Halle’s Smooooth Words o’ Wisdom

Sunday Pat Hanson and I skied the Snowdome on Mt. Hood’s east side following our Saturday hike up the Polallie Ridge Trail to a camp site near timberline. The day was sunny, warm and yet another reminder why I love the Pacific Northwest.

The Dome is a summer ritual for the backcountry ski crowd in these parts. It’s a wonderful tour with high scenic value and little technical risk. We’ve skied it many times though never this early. Usually we ski the upper portion then head skier’s left down the Languille bowls to the Timberline Trail. Given the deep snowpack and our timing we were able to ski directly to and across the Elliot Glacier. The snow warmed to corn by 11am when we chose to slap on the boards and go for a ride.