(A very) Sunny Day on McNeil Ridge - 06/30/13.

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Guy
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(A very) Sunny Day on McNeil Ridge - 06/30/13.

Post by Guy » July 1st, 2013, 3:31 pm

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Opening pic

The only hike that Chiyoko & I do at the same time every year is our pilgrimage up McNeil Ridge, either the weekend before or the weekend after the July 4th holiday. Along for the hike with us this year were Kazuko, Mana, Shelly, Eriko, Pascal & Ian.

We arrived at about 9:30 to an already overflowing Top Spur Trailhead, mostly due to the fact that this was the trailhead being used by the search & rescue teams for the recovery of the climber Kinley Adams who's body had been found at the head wall of the Sandy Glacier on Saturday.

It's been quite a few years since the trail has been this snow free this early in the year. We took our usual route heading around Bald Mountain first for some early views!

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The Avalanche Lilies were in their full resplendent glory!

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We were in for a treat when we reached the open meadows on the ridge as the Bear Grass show was better than it has been for many years.

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We took the scramble trail up the the shelter. The Hot Sunny weather made it seem like a bit more of a slog than it usually is!

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After a break at the shelter we trudged on up the remaining 1000' to the end of the use trail that goes up the ridge line. There we met fellow Portland Hiker Spitfire who was watching the recovery operation out on the Sandy Glacier. Though we didn't know it at the time we had passed & chatted to Mr. Spitfire coming up the scramble trail to the shelter!

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The weather was a tad better than it was on the same day in 2012!

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McNeil Ridge June 30th 2012.

We returned to just above the shelter area for lunch.

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For the past few years there has been too much snow on the trail for us to want to make a loop out of the hike & return by way of the official McNeil trail but not this year!

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We were soon back down on the snow covered but easy to travel Timberline trail.

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The Ponds were even starting to melt out!

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After crossing McGee Creek we closed the loop & found ourselves back at the Bear Grass Meadows on the Ridge where Yocum Falls was now in Sunlight.

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And the Bear Grass looked even better than it had in the morning!

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Weather wise it was a spectacular day & it was great to be up on the mountain again for the Summer season. Just shy of 10 miles & 3300' of EG.
A few more pics of the day here.

About the recovery operation of climber Kinley Adams' body:

So we ran into several of the search & rescue teams yesterday involved in various parts of the recovery operation. I also took some photos of the recovery operation out on the Sandy Glacier but decided to to include them as part of this report. If you would like to see them though you can find them here.
hiking log & photos.
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kepPNW
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Re: (A very) Sunny Day on McNeil Ridge - 06/30/13.

Post by kepPNW » July 1st, 2013, 4:25 pm

Okay, this settles it! McNeil is my next Mt Hood adventure! Looking mighty good up there! (Was hoping you'd attach your usual track map, as I've never been there and am always looking for more hints/tips. :)) Thanks!
Karl
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Guy
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Re: (A very) Sunny Day on McNeil Ridge - 06/30/13.

Post by Guy » July 1st, 2013, 7:15 pm

The multi media version ;)

http://api.smugmug.com/services/embed/2 ... 14_7V8sNjD
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Crusak
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Re: (A very) Sunny Day on McNeil Ridge - 06/30/13.

Post by Crusak » July 1st, 2013, 7:40 pm

kepPNW wrote:Okay, this settles it! McNeil is my next Mt Hood adventure! Looking mighty good up there! (Was hoping you'd attach your usual track map, as I've never been there and am always looking for more hints/tips. :)) Thanks!
Ha, maybe it'll be my first? Hard to believe I've never done any hiking in the vicinity of Mt Hood. :o

Nice TR Guy. That's a fun and spirited group you were hiking with by the looks of it. Beautiful shot of Yocum Falls! What an amazing day.
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Guy
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Re: (A very) Sunny Day on McNeil Ridge - 06/30/13.

Post by Guy » July 1st, 2013, 7:52 pm

Karl, here is my usual Hillmap!

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kepPNW
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Re: (A very) Sunny Day on McNeil Ridge - 06/30/13.

Post by kepPNW » July 1st, 2013, 8:05 pm

Guy wrote:Karl, here is my usual Hillmap!
Sweet! Downloaded and bookmarked! :D
Karl
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rick6003
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Re: (A very) Sunny Day on McNeil Ridge - 06/30/13.

Post by rick6003 » July 1st, 2013, 8:47 pm

Thanks Guy!!!!

I have to do my annual trip soon also

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Re: (A very) Sunny Day on McNeil Ridge - 06/30/13.

Post by mayhem » July 2nd, 2013, 9:20 am

Good TR but I really like the movie...I mean muti-media show :)
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Splintercat
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Re: (A very) Sunny Day on McNeil Ridge - 06/30/13.

Post by Splintercat » July 2nd, 2013, 2:39 pm

Beautiful, Guy! How were the bugs? Ran into my first batch of black flies over near Bennett Pass on Sunday... hopefully, they won't be as prolific as the beargrass..! :x

-Tom :)

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Guy
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Re: (A very) Sunny Day on McNeil Ridge - 06/30/13.

Post by Guy » July 2nd, 2013, 3:13 pm

Thanks Folks,

Tom, I would say that biting fly season is just beginning up around McNeil. Picked up just 2 bites. Flowers are & will continue to be early this year for sure, I'd say there is less snow up there at the moment than there was in early August 2 years ago.
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