Snow Dragon, Mount Hood

• I was able to talk Craig into co-leading this one with me for his GPS skills.

The Plan: Hike up to the Climber's route on McNeil Point , from there we will side hill it down onto the Glacier . The opening for the cave was very large this year and I am assuming it is still open. We will explore the cave. A recent PBS special has been done on this cave. We will not try to go as deep as they did. We won't have the time or the expertise to attempt this.

http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/1/3/6/c/600_297724972.jpeg

http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/1/2/4/a/600_297724682.jpeg

Once we leave the cave, we will head down to the Trail below us that crosses the Muddy River. Heading back to Bald Mountain and Top Spur.

Difficult very I suppose

Distance maybe 10 miles, Craig will know better

Gear:

Winter stuff, temperatures will be around 40 and possibly colder in the cave.

Traction devices please, micro spikes or crampons.

Ice axe never hurts but poles probably good enough.

A must have or you will be turned away, A HELMET!

Headlamp also needed.

Also I plan on bringing some climbing gear . Could use some help carrying it if it looks like we will need it. Rope, pickets.

Now for a story, I was talking with a friend the other day who was on McNeil Point about 1/2 way up from the shelter to the crags above. They were sitting on the edge just enjoying the day. Suddenly, they were hearing a major avalanche of rolling rocks and I think she said rushing water. Finally the loud rumbling subsided after a few minutes. They looked around for evidence of where it was coming from. No dust was rising from any viewpoint they could see.

My theory is that it came from the Ice Cave, possibly a ice dam broke releasing a lot of water and rolling a lot of rock as it went.

We will be very careful , recent temperatures have been low on the mountain. I believe we will be safe enough.

Got to give credit for the photos from Claudio's trip a few years back.