on both sides. approaching the bergschrund we found that it was gaping and too dangerous for Nancy to do the difficult climb around the end to the right. We heard from another party that the crevasses on Rainier were difficult to negotiate this late in the season. Consequently we didn't climb Rainier either. When we got to Mt. St. Hellens the UC Berkeley hiking club member that was going to join us had bailed. It was also my first experience with a premenstrual woman. The trip was a bust, but educational!
I was pioneering a new alpine training technique where you sit around, drink beer and smoke cigarettes for a week before and stop suddenly and then climb a mountain. Doesn't work...
wyatt_meyers - Oct 24, 2017 3:04 pm Date Climbed: May 7, 2017
Incredible!
West rim variation for my first ice climb. Snow was already loosening up by 10am but we were well on our way down. Amazing views, 3am start which is recommended!
Mike D' - Oct 19, 2017 11:13 am Date Climbed: Jun 27, 2017
Ski
South climb / hogsback with skis, no cramp-ons so took it slow for snow to soften enough. Much slough on descent. (W/ Jon Carter)
live4hills - Aug 7, 2017 3:34 am Date Climbed: Jun 4, 2017
Best climb ever
Probably the most fun hike I've ever had. Love my rainbow unicorns!
MissH - Jul 3, 2017 11:20 am Date Climbed: Jul 1, 2017
Just like 6 yrs ago
A lot less snow than 6 years ago and so much warmer. Still a very fun climb. Summited via Old Chute. Bergschrund too big for pearly gate route but that did look like a fun way.
k3vinlyu - Jun 22, 2017 3:41 pm Date Climbed: Jun 10, 2017
South Side - Pearly Gates
Started at midnight and successfully reached the summit at about 8am on the second attempt (had terrible weather on the first attempt 2 days prior). It took a little longer than expected because of 6-12 inches of fresh snow around Hogsback and bottom half of the Pearly Gates. We were the first group to ascend, after it snowed, so we had to break our own trail. Went to the right side of the Gates (both sides are quite steep). The bergschrund had also opened up pretty wide. I've posted a full write-up with pics of the trip on Medium if anyone is interested (https://medium.com/@kevinlyu/becoming-a-mountaineer-625a07fa9ab0).
mwatts - May 12, 2017 8:19 pm Date Climbed: May 5, 2017
Pearly Gates
Started at 0300 Hours (Alpine Start) from the Timberline Lodge with TMG (Timberline Mountain Guides).
There were light winds - compared to the winds we faced on the summit - all the way up to Hogsback, where we roped up prior to traversing across and through the pearly gates.
Summited at 0730 Hours and descended shortly after due to high winds, low visibility and deteriorating conditions.
oregonrpa - May 10, 2017 12:27 pm Date Climbed: May 7, 2017
Pearly Gates
Climbed standard south side route, Hogsback/Pearly Gates left chute, from Timberline under moonlit clear skies. Alpine start, 4 hour ascent with summit at 5:00 am. Below freezing temps and firm snow.
We put on crampons at the top of Palmer. Carried two ice axes and used them both on the descent. My climbing partner only had one axe, and did fine, but wished he'd had two.
The Hogsback appears to have possibly shifted a bit to the north compared to last year, and the ridge is not as sharp. The approach to the Pearly Gates was steeper and more exposed compared to May 2016, with the established foot path angling side hill and up at about the level of the Bergschrund. The crevasse was only opened about 5-6 inches on our ascent.
At the bottom of the left chute of the Pearly Gates we briefly waited to let a climber pass as he downclimbed. He stated that we had made it past the hardest part already, and after ascending the gates soon after, I'd agree. There were probably 4-5 people ahead of us, and another 4-5 directly behind us, with many more on their way, as expected. We were on the summit at 4:57, and it was bitter cold with a moderate wind.
It was too cold on top for us to wait 45 minutes for sunrise, so we descended to the top of the gates. At that point we decided to go back up to the summit to catch the sunrise and also warm up on the ascent! It was well worth it. We were on the summit alone when a solo climber arrived and stated it was his 170th summit! He was 66 years old.
Back at the top of the Pearly Gates we waited for a few climbers to ascend and then down climbed. A guided group had just fixed a rope and was waiting to ascend as we came through. By now there was significantly more climbers on their way up, and about 3-4 people behind us down climbing. We heard from several climbers that the Bergschrund had opened up and that a gal had fallen in part way but was uninjured.
Indeed the crevasse had opened up and now was a gaping hole with about a 10 foot wide snow bridge. Some climbers were going around to the south, some to the north, but at that point nobody was crossing the snow bridge. We chose to side hill above the Bergschrund to the north, requiring front pointing on the firm snow/ice, and went around the opened crevasse.
Back down on the lower Hogsback we noticed groups of climbers crossing the snow bridge. The crevasse looked to be about 5-6 feet wide at that point, which to me seemed too wide to take that chance!
Unfortunately we learned later that a climber fell to his death at about 1130 from just below the Pearly Gates. By then the sun was hitting that side of the mountain, and possibly this was a factor effecting the conditions. That is definitely a point with significant exposure, thus requiring careful attention and appropriate gear.
Overall it was a great morning to be on the mountain!
rb1960 - May 9, 2017 5:59 pm Date Climbed: May 7, 2017
No High Heels
My family and I climbed Mt. Hood two days ago. It was a fantastic experience but one unfortunately tainted by tragedy. We have hiked extensively in the states and overseas, including Kilimanjaro, but this was our first true mountaineering experience. We hired Timberline Mountain Guides (who are excellent) and followed one of the traditional South Side routes up the Hogsback and through the Pearly Gates. While this route is undoubtedly easy for the experienced climber, it is a serious climb for the average person, requiring training, proper equipment, and a reputable guide.
On the day of our climb, the mountain was very icy due to a thaw the prior week and a sharp refreeze (common in the late spring). Four inches of new snow on the lower mountain the night we arrived did little to soften the conditions. Crampons were essential from the top of the Palmer Lift upwards and ice axes/ropes were needed starting on the Hogsback. The thought of anyone doing this without crampons is absurd, let alone in high heels, as legend would have it. We saw many climbers going solo without ropes but would advise against this for anyone but the most experienced. To underscore this point, a 32-year old climber slid to his death on the Hogsback the very day we climbed and only shortly after we descended. It sounds as if he was climbing without ropes and lost his footing. I recall thinking when descending the Hogsback that the slope was so steep and icy that an unrestrained slip could be fatal. Unfortunately, I was right.
Although we hired a guide service, had training, and used proper safety equipment, we still suffered a scare. Just a few minutes after crossing the Bergschrund, which was then just a hairline crack in the snow, we heard a thunderous roar and turned to see it open up into a gaping crevasse tens of yards long and several feet wide, almost swallowing the climber just behind us. Our guides expressed astonishment, one saying he had never seen that happen in the 14 years he had been guiding on the mountain. Rare but not unprecedented. After returning, we found a You Tube video reminding us of the 2002 accident in the Bergschrund that claimed the lives of 3 climbers, injured 9 others, and resulted in the crash of a Pave Hawk rescue helicopter.
My advice to prospective first time Hood climbers is not to be deterred by the risk, which is actually relatively low if you take proper precautions. Mt. Hood is a fantastic climb and a wonderful experience that is well worth the investment of time and money. The views are unparalleled both on the hike and from the top (where you can see Jefferson and the Twin Sisters to the South and St. Helens and Rainier to the North). It's a very strenuous but manageable climb if you are in reasonably good shape, with an altitude low enough that most climbers will not have a problem. That said, to fully enjoy the climb and, more importantly, stay out of trouble, you have to be smart. Hire a reputable guide service that provides training the day prior. Leave around or just past midnight to avoid rock and ice falls as the sun warms the mountain. (It was amazing how many people we saw just starting out as we finished up at 11:00 am. Really foolish.) And by all means, use proper equipment, including a fixed rope on the steepest sections. You should be mindful around the Bergschrund, but understand that what happened to us was apparently a freak occurrence, so very unlikely to cause any issues for most climbers.
huskertriguy - May 8, 2017 12:47 am Date Climbed: May 6, 2017
Slow Solo
Started at Timberline at 1 a.m.
Visibility low the first couple hours due to winds blowing new snow.
First light came when I was about 500' below Hogsback. By that time camera & cell phone died despite freshly charged batteries due to the cold. Luckily my GoPro soldiered the low temps.
Summited at 8:30 a.m. About a dozen people summited before me but I did have the summit to myself for about 10 minutes.
Pleasant descent; back to the car by 1:30. I am slow.
aislinnmcl - Apr 12, 2017 4:47 pm Date Climbed: Mar 20, 2017
First time on skins
Attempted to skin up Hood with a few friends. Started at 3am from Timberline but due to weather we had to turn back at the top of Palmer. Snow was a lot on the crusty side.
03/31/2017 Via the Reid Headwall and down the South Side. Skied from Illumination Rock down w/ Thatcher S.
Harvest - Mar 30, 2017 3:09 am Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2015
My first Mt Hood climb
A friend of mine, Jon, invited me to climb Mount Hood by the standard South Side Route for the 4th of July. It was very icy going up Old Chute. This was the climb where I fell in love with Mount Hood and with mountain climbing.
rossrleone - Dec 12, 2016 9:06 am Date Climbed: Apr 17, 2016
easy day on hood
easy climb up hood on a windy but nice day. hogsback did have a cool fairly steep section at top that required either down climbing on front points or rope.
mariavontrapp - Nov 9, 2016 12:08 am Date Climbed: Jul 11, 2016
Post-olympic trials climb
Good weather, perfect snow conditions and no/low wind. Took the standard route and old chute. Lots of kids at ski camp on the way down.
MJS - Sep 17, 2016 2:12 pm Date Climbed: May 29, 2016
US Highpoint #5 - Mount Hood
Solo climb of the Hogsback/Pearly Gates route. Beautiful day, the climbing conditions were perfect, except for the crowds. But the number of people should be expected given how nice the weather was and that it was Memorial Day weekend.
Judd97 - May 3, 2018 4:22 pm Date Climbed: May 3, 2018
HP# 27Up the South Side through Pearly Gates. Pearly gates are in fantastic condition and with the Hogsback lining up perfectly. Looked better than Old Chute, in my opinion. Good snow, 1 AM start and (somewhat) low crowds. What a day!
Peaker - Apr 25, 2018 1:53 pm Date Climbed: Apr 22, 2018
Pearly GatesWent up the left pearly gates chute, decent amount of people on the mountain but we managed to be ahead of the largest crowds of the day. Great sunrise and expansive view on top.
wdimpfl - Dec 22, 2017 4:32 am Date Climbed: Aug 15, 1969
Failed AttemptDuring the summer of 1969 I drove to the Pacific Northwest with Nancy Rose from Oakland, CA to climb peaks in the Cascades. The first peak we were going to climb was Mt. Hood. I had hoped to climb a glacier on the west side of the mountain instead of the standard route. We hiked up past Timberline Lodge in fog the afternoon after we arrived at the road head. The next morning we passes over the SW ridge and began descending the ice to the glacier below. The climbing was too difficult for Nancy so we climbed back up to go up the hog's back route, ascending the glacier next to the SW ridge, dodging large rocks as they fell from the ridges on both sides. approaching the bergschrund we found that it was gaping and too dangerous for Nancy to do the difficult climb around the end to the right. We heard from another party that the crevasses on Rainier were difficult to negotiate this late in the season. Consequently we didn't climb Rainier either. When we got to Mt. St. Hellens the UC Berkeley hiking club member that was going to join us had bailed. It was also my first experience with a premenstrual woman. The trip was a bust, but educational!
justinveenhuis@gmail.com - Oct 30, 2017 8:35 am Date Climbed: May 23, 2017
OopsI was pioneering a new alpine training technique where you sit around, drink beer and smoke cigarettes for a week before and stop suddenly and then climb a mountain. Doesn't work...
wyatt_meyers - Oct 24, 2017 3:04 pm Date Climbed: May 7, 2017
Incredible!West rim variation for my first ice climb. Snow was already loosening up by 10am but we were well on our way down. Amazing views, 3am start which is recommended!
Mike D' - Oct 19, 2017 11:13 am Date Climbed: Jun 27, 2017
SkiSouth climb / hogsback with skis, no cramp-ons so took it slow for snow to soften enough. Much slough on descent. (W/ Jon Carter)
live4hills - Aug 7, 2017 3:34 am Date Climbed: Jun 4, 2017
Best climb everProbably the most fun hike I've ever had. Love my rainbow unicorns!
MissH - Jul 3, 2017 11:20 am Date Climbed: Jul 1, 2017
Just like 6 yrs agoA lot less snow than 6 years ago and so much warmer. Still a very fun climb. Summited via Old Chute. Bergschrund too big for pearly gate route but that did look like a fun way.
k3vinlyu - Jun 22, 2017 3:41 pm Date Climbed: Jun 10, 2017
South Side - Pearly GatesStarted at midnight and successfully reached the summit at about 8am on the second attempt (had terrible weather on the first attempt 2 days prior). It took a little longer than expected because of 6-12 inches of fresh snow around Hogsback and bottom half of the Pearly Gates. We were the first group to ascend, after it snowed, so we had to break our own trail. Went to the right side of the Gates (both sides are quite steep). The bergschrund had also opened up pretty wide. I've posted a full write-up with pics of the trip on Medium if anyone is interested (https://medium.com/@kevinlyu/becoming-a-mountaineer-625a07fa9ab0).
mwatts - May 12, 2017 8:19 pm Date Climbed: May 5, 2017
Pearly GatesStarted at 0300 Hours (Alpine Start) from the Timberline Lodge with TMG (Timberline Mountain Guides).
There were light winds - compared to the winds we faced on the summit - all the way up to Hogsback, where we roped up prior to traversing across and through the pearly gates.
Summited at 0730 Hours and descended shortly after due to high winds, low visibility and deteriorating conditions.
mwatts - May 12, 2017 8:19 pm
Re: Pearly Gatesoregonrpa - May 10, 2017 12:27 pm Date Climbed: May 7, 2017
Pearly GatesClimbed standard south side route, Hogsback/Pearly Gates left chute, from Timberline under moonlit clear skies. Alpine start, 4 hour ascent with summit at 5:00 am. Below freezing temps and firm snow.
We put on crampons at the top of Palmer. Carried two ice axes and used them both on the descent. My climbing partner only had one axe, and did fine, but wished he'd had two.
The Hogsback appears to have possibly shifted a bit to the north compared to last year, and the ridge is not as sharp. The approach to the Pearly Gates was steeper and more exposed compared to May 2016, with the established foot path angling side hill and up at about the level of the Bergschrund. The crevasse was only opened about 5-6 inches on our ascent.
At the bottom of the left chute of the Pearly Gates we briefly waited to let a climber pass as he downclimbed. He stated that we had made it past the hardest part already, and after ascending the gates soon after, I'd agree. There were probably 4-5 people ahead of us, and another 4-5 directly behind us, with many more on their way, as expected. We were on the summit at 4:57, and it was bitter cold with a moderate wind.
It was too cold on top for us to wait 45 minutes for sunrise, so we descended to the top of the gates. At that point we decided to go back up to the summit to catch the sunrise and also warm up on the ascent! It was well worth it. We were on the summit alone when a solo climber arrived and stated it was his 170th summit! He was 66 years old.
Back at the top of the Pearly Gates we waited for a few climbers to ascend and then down climbed. A guided group had just fixed a rope and was waiting to ascend as we came through. By now there was significantly more climbers on their way up, and about 3-4 people behind us down climbing. We heard from several climbers that the Bergschrund had opened up and that a gal had fallen in part way but was uninjured.
Indeed the crevasse had opened up and now was a gaping hole with about a 10 foot wide snow bridge. Some climbers were going around to the south, some to the north, but at that point nobody was crossing the snow bridge. We chose to side hill above the Bergschrund to the north, requiring front pointing on the firm snow/ice, and went around the opened crevasse.
Back down on the lower Hogsback we noticed groups of climbers crossing the snow bridge. The crevasse looked to be about 5-6 feet wide at that point, which to me seemed too wide to take that chance!
Unfortunately we learned later that a climber fell to his death at about 1130 from just below the Pearly Gates. By then the sun was hitting that side of the mountain, and possibly this was a factor effecting the conditions. That is definitely a point with significant exposure, thus requiring careful attention and appropriate gear.
Overall it was a great morning to be on the mountain!
rb1960 - May 9, 2017 5:59 pm Date Climbed: May 7, 2017
No High HeelsMy family and I climbed Mt. Hood two days ago. It was a fantastic experience but one unfortunately tainted by tragedy. We have hiked extensively in the states and overseas, including Kilimanjaro, but this was our first true mountaineering experience. We hired Timberline Mountain Guides (who are excellent) and followed one of the traditional South Side routes up the Hogsback and through the Pearly Gates. While this route is undoubtedly easy for the experienced climber, it is a serious climb for the average person, requiring training, proper equipment, and a reputable guide.
On the day of our climb, the mountain was very icy due to a thaw the prior week and a sharp refreeze (common in the late spring). Four inches of new snow on the lower mountain the night we arrived did little to soften the conditions. Crampons were essential from the top of the Palmer Lift upwards and ice axes/ropes were needed starting on the Hogsback. The thought of anyone doing this without crampons is absurd, let alone in high heels, as legend would have it. We saw many climbers going solo without ropes but would advise against this for anyone but the most experienced. To underscore this point, a 32-year old climber slid to his death on the Hogsback the very day we climbed and only shortly after we descended. It sounds as if he was climbing without ropes and lost his footing. I recall thinking when descending the Hogsback that the slope was so steep and icy that an unrestrained slip could be fatal. Unfortunately, I was right.
Although we hired a guide service, had training, and used proper safety equipment, we still suffered a scare. Just a few minutes after crossing the Bergschrund, which was then just a hairline crack in the snow, we heard a thunderous roar and turned to see it open up into a gaping crevasse tens of yards long and several feet wide, almost swallowing the climber just behind us. Our guides expressed astonishment, one saying he had never seen that happen in the 14 years he had been guiding on the mountain. Rare but not unprecedented. After returning, we found a You Tube video reminding us of the 2002 accident in the Bergschrund that claimed the lives of 3 climbers, injured 9 others, and resulted in the crash of a Pave Hawk rescue helicopter.
My advice to prospective first time Hood climbers is not to be deterred by the risk, which is actually relatively low if you take proper precautions. Mt. Hood is a fantastic climb and a wonderful experience that is well worth the investment of time and money. The views are unparalleled both on the hike and from the top (where you can see Jefferson and the Twin Sisters to the South and St. Helens and Rainier to the North). It's a very strenuous but manageable climb if you are in reasonably good shape, with an altitude low enough that most climbers will not have a problem. That said, to fully enjoy the climb and, more importantly, stay out of trouble, you have to be smart. Hire a reputable guide service that provides training the day prior. Leave around or just past midnight to avoid rock and ice falls as the sun warms the mountain. (It was amazing how many people we saw just starting out as we finished up at 11:00 am. Really foolish.) And by all means, use proper equipment, including a fixed rope on the steepest sections. You should be mindful around the Bergschrund, but understand that what happened to us was apparently a freak occurrence, so very unlikely to cause any issues for most climbers.
huskertriguy - May 8, 2017 12:47 am Date Climbed: May 6, 2017
Slow SoloStarted at Timberline at 1 a.m.
Visibility low the first couple hours due to winds blowing new snow.
First light came when I was about 500' below Hogsback. By that time camera & cell phone died despite freshly charged batteries due to the cold. Luckily my GoPro soldiered the low temps.
Summited at 8:30 a.m. About a dozen people summited before me but I did have the summit to myself for about 10 minutes.
Pleasant descent; back to the car by 1:30. I am slow.
aislinnmcl - Apr 12, 2017 4:47 pm Date Climbed: Mar 20, 2017
First time on skinsAttempted to skin up Hood with a few friends. Started at 3am from Timberline but due to weather we had to turn back at the top of Palmer. Snow was a lot on the crusty side.
Mooner - Apr 4, 2017 8:15 pm
Up I Go03/31/2017 Via the Reid Headwall and down the South Side. Skied from Illumination Rock down w/ Thatcher S.
Harvest - Mar 30, 2017 3:09 am Date Climbed: Jul 4, 2015
My first Mt Hood climbA friend of mine, Jon, invited me to climb Mount Hood by the standard South Side Route for the 4th of July. It was very icy going up Old Chute. This was the climb where I fell in love with Mount Hood and with mountain climbing.
rossrleone - Dec 12, 2016 9:06 am Date Climbed: Apr 17, 2016
easy day on hoodeasy climb up hood on a windy but nice day. hogsback did have a cool fairly steep section at top that required either down climbing on front points or rope.
mariavontrapp - Nov 9, 2016 12:08 am Date Climbed: Jul 11, 2016
Post-olympic trials climbGood weather, perfect snow conditions and no/low wind. Took the standard route and old chute. Lots of kids at ski camp on the way down.
MJS - Sep 17, 2016 2:12 pm Date Climbed: May 29, 2016
US Highpoint #5 - Mount HoodSolo climb of the Hogsback/Pearly Gates route. Beautiful day, the climbing conditions were perfect, except for the crowds. But the number of people should be expected given how nice the weather was and that it was Memorial Day weekend.