Trillium Lake snowshoe hike- Mount Hood

Snow will be dumping on Mount Hood all week... Leaving us a beautiful landscape for Friday! Snowshoes may / may not be needed for Friday, so bring whatever boot traction you prefer. And if we get at least partially clear skies, we may catch that iconic lakeside view of Mount Hood!

If you're looking for an easy route to kick off your snowshoe season and are already in reasonable shape, then this is the hike for you! Though please note that this scenic route is a bit longer than the traditional Trillium Lake snowshoe loop found in guidebooks. Gotta make it worth the drive, right?

• Difficulty: Easy (Nothing but gentle hills on this one), but we're gonna keep moving at an exercise pace
• Hiking distance: At least 5 miles
• Elevation gain: Nah, just a single hill at the end
• Total hiking time: Plan to be heading back to Portland by early afternoon (or earlier, if we keep the pace up)
• Driving distance: 109 miles RT from Portland; I relaxed the meet time for those of us who need to pick up Sno Park passes en route (see below)
• Permits: $4 Sno Park Pass required for each vehicle (Available at REI, DMV, etc. and most gas stations in Sandy or Government Camp)
• Dogs: Sure, if they can handle snow and you are prepared to drive them
• The plan:

Here's my proposed route: We’ll be navigating a combination of the traditional Trillium Lake snowshoe route with a dash of snow-covered forest roads and a little off-trail, to extend our picturesque journey around the lake. Easy stuff, but it’s gonna be beautiful!

• My hiking style: My preferred dry ground hiking pace is fairly brisk (3 - 3.5 mph or faster when not running), but since this is a snowshoe outing, we will obviously go a bit slower than that. A good pace would be great, though I don’t want anyone to feel rushed. We will enjoy a snack/mini-lunch break at Summit Meadows, as well as short breaks for snacks, photos, and viewpoints along the way.
• Bring: Snowshoes (Have an alternate setup if they’re not needed... As of this posting, the snow isn't very deep yet), 2+ liters of water, food/snacks, warm layers of non-cotton clothing including rain gear, a camera, shoes with good traction for any bare ground, and gas money if you carpool. Poles could be useful.

It is also recommended that hikers always carry the, um, "Eleven" Essentials:

1. Navigation (map, compass, and an awareness of our route)
2. Sun protection (sunglasses and sunscreen)
3. Insulation (extra clothing)
4. Illumination (headlamp/flashlight and extra batteries)
5. First-aid supplies
6. Fire (waterproof matches/lighter/candles)
7. Knife/tools
8. Nutrition (extra food)
9. Hydration (extra water)
10. Emergency whistle and general preparedness in the event that you become separated from our group and/or have to spend the night in the wild.
11. A song sung blue

PARTICIPATE AT YOUR OWN RISK; Northwest Wilderness Group organizers are volunteers. We come prepared to lead you on a trail or off trail hike but assume no liability for your safety getting to or from the trail-head or on the hike. In case of accident, illness, or other incapacity, hikers must pay for their own medical and/or evacuation expenses, whether or not the hiker has specifically authorized them.