Roman went hiking January 8, 2012 6.5 miles 3,500 feet gained

Illumination Saddle

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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.

Those rocks really rained ice downhill, but all small stuff Illumination Rock Crater Rock View NW over Reid Glacier Snowboarders after their near-summit ascent Looking to Zigzag Canyon and Paradise Park Rock & ice Such ice was growing horizontally on every large rock Pepper warming her paws Cool rime formations Sunset pic from Palmer Lifts

Trail Talk

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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 10, 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).