Beautiful Day for Hood Ascent
Started shortly before 1 am under windless clear skies filled with bright stars which made the tedious walk up the Sno-Cat trail condusive for stargazing and observing meteorites with whiffs of sulfur. Sun started to rise towards the end of the snow field as I approached Devil's Kitchen.
Sunrise on Hood
Checked out the sulfur rocks at Devil's Kitchen and started up the ridge to the left, avoiding the bergschrund to Pearly Gates.
Devil's Kitchen
Walked over the ridge and through some sulfur rocks to start climb to Old Chute. Went up Old Chute towards the left and got to walk along the narrow ridge which widened to cornices all the way to the summit for a little rejoicing.
Summit Ridge
Me on Summit
Excellent view of Rainier. Descended nearly the same way, except I ended up far left (heeded the climbing center warning of stay left to avoid dangerous Zig-Zag!) - it's quite different when you can see where you're going!
Total trip took me about 10 hours with stopping to wait for friends, get directions, and talk to other climbers.
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