Mount Hood Wilderness
Encyclopedia
The Mount Hood Wilderness is a protected wilderness area inside the Mount Hood National Forest
which is located in the U.S. state
of Oregon
. The area, covering 67320 acres (27,243.5 ha), includes the peak of Mount Hood
and its upper slopes, and ranges from temperate rain forest
s at the lower elevations, to glacier
s and rocky ridges at higher elevations.
The wilderness wraps around the mountain from west to northeast, and borders Timberline Lodge
and Mount Hood Meadows ski lifts on some of the south and east slopes of the mountain.
offers experienced and novice mountaineers opportunities to traverse glaciers, snowfields, steep volcanic soil, and deal with rapidly changing and difficult to predict weather. More than 10,000 climbers annually make the attempt, making Mount Hood's summit the most visited snowclad peak in America.
Numerous trails circle the mountain, from Lolo Pass
on the northwest (which the Pacific Crest Trail
crosses) to Cloud Cap on the northeast to the ski areas on the south. There are several historic structures (predating the wilderness designation), one of which is the remains of a stone lodge near Cairn Basin on the northwest side. Numerous pristine areas are easily accessible, such as Elk Cove
on the north side of the mountain near the tree line.
The best known trail is the forty-one mile Timberline Trail
which circles the mountain. The trail, Forest Service trail #600, shares eleven miles with the Pacific Crest Trail and alternates above and below the timberline. The trail is rerouted periodically due to washouts and to avoid sensitive high altitude and alpine
meadows. It has a handful of informal campsites for backpackers, although camping is permitted anywhere outside the meadows and at least 200 feet (61 m) from water bodies. There are several hazardous stream crossings, especially on the west side and at landslide-prone Eliot Branch near Cloud Cap which closed the trail there in 2007. The trail has several significant vertical ascents and descents totally 9000 feet (2,743.2 m), mostly at canyon crossings. Elevation of the trail varies from 3250 feet (990.6 m) (half a mile west of dramatic Ramona Falls
on the west side) to 7300 feet (2,225 m) on the east side. The trail is accessible from Timberline Lodge, which has free parking for backpackers, and numerous connecting trails.
s can be inexpensively rented in Government Camp
and at some area recreation businesses.
U.S. Wilderness Areas do not allow motorized or mechanized
vehicles, including bicycle
s. Although camping
and fishing
are allowed with proper permit, no roads or buildings are constructed and there is also no logging
or mining
, in compliance with the 1964 Wilderness Act
. Wilderness areas within National Forests
and Bureau of Land Management
areas also allow hunting
in season.
Mount Hood National Forest
The Mount Hood National Forest is located east of the city of Portland, Oregon, and the northern Willamette River valley. The Forest extends south from the Columbia River Gorge across more than of forested mountains, lakes and streams to the Olallie Scenic Area, a high lake basin under the slopes...
which is located in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. The area, covering 67320 acres (27,243.5 ha), includes the peak of Mount Hood
Mount Hood
Mount Hood, called Wy'east by the Multnomah tribe, is a stratovolcano in the Cascade Volcanic Arc of northern Oregon. It was formed by a subduction zone and rests in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States...
and its upper slopes, and ranges from temperate rain forest
Temperate rain forest
Temperate rainforests are coniferous or broadleaf forests that occur in the temperate zone and receive high rainfall.-Definition:For temperate rain forests of North America, Alaback's definition is widely recognized:-Global distribution:...
s at the lower elevations, to glacier
Glacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
s and rocky ridges at higher elevations.
The wilderness wraps around the mountain from west to northeast, and borders Timberline Lodge
Timberline Lodge ski area
Timberline Lodge ski area is the ski and snowboarding area of Timberline Lodge, a National Historic Landmark in the U.S state of Oregon. It is one of a few ski lodges in the United States with most of the skiable terrain below the main lodge...
and Mount Hood Meadows ski lifts on some of the south and east slopes of the mountain.
Trails
Journeys to the summit are popular, but are certainly not for everyone. Mount HoodMount Hood
Mount Hood, called Wy'east by the Multnomah tribe, is a stratovolcano in the Cascade Volcanic Arc of northern Oregon. It was formed by a subduction zone and rests in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States...
offers experienced and novice mountaineers opportunities to traverse glaciers, snowfields, steep volcanic soil, and deal with rapidly changing and difficult to predict weather. More than 10,000 climbers annually make the attempt, making Mount Hood's summit the most visited snowclad peak in America.
Numerous trails circle the mountain, from Lolo Pass
Lolo Pass (Oregon)
Lolo Pass is a mountain pass northwest of Mount Hood and northeast of Zigzag, Oregon, on the Clackamas–Hood River county line. It divides the Sandy River watershed on the southwest from the Hood River watershed on the northeast....
on the northwest (which the Pacific Crest Trail
Pacific Crest Trail
The Pacific Crest Trail is a long-distance mountain hiking and equestrian trail on the Western Seaboard of the United States. The southern terminus is at the California border with Mexico...
crosses) to Cloud Cap on the northeast to the ski areas on the south. There are several historic structures (predating the wilderness designation), one of which is the remains of a stone lodge near Cairn Basin on the northwest side. Numerous pristine areas are easily accessible, such as Elk Cove
Elk Cove (Oregon)
Elk Cove is a meadow in the Mount Hood Wilderness on the north side of Mount Hood in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is a popular backpacking area along the Timberline Trail.- External links :* *...
on the north side of the mountain near the tree line.
The best known trail is the forty-one mile Timberline Trail
Timberline Trail
Timberline Trail is a hiking trail around Mount Hood in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is in mostly wilderness but also goes near Timberline Lodge and Mount Hood Meadows ski area.- History :...
which circles the mountain. The trail, Forest Service trail #600, shares eleven miles with the Pacific Crest Trail and alternates above and below the timberline. The trail is rerouted periodically due to washouts and to avoid sensitive high altitude and alpine
Alpine climate
Alpine climate is the average weather for a region above the tree line. This climate is also referred to as mountain climate or highland climate....
meadows. It has a handful of informal campsites for backpackers, although camping is permitted anywhere outside the meadows and at least 200 feet (61 m) from water bodies. There are several hazardous stream crossings, especially on the west side and at landslide-prone Eliot Branch near Cloud Cap which closed the trail there in 2007. The trail has several significant vertical ascents and descents totally 9000 feet (2,743.2 m), mostly at canyon crossings. Elevation of the trail varies from 3250 feet (990.6 m) (half a mile west of dramatic Ramona Falls
Ramona Falls (Oregon)
Ramona Falls is a waterfall on the upper Sandy River on the west side of Mount Hood, Oregon, United States. It is located in forest along the Pacific Crest Trail at an elevation of . The falls are about tall overall, consisting of a wall of cascades....
on the west side) to 7300 feet (2,225 m) on the east side. The trail is accessible from Timberline Lodge, which has free parking for backpackers, and numerous connecting trails.
Restrictions
Wilderness permits are required, but free, to enter the area and can be filled out at ranger stations or at kiosks along trails where they enter the wilderness. Climbers ascending to or near the summit should register (and sign out at return) at the climber's registration in Timberline's day lodge, or at other wilderness permit registration kiosks. Mountain Locator UnitMountain Locator Unit
A Mountain Locator Unit or MLU is a radio transmitter designed to be used by mountain climbers as an emergency locator beacon when the wearer needs rescue....
s can be inexpensively rented in Government Camp
Government Camp, Oregon
Government Camp is an unincorporated community located in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States, south of Mount Hood and north of Tom, Dick and Harry Mountain. It is a gateway to several ski resorts, the most popular being Timberline Lodge and Mount Hood Skibowl. Also, Government Camp has its...
and at some area recreation businesses.
U.S. Wilderness Areas do not allow motorized or mechanized
Mechanization
Mechanization or mechanisation is providing human operators with machinery that assists them with the muscular requirements of work or displaces muscular work. In some fields, mechanization includes the use of hand tools...
vehicles, including bicycle
Bicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
s. Although camping
Camping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
and fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
are allowed with proper permit, no roads or buildings are constructed and there is also no logging
Forestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
or mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
, in compliance with the 1964 Wilderness Act
Wilderness Act
The Wilderness Act of 1964 was written by Howard Zahniser of The Wilderness Society. It created the legal definition of wilderness in the United States, and protected some 9 million acres of federal land. The result of a long effort to protect federal wilderness, the Wilderness Act was signed...
. Wilderness areas within National Forests
United States National Forest
National Forest is a classification of federal lands in the United States.National Forests are largely forest and woodland areas owned by the federal government and managed by the United States Forest Service, part of the United States Department of Agriculture. Land management of these areas...
and Bureau of Land Management
Bureau of Land Management
The Bureau of Land Management is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior which administers America's public lands, totaling approximately , or one-eighth of the landmass of the country. The BLM also manages of subsurface mineral estate underlying federal, state and private...
areas also allow hunting
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
in season.
See also
- Mount Hood climbing accidentsMount Hood climbing accidentsMount Hood climbing accidents are mountain climbing- or hiking-related incidents on Oregon's Mount Hood. As of 2007, about 10,000 people attempt to climb Mount Hood each year. As of May 2002, more than 130 people have died climbing Mount Hood since records have been kept...
- List of Oregon Wildernesses
- List of U.S. Wilderness Areas
- Wilderness ActWilderness ActThe Wilderness Act of 1964 was written by Howard Zahniser of The Wilderness Society. It created the legal definition of wilderness in the United States, and protected some 9 million acres of federal land. The result of a long effort to protect federal wilderness, the Wilderness Act was signed...
External links
- Mount Hood Wilderness information - Wilderness.net
- TopoQuest map
- Satellite image (Google Mapping)
- Forests and Global Warming - Oregon Wild
- "Mount Hood Expansion Blocked" from BlueOregonBlueOregon-About:BlueOregon is a high-profile progressive blog covering politics and issues in Oregon. A group blog with between 3,000 and 4,000 readers a day making it the top-read Oregon political blog, it is often mentioned in articles on Oregon politics by The Oregonian, the state's largest newspaper....
, March 10, 2008 - Timberline Trail information