Bennett Pass Mt Hood Viewpoint Snow Hike
It has been over a month since I last went out on an adventure. My last trip involved a snowmobile crash which has made it difficult for me to walk and has put me out of work. I tore part of my quadriceps muscle and also my medial meniscus in my knee. I started physical therapy this week and fortunately am walking much better now. As part of my rehabilitation to gain full range of motion in my left leg before knee surgery next month, I decided to go on a short snow hike today. The weather has been beautiful up in the mountains and I have been eager to get out and enjoy it.
Download route (one-way) as shown in map above in Keyhole Markup Language (KML) format or GPX format for use with GPS units and mapping programs. Disclaimer.
I decided to head to Bennett Pass Sno-Park (same place where I last snowmobiled) and hike about 1.3 miles to a great viewpoint of Mount Hood. The Sno-Park is about 9 miles East of Government Camp, Oregon across from Mount Hood Meadows ski resort off Hwy 35. I arrived just after 10 AM to a completely empty parking lot. It was about 27°F when I left Portland and 52°F after I started hiking. Talk about temperature inversion.
There was quite a bit more snow than a month ago, but I was very thankful the trail was well packed by skiers and snowshoers. I wore MICROspikes® to get a better grip on the snow and reduce the chances of re-injuring my leg.
I made surprisingly good time (it's only a couple hundred feet elevation gain over 1.3 miles) and was soon headed up the last bit to the viewpoint.
My efforts were rewarded with a magnificent view of Mt Hood. The sky was completely clear and the weather surprisingly pleasant. It felt like Spring as I rolled up my sleeves and enjoyed the calm warming sun.
As I stared at Mt Hood I yearned to be able to climb again. Hopefully by mid March I will be able to go back to work and be close to full recovery.
I basked in the sun for awhile and soon had brave Gray Jays trying to help me with my snack.
On the way back I came across a few skiers enjoying the great conditions. Even though it was only a short adventure I had a great time. I really needed to get out and look forward to several more short trips in the near future.
Gear List
Osprey Variant 37 Pack
Komperdell Powerlock Trekking Poles
Kahtoola MICROspikes®
Columbia Men’s Bugaboot Max Electric Boots
Outdoor Research TrailBreaker Pants
Mountain Hardwear Transition Jacket
GoLite Kenai Pertex 2.5L Jacket
Columbia Powerfly Down Puff Jacket
Head Digital Sport Liner Gloves
Columbia Men's Fast Trek Fleece Hat
HighGear ATF8 Altimeter
Petzl TIKKA XP 2 Headlamp
Olympus Tough TG-1 Camera
Lifeline Aluminum Sport Utility Snow Shovel
First Aid Kit
iPhone w/NeoTreksGPS
Suunto A-10 Compass
Disclaimer: You are responsible for informing yourself of the hazards of backcountry travel and taking the necessary precautions. Loomis Adventures may not be held liable.
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