Spring time only means one thing, alpine climbing!! After watching the weather constantly for a week we decided to climb Mt. Hood 11,249 feet via the Leuthold Couloir. Elisif got out of class on Thursday and met me at my place at 2:00pm and we got our gear together and headed to the mountain (90 min away) and started climbing at 6:00pm on a blue bird night. Starting elevation was 6,000 feet and we arrived at our campsite 9,500 feet just before 8:30pm an elevation gain of 1,500 feet per hour, good pace. We made our camp at Illumination saddle just before it got dark. Cooked some food and went to sleep.
Daniel takes off his pack at Illumination saddle 9,500'
Daniel get some gear out of his back on Illumination saddle 9,500'
Daniel takes a break right below Illumination Rock 9,500'
We woke up to a clear sky with some light wind. The temp was a little cooler, but not too bad. Melted some snow for water and made some oatmeal packed up our gear and we where climbing by 8:00am. We had to climb over Illumination saddle and down about 200 feet and across a small crevasse ridden snowfield to get to the base of our climb.
Elisif pokes her head out of the tent ready to do some climbing
Elisif gets ready, Mt. Jefferson in the background.
Once we made it across the snowfield I had to figure out what line we needed to take, this was a little difficult since I have never climbed this route before. We climbed a spiny ridge for about 1000 feet and a little bit of traversing got us to the Leuthold Couloir.
Elisif climbs the spiny ridge after a traverse from Illumination saddle.
Elisif traverses to Leuthold Couloir (Illumination saddle in the background).
Daniel approches Lethold Couloir 9,800 feet
From the base of the Leuthold Couloir we climbed another 1,300 feet on steep snow and ice. This was one of the coolest parts of the whole day other than getting back to the car. We protected this climb with flukes and pickets incase of any falls occurred, fortunately no falls did occur.
Daniel lead the fist pitch of Leutholds Couloir.
Elisif Follows on the first pitch of Leutholds Couloir
We gained altitude to the summit ridge where we were both hungry and tired, but we had to push to the summit. The summit ridge was a fun climb, but high wind made things really cold, I guess that is what alpine is all about.
Daniel nears the summit ridge 10,600 feet.
Elisif climbs on the summit ridge, tired and hungry, too the summit we go.
Elisif gains altitude on the summit ridge (Yocum Ridge in the background)
Once we gained the final amount of altitude and traversed along the summit ridge we finally made it to the summit Mt. Hood 11,249’ at 12:00 am, and yes it was cold I would estimate 5-10degrees with wind-chill. A short break and we descended through the pearly gates and down the Hogs back on our two hour decent (2,500 feet per hour) down to our car where we got to change and get some food and water. It was a great trip and we are looking forward to getting back into the mountains for many more adventures.
Daniel nears the summit on the final push. 11,100 feet.
Daniel & Elisif on the summit of Mt. Hood 11,249'
