I got out for a hike on Mt. Hood to Yocum Ridge. I have not done this trail for many years so it seemed like it was time for me to revisit it. The weather forecast was not promising so I was figuring on just a walk in the woods in Gortex. Starting out at the trail-head it seemed like it was going to be a gray day. As I climbed higher I managed to break out of low layer of clouds and found a beautiful day at the 5000 foot and above level. I followed the trail as far as could before it became a rock scramble.
I got a late start and did not get on the trail until 9 am. Not many cars in the parking lot compared to a few weeks ago.
Low clouds and no view. This is my first look at the Sandy River and what looks like will be a wet day.
Hikers bridge over the Sandy River.
Sandy River in the morning at the crossing area.
A new sign showing the way to Ramona Falls.
Passing by Ramona Falls.
It really is a very gradual elevation gain and way easier then I expected.
The pond. When I hiked this before there were hundred of dragonfly here. Not today.
Now this is a mushroom. This is the first time I have seen a mushroom like this. It was big and looked like some story book creature could live in it.
More walking in old growth.
Finally getting to the medows. To late in the season for flowers.
Looking over to Paradise Park.
Finally I got a view of the top of the Hood and I was out of the clouds.
Read Glacier and Illumination Rock.
View of Hood from a meadow on Yocum.
I finally got the first view spot. This was as far as I got last time. This is the head waters to the Sandy River.
At this point the falls look gray. I have a photo later where they change to chocolate.
Looking up the the top of the ridge. I will get to that next.
Looking over to Paradise Park and the clouds that I started in.
There are lots of picture of Hood. It just looked very nice when I was up there.
Looking up to the rocky ridge at the top of Yocum Ridge.
View of Hood on the other side of Yocum Ridge looking at the Sandy Glacier.
A closer view of Mt. Hood.
Looking over to McNeil Point.
Another photo of Mt. Hood.
The trail dies out in the rock field which does not look that hard to cross until you are on it.
So when you are standing on the rock field you find out it is sort of a mud sand field with loose rock sitting on top of it.
I finally go a point that I would have to do a rock scamble to go any further. It was loaded with loose rock the temporay handholds. I had also hit my turn around time so I will have to save this for another visit.
But running the ridge sure looks tempting.
Looking back from where I have come from and where I must go.
Looking down to where I don’t want to go. This actual would not be bad if it was a rock slope and not a mud slide.
Next time I think I will start the rock scamble sooner. Even though the rock is a mess it would be better then the mud.
There a several camp sights where the trail plays out.
Back on trail and heading down.
Looking over Yocum Ridge tot he Read Glacier.
Looking out from Yocum Ridge all I saw were the clouds below me all day.
The rock pile is on the far right of this shot.
Looking from a meadow on Yocum Ridge to Reid Glacier and Illumination Rock.
A view from a meadow on Yocum Ridge of Mt. Hood, Reid Glacier and Illumination Rock.
I had been hearing rock fall all day. As I was finishing up on the other side of the ridge I heard what was like a jet flying low over head. By the time I got back to the first view point the falls had turned chocolate and the volume had increase.
The glacier had blown out a pocket of mud. The area to the center right of the photo is a stream of reddish mud that is flowing out from under the glacier. As I watched I could see large boulders coming down and it sounded like a jet plan noise.
At first things looked the same.
But as I started to look closer and to the right of the glacier I saw what had change.
So before the whole thing comes rushing down and washes out the bridge I have to cross to get home, I figured it was time to head back down the trail. So heading back through the meadows.
Heading back down through the woods.
The Sandy had truned to chocolate and was rushing but the bridge was still there.
They picked a good spot to put it in this year.
So back down in the clouds but on the right side of the river to get to my car and head home.