Anyone heard of a “Mt Hood High Route” 360 Loop?

Trip recommendations, current conditions, and other trail related Q&A
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mjirving
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Re: Anyone heard of a “Mt Hood High Route” 360 Loop?

Post by mjirving » September 18th, 2018, 5:23 pm

Getting up on The nose of Barrett is pretty cool. I was intimidated by Coe so I dropped down Barrett a bit before dropping into Elk Creek. I’d be curious if there was a safe Coe crossing as dropping down and back up was quite a slog. Not just getting across Coe, but back up the moraine on the other side.

Mike

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Chip Down
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Re: Anyone heard of a “Mt Hood High Route” 360 Loop?

Post by Chip Down » September 19th, 2018, 4:17 pm

Interesting to ponder: What would be the most efficient route to visit (stand on) all the glaciers. Could I do them all in 24hrs? Maybe if driving is allowed? Fun idea for a race.

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mjirving
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Re: Anyone heard of a “Mt Hood High Route” 360 Loop?

Post by mjirving » September 19th, 2018, 4:50 pm

Coalman is up there a ways, perhaps touch Reid next to Illumination Rock on the way by. Took me 36 hours, and I didn't go all the way to Coalman. :lol:

Most efficient is probably the most deadly...my route focused on the greatest chance for survival. :lol:

Mike

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retired jerry
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Re: Anyone heard of a “Mt Hood High Route” 360 Loop?

Post by retired jerry » September 19th, 2018, 6:53 pm

"Took me 36 hours"

You're teasing us again :)

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mjirving
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Re: Anyone heard of a “Mt Hood High Route” 360 Loop?

Post by mjirving » September 19th, 2018, 7:07 pm

17,000 vertical feet.

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Chip Down
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Re: Anyone heard of a “Mt Hood High Route” 360 Loop?

Post by Chip Down » September 19th, 2018, 8:08 pm

mjirving wrote:
September 19th, 2018, 4:50 pm
Took me 36 hours
Let's see, we're about at equinox, so I bet you started around 6am, and finished around 6pm the next day. Excellent use of daylight, good pace. I'm wondering how that compared to your plan, if there was a plan.

mjirving wrote:
September 19th, 2018, 7:07 pm
17,000 vertical feet.
I'm imagining a TR with no narrative, just a loooong string of stats. :lol:

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mjirving
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Re: Anyone heard of a “Mt Hood High Route” 360 Loop?

Post by mjirving » September 19th, 2018, 8:13 pm

Ha! You know me too well! (120,800 steps)

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BigBear
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Re: Anyone heard of a “Mt Hood High Route” 360 Loop?

Post by BigBear » September 26th, 2018, 12:01 pm

After a century of exploration in the area, it is safe to say that any reasonable routes that have a worthy destination/view/etc. will already have a trail. That is to say, they have a payoff worthy of the effort and proportional to the risk.

Earlier in my hiking years, I had foolishly thought there would be some nice viewpoints along canyon edges that had not been well-tread by those before me - I was wrong. After a lot of time, energy and scrapes, I found some obstacle obscuring the view.

One might argue, "hey, big bear, how about that waterfall-canyon thing near Mt. Jefferson just discovered last year?" Agreed, it is a beautiful place according tot he pictures, but that whole canyoning activity that was shown in the pictures crosses the line of that "proportional to the risk" concept of my initial assertion.

Thus, there may be a way around the high slopes of Mt. Hood, and is certainly scenic, but I would strongly argue that the views are not prettier than the ones from Trail 600 in proportion to the risk.

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mjirving
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Re: Anyone heard of a “Mt Hood High Route” 360 Loop?

Post by mjirving » September 26th, 2018, 12:20 pm

While I respect your opinion (and thank you for your reply) I strongly disagree. I’m digging out of my trip report back log and should have my post up soon. I think it’s the coolest hike I’ve ever done. (Although on the big scheme of things, I’ve done an infinitesimal percentage of the hikes out there) While my route is more sketchy than the trail, I’d say it’s an acceptable amount of risk (although maybe I’m naive and you all will convince me otherwise after I publish my trip report. :lol: )

Hopefully it will generate some good discussion anyway. Thanks!

Mike

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