Polallie Ridge to Eliot Glacier Moraine
Polallie Ridge to Eliot Glacier Moraine
Opening picture: having a beer on the Eliot Moraine.
Spent last Sunday rambling around the north side of Hood: from the (packed!) Tilly Jane Sno Park, we snowshoed up (empty!) Polallie Ridge, then cut over off trail to the Eliot Moraine, spent a while hanging out in the wind, then high-tailed it down in the fading light. There's something sort of magic about getting up that high in the winter. We just bought snowshoes a couple months ago, and it's just totally changed the way I think about winter. Nothing's ever really closed! I can't believe I didn't do this sooner.
We left Portland around 7:30, wandered around for a while looking for coffee and breakfast, and rolled into the Sno (I really want to add a "W" there) Park just after nine, just behind a large contingent of climbers.
The first half mile was packed with people returning from the shelter and skiers heading up, but, as soon as we turned off for the ridge, it was mysteriously empty. MHNF reported something like 18 inches of snow, but there were quite a few bare patches, and for a while I had flashbacks to 2015.
Eventually, though, we climbed past the old guard station and back into a healthy winter. From the A-Frame, we veered vaguely west, and hit the moraine just above treeline. I've been here a few times: in July and August, September and October, with early season bugs and late season color. But I think this was my favorite. The flowers were buried, of course, as were the strange, sharp shapes in the glacier. But in their place was a perfect white coat, and a mountain that seemed somehow wilder than I've ever seen it.
We goofed around for a long time, watching a storm pass below and taking twenty thousand pictures. Eventually, though, the hard wind got the best of us, and we reluctantly rambled south to the shelter, and started our long way back in the evening light.
Really just a great day in the snowy woods. I'm not sure what took me so long with snowshoes, but I'm so glad to have seen the light. I guess I'm even a little sad about the start of spring, though I'm sure I'll change my tune when I see the first flowers
- Don Nelsen
- Posts: 4381
- Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:03 pm
- Location: Vancouver, WA
Re: Polallie Ridge to Eliot Glacier Moraine
Nice! Thanks for posting this TR and the photos.
dn
dn
"Everything works in the planning stage" - Kelly
"If you don't do it this year, you will be one year older when you do" - Warren Miller
"If you don't do it this year, you will be one year older when you do" - Warren Miller
- Splintercat
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Re: Polallie Ridge to Eliot Glacier Moraine
Wow! Great report and photos, Robin! I agree - nothing like being up on the mountain during the snow season..!
Thanks!
Tom
Thanks!
Tom
Re: Polallie Ridge to Eliot Glacier Moraine
Great pictures from a great outing! Thank you!
Some people are really fit at eighty; thankfully I still have many years to get into shape…
Re: Polallie Ridge to Eliot Glacier Moraine
Very cool! Looks like I need to pack my alpine skis up there!
Mike
Mike
Re: Polallie Ridge to Eliot Glacier Moraine
Wow, those bare patches make me unreasonably happy.
Re: Polallie Ridge to Eliot Glacier Moraine
Awesome. I love that tree well photo!
Re: Polallie Ridge to Eliot Glacier Moraine
Mmmm Cooper Spur. Time to get out the crampons! Thanks for the inspiration.RobinB wrote:
#pnw #bestlife #bitingflies #favoriteyellowcap #neverdispleased
Re: Polallie Ridge to Eliot Glacier Moraine
Oh wow, thanks everyone!
Seriously! The ice was slick. And beautiful.Bosterson wrote:mmmm Cooper Spur. Time to get out the crampons!
Re: Polallie Ridge to Eliot Glacier Moraine
Great pics! Looked like an awesome trip. What were the road conditions like?