Timberline to Lolo Pass-Any reports? Need advice

Trip recommendations, current conditions, and other trail related Q&A
Post Reply
aligracedesign
Posts: 1
Joined: May 21st, 2019, 12:54 pm

Timberline to Lolo Pass-Any reports? Need advice

Post by aligracedesign » May 21st, 2019, 1:00 pm

Myself and two other hikers are planning to hike section G from the Timberline to Cascade Locks starting 6/7/19. I know this is early for the Timberline section. Has anyone done this already this year? Have you ever done this in early June? Advice-skip this section, need additional gear for snow conditions? Any advice?

User avatar
teachpdx
Posts: 395
Joined: January 21st, 2014, 4:45 pm
Location: Hillsboro, OR

Re: Timberline to Lolo Pass-Any reports? Need advice

Post by teachpdx » May 21st, 2019, 1:37 pm

Seems awful early to do this section, especially since we've had a normal snow year on Hood. You'll still have a lot of snow from Timberline to Zigzag Overlook and then through Paradise Park.

As of today, there's still 49" of snow at the Mt. Hood SNOTEL at 5400', and much of the route is above that elevation. It'll be another 4-5 weeks at this rate before it melts out.


Mods, may want to move to the general hiking forum... might get more response there.
instagram: @remyodyssey

Aimless
Posts: 1922
Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:02 pm
Location: Lake Oswego

Re: Timberline to Lolo Pass-Any reports? Need advice

Post by Aimless » May 21st, 2019, 2:04 pm

Even if we have a torrid hot spell to end May and start June, you will certainly be walking on snow for many miles at the start, while you are high on Mt. Hood. You'll need to be able to find the route when the trail is not visible under snow. Snow adds danger when you are on a steep hillside, whether it is soft or hard. An ice axe could be very handy in those situations. Walking on soft snow can be grueling. Crossing the Sandy River would be difficult, due to higher water from snowmelt. As you go north from Lolo Pass there will still be some big snow patches mingled with some open trail. There's a chance of rain that early in June, too.

It wouldn't be a cakewalk. More like an obstacle course. Wilderness can be like that, especially on glaciated Cascade mountains in early June. You'll have to decide whether that sounds good to you.

Post Reply