Illumination Saddle, 10/25/13
Posted: October 25th, 2013, 10:11 pm
Another Trip Report Lite, because I'm feeling lazy and tired...
A friend and I hiked from Timberline Lodge up to "Illumination Saddle" today — the relatively low spot between Illumination Rock and the summit of Mt. Hood, at about 9300' above sea level. Well, it should be called "Illumination Scary-Ass Crumbly Knife-Edge Ridge"!
Usually when I hear about a really narrow ridge, I get there and think "oh, this isn't so bad." But this thing was about 6 inches wide, and made of absolutely horrible crumbly rock and plain old sand. (The Sketch Factor was exacerbated by the fact that a fall to the north onto Reid Glacier would be very bad news and maybe even fatal.)
Now, I admit it's possible that the true low spot in the saddle is less terrifying; we aimed to the left, a little closer to Illumination Rock, where there was a steep finger of snow that went all the way to the crest of the ridge. The lower part of the saddle was guarded by a bowl that looked like it got pretty steep (and rocky rather than snowy) as it approached the ridge, and that looked like its own kind of unpleasant.
Anyway, the stats: just over 3 miles each way, about 3500' of elevation gain. The trip up took more than three hours, and the trip down less than half of that. It was perfectly sunny, with temperatures in the 40s and 50s and minimal wind. The snow got a bit soft in the afternoon. Gaiters and poles (and sunscreen and sunglasses) were a must, and YakTrax were helpful on the ascent.
And now for a few photos before I fall asleep...
A friend and I hiked from Timberline Lodge up to "Illumination Saddle" today — the relatively low spot between Illumination Rock and the summit of Mt. Hood, at about 9300' above sea level. Well, it should be called "Illumination Scary-Ass Crumbly Knife-Edge Ridge"!
Usually when I hear about a really narrow ridge, I get there and think "oh, this isn't so bad." But this thing was about 6 inches wide, and made of absolutely horrible crumbly rock and plain old sand. (The Sketch Factor was exacerbated by the fact that a fall to the north onto Reid Glacier would be very bad news and maybe even fatal.)
Now, I admit it's possible that the true low spot in the saddle is less terrifying; we aimed to the left, a little closer to Illumination Rock, where there was a steep finger of snow that went all the way to the crest of the ridge. The lower part of the saddle was guarded by a bowl that looked like it got pretty steep (and rocky rather than snowy) as it approached the ridge, and that looked like its own kind of unpleasant.
Anyway, the stats: just over 3 miles each way, about 3500' of elevation gain. The trip up took more than three hours, and the trip down less than half of that. It was perfectly sunny, with temperatures in the 40s and 50s and minimal wind. The snow got a bit soft in the afternoon. Gaiters and poles (and sunscreen and sunglasses) were a must, and YakTrax were helpful on the ascent.
And now for a few photos before I fall asleep...