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Backcountry Skiing Corn Report – Guest Blog from Mount Hood, Oregon

Bookmark and Share            By Lou

I’ve always have a place in my snow lovin’ heart for Mount Hood, Oregon, having first skied it for the first time while in the Northwest working for Outward Bound, and another time during my honeymoon in 1985 (and today it’s Mother’s Day, 22 years later — thanks to my bride for sticking with me for so long!). Somehow, during both trips good weather prevailed. I’ve always wanted to go back, but alas, have not done so. Thus, when this report from Hood came in a few days ago from blog reader Shane Parker it seemed like a natural guest post about backcountry skiing, so here goes:

Backcountry skiing and climbing on Mount Hood, Oregon.
On Mount Hood this past week. Guest blog photo from Shane Parker.

Hi Lou,
I have been a backcountry skier for several years over here in the Northwest. I love your blogs and appreciate the time and effort you put into Wildsnow. I have to admit that I sometimes feel a little jealous as to the vast variety and options that you Colorado natives have for ski mountaineering. Yesterday was not one of those days. My ski partner and I were on dawn patrol to get some of that sweet spring corn on the Wyeast Face of Mt. Hood. Our diligence paid off as we were able to capitalize on 3000 feet of 40 to 50 degree slopes and a 5400 descent back to the parking lot. The snow has never been sweeter…at least over here in the Cascades. I have included a few pictures that I took. Again, thanks for all that you do for our sport.
Shane

Backcountry Skiing Mount Hood, Oregon.
On the Wyeast Face, Mount Hood, Oregon. Mount Jefferson in background. Guest blog photo from Shane Parker

By the way Shane, you guys easily have as much mountain terrain as Colorado. I don’t think your weather is quite as good as ours, but your snow lasts longer into summer and overall you have less avalanche danger. So in terms of options I’d say you’re doing as well as we are down here. Lou

Posted by Lou on May 13, 2007 | Filed Under Trip Reports 

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Comments

4 Responses to “Backcountry Skiing Corn Report – Guest Blog from Mount Hood, Oregon”

  1. Shane Parker May 13th, 2007 9:59 am

    Lou,

    Thanks for the post. You are right. We do have it pretty good up here in the NW…especially during the spring and summer. I find my jealous side coincides with the lack of bluebird days during the winter. Maybe I need a second home part of the year…close to 54 14ers. By the way, that is Mount Jefferson in the background of the second picture. And I should also give credit to my free heel’n ski partner in the pictures…Don “Woody” Woodhouse. Thanks for the introduction to ski mountaineering and all the mountain comradary.

    Shane

  2. Stefan May 14th, 2007 7:31 am

    Shane,

    that must be your tracks I was wondering about yesterday (Mothers Day), while I was fighting the first 100 yards down from Wy’east in death-crust till I reached the butter-cream. The 2 guys before me, and I have seen only their skiing tracks, hit the corn right from the top. But from there on it was a dream.

  3. powstash May 17th, 2007 1:41 pm

    must be all the rage these days to ski the WyEast. I hit it on Tuesday and it was primo from the top. I actually skied the upper face and it was firm so I booted back up, waited another 15 min on top and then hit it under primo butter conditions. Although I put in a bootpack myself on the first up the second go around I followed some nice boot tracks that went up and to the climbers right.

    Not a bad day in the Hood!

  4. Woody May 21st, 2007 9:13 pm

    Thanks to all for the nice comments and escpecially to Shane for the GREAT pictures and excelent write up.
    woody

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Welcome to Louis (Lou) Dawson's backcountry skiing information and opinion website. Lou's passion for the past forty years has been alpinism, climbing, mountaineering and skiing -- along with all manner of outdoor recreation. He has authored numerous books and articles about backcountry skiing and is well known as the first person to ski down all 54 of Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks, otherwise known as the Fourteeners! Books and free back country information here, and tons of Randonnee rando telemark info.

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