Any Info on Smoke levels on Mt. Hood?

[dmthomas49]

We were thinking about hiking Cooper’s Spur tomorrow, Wednesday and were not sure if visibility would be any good. Cameras from Timberline lodge look very hazy... Anyone have any on site experience?

[Chip Down]

I assume you want to avoid smoke.
Unless you have health concerns, enjoy seeing things with an eerie look.
And the sunsets are amazing!
Sample pic from last year:

[dmthomas49]

Thanks Chip. Yes, health concerns. We are delaying until next week.

[jc_madden]

How is it looking this week? I too have health concerns. I live in Tualatin and the smoke is killing me! Is it better or worse on the mountain?

[Webfoot]

When it is smokey it is often the entire area. Here's a satellite image from yesterday.

A number of services that model the flow of smoke/pollution exist, though you'll see they may not agree.

(The WSU AIRPACT service doesn't appear to model sources in Canada or California which makes it less useful at times like this.)

https://www.weather.gc.ca/firework/index_e.html

http://www.lar.wsu.edu/airpact/

https://earth.nullschool.net/#current/p ... 591,22.989

[Guy]

there is no hard and fast rule but generally if it's smokey in PDX it's going to be smokey on Hood. Above 6000' it may not be as bad or much better but no guarantees.

[Chip Down]

Is it better or worse on the mountain?

About the same, in my experience. Unlike clouds, which you can often break through and get above, smoke dissipates in all directions. It might get a little better as you go higher, but as a general rule, if it's grey in the Portland metro area, it's gonna be grey at Timberline and above.

[dmthomas49]

We hiked to Coopers Spur on Wednesday. There was no smoke from the trailhead at Cloud Cap to the top of the Spur. There was smoke at lower elevations. We could only see part of the top of Mt. Rainier. No other mountains were visible. Was a great day for a hike at higher elevation.

[dmthomas49]

A few pictures from the Cooper's Spur hike.

[Thuja]

.