If you follow this blog then you know that I normally write about the Adirondacks. But, visiting family near Portland, Oregon, who could resist the call of Mount Hood. Hood dominates the skyline east of Portland; a single giant peak rising up from the surrounding foothills. Hunchback Mountain is one of those foothills and, in late May, while Mount Hood remains a snowy wonderland, this route promised to be snow free. Best of all, Hunchback Mountain is rated as difficult in local hiking guides, the kind of place few people would go, perfect.
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| There are unobstructed views of Mount Hood from a point along the trail known as the rock-pile, but Hood was shrouded in clouds when I got there. This is from one of the places along the way where Hood can be seen through the trees. |
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| Looking south, from one of the open viewpoints along the ridge. |
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| A rock outcropping crossed by the trail. |
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| Looking back towards the start of the route. The route I followed covered about five miles, one way, making for a ten mile round trip. |
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| The route climbs 2000 feet in the first two miles, and then bumps along the ridge gaining another 1000 feet to the high point. Numerous ups and downs add to the total elevation gain. In places the ridge line is narrow with steep drop-offs. This not a route for children., or anyone who is fearful of heights. |
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| Steep sections of the ridge line are interspersed with pleasant strolling through a spectacular mature forests. |
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| The "rock-pile"; this viewpoint is marked by a hard-to-spot sign. To see the view, you follow a narrow path up to the base of a pile of large boulders and then scramble up climb up the pile. Alas, by the time I got there Hood was totally obscured by clouds. In fact, a brief thunderstorm rolled in shortly after I reached this point. |
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| Late May, wildflowers in full bloom everywhere. |
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| The intense greenness of the forest in muted light. |
After descending, I took a walk through the old-growth forests along the nearby Salmon River. A second post on that part of the day will follow shortly.
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