Washing My Shirt

Mount Hood Bail (I got scared)

Shuttling Boxes

The “P” in PNW Stands For Pow

The Mountain Was Completely Saturated

Wanted to try to ski Hood, so Rob and I went for it! Sustained 25+ mph winds the entire time, somewhat demoralizing for the trudge in the dark especially because my headlamp died (turns out when I checked it was at 1/4 not 4/4 battery so I didn’t charge it up hahahaha). The wind made us pretty concerned that there would be windloading in the Old Chute (our planned summit route) and we felt pretty early on that the summit probably couldn’t safely happen, but we decided to push through until dawn. Partly in hopes that conditions would get better, mostly because the options were stay put and freeze (I ended up in so many layers I could barely move my arms), ski down in the dark (see previous about my headlamp woes), or keep heading up and stay somewhat warm. Entered some very scary icy slide-for-life conditions just before the sun rose, put on ski crampons but even so my foot slipped once and I had to kneel mid-slope for a couple minutes saying “you’re okay” to myself until I could compose myself enough to continue. Got out the ice axes after that. Sun rose and it got very pretty, but winds continued and between that and the ice we just weren’t really feeling it. I had a mounting feeling of unease that I felt like I would be mad at myself for ignoring if something went wrong later. I’m very happy with the choice to bail and genuinely feel that it was the right call given the treacherousness. There was a party we met yesterday who had summited by the route we intended to take, but it just wasn’t within my risk tolerance. Too scary today. The beginning of the ski down was so chattery it made me look quiet. “It’s like that Beach Boys song - Good Vibrations!” Rob quipped as both of our skis’ ptex repairs rattled out. It was strange to go from being scared for my life to ripping corduroy once we got back in the resort boundary, but that’s Hood for ya’! Overall a fun adventure and I’m grateful that we went for it and got back safely.

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Nina Edwards

Mount Hood Bail (I got scared)

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Washing My Shirt

Mount Hood Bail (I got scared)

Shuttling Boxes

The “P” in PNW Stands For Pow

The Mountain Was Completely Saturated

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