Intermediate Alpine Climb - Mount Hood: Illumination Saddle Routes

We will carpool from the Kitsap Program Center and will depart Friday April 14 at 1800. We will coordinate with others coming from the Seattle side of  the Sound and likely meet in Tacoma at the P&R near Highway 512/I-5. It will also be possible to meet at the trailhead. We will start climbing Saturday 0030 or so.

We plan to climb Leuthold or Reid Glacier routes with a pace of 1000' per hour for the approach and solid pace in teams of two for the technical portion of the climb. This will vary based on conditions from no rope required to pitched ice climbing dependent on conditions. We will most likely form standard glacier travel rope teams for the descent of the Pearly Gates route and quite likely use running protection in the steep sections of this.

You should have completed the Alpine Ice course and be reasonably proficient using two ice tools. 

We will make decisions collectively as much as possible. As climb leader I reserve the final say if needed, though we will not proceed in a situation unless all are in agreement the plan is safe and effective.

All will be dependent on the conditions, of course.