Oregon Hikers

I saw Don was the last poster in this thread, and I guessed he was poking around Lookout Mtn. I was going to approach today from the east, starting at the Wind River Work Center (as I did last time) to see if it was clear yet. I had a rough morning, so decided to take a shorter route from Sunset Falls Campground (actually slightly higher and closer than Sunset, starting near Snass Creek/Summit Springs trail). I went up to McKinley Ridge where I found heavy snow on the road from 3600 to 3800, but almost entirely north of the road's high point. Dropping south towards Bluff Mtn TH was easy, nearly bare.

From Bluff Mtn TH, Rd 41 is bare as it drops both directions, west to Sunset, and east towards Lookout. However, a little surprise: After dropping east towards Lookout for about a half mile, I assumed there would be no snow as I descended, but a truck was ascending westbound, with report of deep snow. The road was under snow for a whopping quarter mile, out of the 14 miles from Sunset to Lookout! There were old tire tracks, so it can be done, but this is a challenge. No, your Outback won't make it .

From what Don posted above, I bet he'll be surprised that there's no more than a few tiny patches of snow from Fourth of July Campground to the top of Lookout, and you could make the drive without getting your tires wet.

By the way, Don, isn't it funny how we keep almost meeting? Heck, we could have waved at each other from our respective summits.

On the map below, I added red smudges where snow remains.

Was up at Burnt Lake today.
Big snow bank at 3900 feet. Snow field at 4000 feet, ~3 feet thick snow. Snow off and on the rest of the way to the lake. Snow/ice in the lake, and still a fair amount of snow around the lake, although it isn't very deep in many places. Looks to me like any camping at the lake will be essentially snow camping for the next couple/few weeks.

Which Burnt Lake is this?

leiavoia wrote: ↑

May 26th, 2021, 11:28 pm

Which Burnt Lake is this?

The Burnt Lake that is in the vicinity of Zigzag East lookout and Cast Lake. West side of Mt. Hood, trailhead past Lost Creek campground (which is near McNeil campground).

FR 4410, Lookout Mountain Road east of Mt Hood, is blocked with snow at the junction with spur FR 4410-650 about a mile from High Prairie trailhead.

FR 4410, Lookout Mountain Road east of Mt Hood, is blocked with snow at the junction with spur FR 4410-650 about a mile from High Prairie trailhead.

You read my mind, I was just wondering what the road going up to Lookout Mountain looked like. How gnarly has the road gotten over the winter to that point?

lordgares wrote: ↑

May 27th, 2021, 9:45 am

You read my mind, I was just wondering what the road going up to Lookout Mountain looked like. How gnarly has the road gotten over the winter to that point?

It is in need of grading but there were no remarkable impediments to that point. Someone had already cleared fallen trees, though not quite enough of one for my liking.

Chip Down wrote: ↑

May 26th, 2021, 9:43 pm

By the way, Don, isn't it funny how we keep almost meeting? Heck, we could have waved at each other from our respective summits.

That's funny - from the top of Little Lookout, I looked over at "Roosevelt" and thought of you up there exploring. I was on Little Lookout from about 12:45 to about 1:20.

Don Nelsen wrote: ↑

May 28th, 2021, 9:24 am

Chip Down wrote: ↑

May 26th, 2021, 9:43 pm

By the way, Don, isn't it funny how we keep almost meeting? Heck, we could have waved at each other from our respective summits.

That's funny - from the top of Little Lookout, I looked over at "Roosevelt" and thought of you up there exploring. I was on Little Lookout from about 12:45 to about 1:20.

Oops, my mistake, we couldn't have waved at each other. I arrived at Lookout summit at 1:27. So I was sweating my way up the road out of your view as you were lounging on Little.

Mt Hood NF: Burnt Lake Trail #772 up to Cast Lake: Trail starts dry. Increasing snowbanks of 1-5ft depth on the Burnt Lake Trail starting around 3800-4000ft (about a mile or two in). Very easy to lose your way if you dont have GPS. From the junction up to Cast Lake, snow cover increases up to 6ft. Snow all the way around the lake. Some dry spots. Cast Lake has a healthy layer of slush on top but is melted out clear around the edges. Snow is compacted and firm, but slushy on top and melting out fast. No special snow gear required, but this is a snow hike right now. Be careful about snow bridges and sinkholes.