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6.5 miles of hiking • 3500' elevation gain •

Hiked from Timberline Lodge to the saddle at Illumination Rock. The things were icy between 6-8000+/-, higher up it was mostly well-packed snow. That small gully just before Illumination Rock had minor rock/ice falling almost all the time, but the rock itself seems a safe place to be. Many people were going off the summit and then boarding/skiing down. Illumination Rock seems to be a popular rest/restroom place, which is a shame. Good views of cracks on Reid Glacier, view of Yocum Ridge and St. Helens, as well as lower Columbia / Coast Range.

Comments

Kyle Meyer hearts this trip.

Bosterson
January 9, 2012

That looks awesome, Roman. You got a good day for it. Can you glissade down from up there, or do you have to walk?

Roman
January 9, 2012

You can glissade only short way (like 1/3 mile) from Illumination Rock - natural slope eventually gets you toward Lost Creek or Big Zigzag Canyon. It's better to walk east to be above Palmer Lift and then glissade on or along Palmer ski area. I glissaded on Palmer in my pants using poles for speed and it worked great, but the surface was grains of broken ice over hard snow & I can feel it now. Better to take 2-inch thick snow pants to glissade (or a snowboard). Makes sense to hike back later so that ski lift is closed and skiers are not an issue (this time upper lift was probably closed all day, you can see ice on the ropes).