For the Sake of the Call: Second Snowshoeing Adventure

It was a cold and frosty fog-filled Saturday morning when we departed Portland for Mount Hood for another day of snowshoeing. We were among a group of 13 other adventurers. After a quick stop in Sandy, Oregon for a potty break and some Joe's donuts, we made our way to the SE side of Mt. Hood and the White River trail. This is a very popular area for snowshoers, cross country skiers, snowboarders and sled riding. The trail begins at about the 4300 ft level and rises to almost 6000 feet before it ends at the base of the summit of Mt. Hood.

The weather was weird. It was actually about 20 degrees warmer at the mountain than in the valley in Portland. Earlier in the week, temperatures on Mt. Hood were reported to be anywhere from 52 - 59 degrees. Today was no exception. The warmth was evident as we came across some on the trail, some folks were in t-shirts, another guy was in shorts, and some lady had a tank top! Now, let us put our meteorologist hat on for you...this weather phenomenon is called an inversion. What happens is cold air settles in the valley while the warm air stays higher aloft, creating colder foggy days and warmer sunny days on the mountain.

The day was absolutely beautiful; not a cloud in the sky. Contrasted with the snow and the peak of Mt. Hood, it was a majestic sight to behold. All in the company of some wonderful friends! The trail was roughly 5 miles roundtrip with some steep climbs along the way. We gained about 1200 ft in elevation, which is rather significant and we found ourselves experiencing the effects of the altitude, especially once we got past 5000 ft.

Here are some fun shots we wanted to share and a few videos: