8 miles of hiking • 2500' elevation gain • 1 night
Left town around 9am. Started hiking at 11:30am Snowshoes not needed first mile maybe, but, eventually flotation is desired.
Many dead trees had blown down during the middle stretch. They likely came down the day before as there was little snow melt around them and no old or new snow atop them, including bits of debris from the break. They all had fallen in a West to NW direction which indicates the strong E/SE wind they were exposed to. I was a little sketched a few places actually seeing so many fresh blowdown.
We left the trail around the 5600' mark and headed up the SW ridge of Maxwell Butte. This was a little hairy but not too bad. The butte itself is steeper than one may anticipate. The site of the old lookout is phenomenal. Just west of the lookout is a large basin/table (half a football field?) which is protected on all sides but the west. It would be an excellent spot to camp with a group. It was too windy at the tip-top to tent for Kara plus she had concerns about going down the ridge, let alone if it got a bit icy overnight, so we decided to take some photos and a break at the top before going down to some open areas with views on the SW ridge where it was more undulating instead of steep steps.
Had a great camp here and probably shoveled 1000lbs of snow to make a large snow wall, dig a fire pit with steps down to it from the tent door. Great sunset, stars, views of 3 sisters, the brother, broken top, diamond peak off in the distance.
Trip speaks for itself. Would love to go back for any type of adventure here-exceedingly accessible! Intrepid company could test their mettle, gear, and shelter options atop the old lookout spots with views spanning from Hood down to Diamond.
Comments
Water (Matt)
February 7, 2012
Jon,
Really sorry to hear the unfortunate news. Condolences to your friend who was his relative. Heart breaking as I checked out his website last evening-beautiful children and obviously living life like many of desire-to the fullest.
Kyle Meyer
February 7, 2012
Oof, I hadn't heard about Jared but I've seen his website before as well.
Beautiful report Matt! I've figured out where I want to go next :]
Chris
February 7, 2012
Very cool! I went to this snopark once before but I had no idea what kind of views are up there on Maxwell.
Jen
February 7, 2012
What a wonderful trip! I enjoyed seeing my old friends Hogg Rock, Hayrick and Hoodoo in your photo looking south.
Roman
February 7, 2012
Phenomenal views from there, and great day to go.
Sorry to hear about Jared, missed the story til now :(
Water (Matt)
February 8, 2012
Glad ya'll liked the views. Getting to the Butte is easy I think, with good trail marking for a majority. Now getting up the butte is definitely a challenge as far as how darn steep it is. There is definitely some potential for risk I'd say depending on conditions--we saw signs of a lot of small wet slough avalanches and in other areas you could definitely have some icy conditions. Not sure I'd advocate taking an ice axe outright but it could really help if you know how to use it, for the very end where it is steepest.
Kyle--I am totally reinvigorated bout snowshoeing now that I've gone towards Santiam Pass.. it is so much more open there and I think there is more to explore and get monster views wise than around hood (imho). A bit longer drive but I like to drive.
Kyle Meyer
February 9, 2012
That area definitely seems ideal. Thinking I'm moving the IH adventure to somewhere on Santiam Pass—so much more exciting.
Chris
February 9, 2012
Did you start from Maxwell or Santiam Pass sno park? I'd think the views would be much better—and more cloud breaks on a cloudy day—from the pass. I remember most of the area around Maxwell sno park being heavily forested.
Water (Matt)
February 9, 2012
Kyle: it is a consideration for sure - I think you can find more views. I think there are also way more dead trees there if you want to have a snowfire (quite fun). I may have the snowmobiling to wilder. bound. on Adams the 18th-19th but if conditions look iffy we discussed snowcamping.
Chris: Maxwell snopark. Yes it is heavily forest immediately around the snopark--though with some nice old growth trees for the first mile or so. It does thin a bit the higher you get, but not open-open. Just near maxwell butte it does open up a lot more and there are some snow-meadows (not sure what they are in summer).
jon
February 7, 2012
Water, I just noticed this morning how you've been sticking up for Jared against the idiots on KATU's website. From what I understood, Jared's goal this year was to summit Hood once every month for 2012. I didn't know him personally but I'm really good friends with his aunt (former co-worker), and he was someone that I was hoping to finally meet after hearing so much about. It's amazing how much uninformed opinion and pure vitriol come out when a climber death makes the news.
Thanks again and nice photos.