Brian Jenkins wrote:Think you guys are doing the right thing by cancelling. We got dumped on yesterday in Portland, heavy wet snow. Don't know how much they got on the mountain but it's always worse. Another storm moving in right now. Doubt it would be stable in a couple days even if the weather turns nice.
Keep your name out of the papers and live a nice, long boring life with lots of summits nobody necessarily ever hears about except us on this site in your photos and summitlogs.
Brian,
I totally understand your note and appreciate your comment. I still owe you a hang out from back into 2006 when I visited the region. At least now I am in better shape, more experienced and have climbed the larger peaks of the Cascades. Now I just have to do the more technical ones (Pickets, North Ingalls, etc.) Feel free to continue to write on the forum. You have contributed a ton to SP and are a great climber (and someone I have looked up to over the years), and you sharing your wisdom has helped many.
Thanks to the warning comments from all. I listened to them and with one look at the Monday Night forecast I knew it was trouble. Without hesitation I cancelled. I want to honor those who died on Hood, not join them.
I love Mount Hood. On both of my trips last year to Hood (one summit, once stopped at the Hogsback) I was blessed with great weather. I want to keep that streak alive when I come back as elevation maintanance and high altitude conditioning this year.