With the new geographic situation along the Eliot Branch drainage the different variations for ski trips around the Snowdome are basically limited to the route following the east moraine, traversing the Eliot Glacier below the lower ice fall and climbing in almost falline to the top of the Snowdome. One other option for a ski tour, climbing up the Cooper Spur to Tie-In rock is not too attractive this summer because of the lack of snow. We had a more or less low snow season in lower elevations and most of the snowfields below Tie-In rock are melting away fast offering not much turning fun in relation of a long ascent.

For this year's backcountryseason my motivation was high to visit the Cloud Cap area several times to explore all the routes up there, but on my first visit mid June, I learned quickly about the limitations for this summer skiing season. That created basically the Snowdome Madness 2007 with 3 almost identical trips up to Snowdome on exact the same route within one week.

Saturday, June 16 - first trip

The first trip happened when my friend and telemark skiing buddy David from Portland called me, asking if I like to join him on a backcountry skiing trip. Some of his friends are flying in from the east coast looking for some snow action. We kicked around a couple of options where to go with the group. Mt. Saint Helens seemed a nice option, but a limit of 100 climbers per day and the required booking of a summit permit in advance were not in our fortune. Mt. Adams is too long a trip for the friends and assuming the Cloud Cap road is still closed to the northern slopes of Mt. Hood, we opted for some easy and relaxed turns near the Timberline Lodge on the south side of Oregon's state high point. Just two days before going on our ski outing, some grumbling came to my attention, that the gate at the Cloud Cap road is unlocked, and I convinced David giving it a try on Saturday the 16th.

Finally Saturday morning arrived..."no later than 7:00 AM at my house"...that's how we left it on Friday evening...at 8AM the friends finally showed up. Leaving the house around 8:15 in good spirits that the gate is unlocked we rode up Cloud Cap forest road. One moment of excitement while turning around the 180° switchback turn at Inspiration Point and yes it was. Despite a late start the weather was cooperating. Low temperatures, around 40 degree, up at 6000 feet at the trailhead and plenty of clouds keeping the sunrays to a minimum preventing softening up the corn snow. We put on the ski boots and strapped the skis to our backpacks, snow was still in the woods, but only patches, and I knew we had to carry our skis till we reach the lower glacier. I expected a bit more snow coverage in the drainage for booting uphill but the stream was already steadily flowing and wildflowers are blooming along its side in the beautiful green meadows along the water.

The summit of Mt. Hood was hiding all morning in thick fog, just Snowdome peeked out occasional of the fast moving clouds. After hiking for one hour we reached the snow on Eliot Glacier. Nothing to complain about today's quality, approximately one inch of soft butter on top of firm. Only three other fellows are on the mountain this morning, about 30 minutes ahead of us. Once you step down from the east moraine to the glacier, you will traverse the entire lower Eliot and climb up a steep step to the top of the Langille Crags between the lower small glacier fall and some big rock outcroppings to the right. The crevasses in that area are still covered with solid snow, making it possible to ski back the same route we came up. I was opting for a descent from here down along the west side of the western moraine, but in November a monstrous warm winter storm with heavy rainfall caused flooding in this area and washed out the entire bed of Eliot Creek. At this point I was not certain what we might expect at the stream crossing done at the Timberline trail, so we agreed to ski the same route we came up.

Todays snowconditions allowed for easy bootpacking all the way to the top of the Dome. The fast moving clouds created a nice play with light and shadow, but limited the views north to Mt. Adam, Mt. Rainier and Mt. Saint Helens.

After three hours of climbing action the top of Snowdome was reached. Just a short break and everyone was ready to ski down. Skiing was fantastic. The snow quality was consistent all day thanks to the cloud coverage and low temperatures. Carving fast turns was on our agenda, the snow was contributing, sun cupping was only minimal and only some interesting architecture of long parallel runnels in the bowl below the long slopes of Snowdome slowed us down a bit.

Skiing close to the seracs of the lower ice fall added a little spice to our already successful ski day.

After taking the skis off and zipping a cute 8 ounce can of a well know brand of "generic American lager beer" we climbed back to the crest of the eastern moraine starting the on-foot descent. As an additional treat Mount Hood lifted it's cloud cover for us and opened up the views to the entire northern headwall of the mountain.

Tuesday, June 19 - second trip

I wanted to go back soon to scout out the situation on the creek crossing on the Timberline Trail. The following Tuesday was the day. I left the house around 5:30 AM driving up to Cloud Cap again. It took me only one hour and I was the only visitor this morning, no other cars are parked at the trailhead. My plan was to hike up to the moraine and find a possible stream crossing. I approached the eastern moraine low, close to the tree line. Now I could see the size of devastation from the November flooding. There is absolutely no possible way down into the drainage. The walls of the canyon are steep, almost vertical, plenty of loose gravel, sand, rocks and dirt. Permanent rock fall is an other danger and the noise of crushing boulders are breaking the silence. Trying to go down there would probably end in a fatal fall.

My mission was accomplished quick, earlier than I thought, and the news about the trail was not too promising for a phat summer skitouring season in the Langille Crags area. My goal for today was limited to the route I have done just a few days ago with my friends. Snowdome was the only option for decent turns. To spice up the today's route, I opted for a different approach, I climbed up to the big bench of the Eliot Glacier to the climbers left. To reach the slopes of Snowdome this time I traversed below the large upper Icefall »»

The following weekend I had plans to climb and ski on some other mountain, but I was given the opportunity to meet new friends and ski with them, of course, Snowdome. The Cloud Cap Inn, a historical lodge situated at 6000 feet elevation on the northern slopes of Mt. Hood is operated by the Hood River based Mountain Rescue group The Crag Rats. Christopher, a Crag Rat member invited me to join him and some friends and stay for an overnighter at the hut. This was a good reason to change my weekend plans. On Friday evening I met a group of interesting folks at the hut and we had a good time telling stories while having some cold beers around the cozy fireplace in the rustique lodge.