- 6.7 miles out and back
- Expert level (most commonly known as a beginner mountain to mountaineering)
- It is important to time your hike accordingly to the weather and time of year
- Must bring crampons and ice axes, as well as emergency materials, food, something to melt snow into water, headlamps, and depending on how long you want to spend on the mountain camping gear.
- This hike is susceptible to avalanches, rockfalls, unpredictable weather, and deep crevasses.
- Permits are required, though very easy to obtain.
Mount Hood, also known as Oregon’s tallest peak, is a huge volcano standing at 11,249 feet tall. Throughout this hike, you will be walking through deep snow, glaciers, and unstable conditions, making it crucial to properly time your hike. Before you start your hike, it is important to check weather conditions, avalanche reports, and climbing conditions, as failing to check these can cause fatal circumstances. Mount Hood is a popular beginner mountaineering hike as it is a lot smaller than many other hikes commonly done. It is also very popular and has a lot better conditions than many other hikes, as those can stand over 20,000 feet. If conditions are thought to be good on the day you go, make sure to start the hike early to avoid the heat during the day to melt the snow. Most hikers start the ascend in the middle of the night so they are able to reach the summit before the sun rises. This reduced the risk of avalanches as the sun won’t be out to melt the snow. It is possible to complete this hike in one day, as it can take about 11 hours to complete. This blog, written by Robert J. Hill, gives a great inside look as to what the experience is like hiking this mountain. He also provides many breathtaking photos he was able to capture while on this hike. Make sure to train before attempting this hike, and remember, if conditions start to get bad or visibility gets rough, turn around and descend to avoid the fatal risks that the mountain may hold.
Robert J. Hill’s experience on Mount Hood: Climbing Mount Hood: South Side Summit via 1 O’Clock Couloir – Robert J Hill
