10
in other words
november13
2012
Mt. Hood Adventure
Story and Photography
By Peter Nelson
The snow was on, the conditions great, but
melting fast. The time was now. So much in life comes
down to just doing it. I charged it solo. Prefer to have
a partner, but you got to take risks in life, chase the
dream, or you’ll never get there. This was something
talked
about
for years, but
never happened.
Coordinating
with
reliable
partners is always
so tough.
Another
solo
climber,
a lone cowboy
from the Utah
b a c k c o u n t r y,
joined me at the summit. He’d skied Mt. Hood many
times. He said, “ It’s the best it’s ever been this year.”
“That’s why I’m here,!” I said.
I watched him drop into the gnarly steep
Cooper Spur line, solo. The guy is good. And he was
gone, down the other side of the mountain.
I sat alone on the summit for a good hour. A
highlight of my life! Totally unexpected. Serious quiet.
On the summit thinking of the million people running
around Portland, wow. It’s great to see Mt. Hood from
Portland, and think of sitting on top alone.
My summit descent was gnarly. Icy and
steep. Sketchy. Hop turns with the ice axe off the top.
And later, just amazing
to fly down the mountain
through thousands of feet
of snowfields, all alone,
back to Timberline lodge.
Untracked ! First tracks in
July !
The parking lot
was hot and sunny and I
was melting. Strip off all
the gear, grab a brew, and
walk around barefoot and
shirtless as the tourists
gawk. Life is good.
Peter Nelson is a
Photographe/Artist who
lives in Vernonia. His work
is available at Portland’s
Saturday Market and at
Made in Vernonia. To see
more of Peter’s work go
to PNPHOTOART.COM,
including more summer adventures: Gorge waterfalls,
the Coast, Three Sisters, Solar Eclipses. He also
offers 35mm natural light portrait / people / pets
photography. You can contact Peter Nelson at 503-
429-5906 or peter@pnphotoart.com
Images from Peter Nelson’s Mt. Hood climb and snowboard descent this year. July
13, 2012. Friday the 13th. Left above: at the summit. Left below: getting ready to
descend. Above: Palmer Glacier Below: Trillium Lake.