Mount Hood

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the tallest mountain in Oregon. For the mountain in California, see Hood Mountain.
For the community named Mount Hood, see Mount Hood, Oregon.

Coordinates: 45°22′24″N 121°41′44″W / 45.3734512, -121.6956316

Mount Hood

Mount Hood reflected in Trillium Lake
Elevation 11,249 feet (3,429 m)[1]
Location Oregon, USA
Range Cascade Range
Prominence 7,706 feet (2,349 m)[2]
Coordinates 45°22′24″N 121°41′44″W / 45.3734512, -121.6956316[3]
Topo map USGS Mount Hood South
Type Stratovolcano
Volcanic arc/belt Cascade Volcanic Arc
Age of rock less than 500,000 years[4]
Last eruption 1790s[4]
First ascent 1857-07-11 by Henry Pittock, W. Lymen Chittenden, Wilbur Cornell, and the Rev. T.A. Wood[5]
Easiest route Rock and glacier climb

Mount Hood (called Wy'east by the Multnomah tribe), is a stratovolcano in the Cascade Volcanic Arc in northern Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located about 50 miles (80 km) east-southeast of the city of Portland, on the border between Clackamas and Hood River counties.

Mount Hood's snow-covered peak rises 11,239 feet (3,426 m) and is home to twelve glaciers.[6] It is the highest mountain in Oregon and the fourth-highest in the Cascade Range. Mount Hood is considered the Oregon volcano most likely to erupt,[7] though based on its history, an explosive eruption is unlikely. Still, the odds of an eruption in the next 30 years are estimated at between 3 and 7 percent,[8] so the USGS characterizes it as "potentially active".[8] The mountain is sometimes informally described as "dormant" ("asleep").

Timberline Lodge is a National Historic Landmark located on the southern flank of Mount Hood just below Palmer Glacier.[9]

The mountain has six ski areas: Timberline, Mount Hood Meadows, Ski Bowl, Cooper Spur, Snow Bunny and Summit. They total over 4,600 acres (7.2 sq mi/18.6 km²) of skiable terrain; Timberline offers the only year-round lift-served skiing in North America.[10]

Mount Hood is part of the Mount Hood National Forest, which has 1.067 million acres (1667 sq mi/4318 km²), four designated wilderness areas which total 189,200 acres (295.6 sq mi/766 km²) acres and more than 1,200 miles (1,900 km) of hiking trails.[11]

Contents

[edit] Eruptive history

The glacially eroded summit area consists of several andesitic or dacitic lava domes; Pleistocene collapses produced avalanches and lahars (rapidly moving mudflows) that traveled across the Columbia River to the north. The eroded volcano has had at least four major eruptive periods during the past 15,000 years. The last three occurred within the past 1,800 years from vents high on the southwest flank and produced deposits that were distributed primarily to the south and west along the Sandy and Zigzag Rivers. The last eruptive period took place around 170 to 220 years ago, when dacitic lava domes, pyroclastic flows and mudflows were produced without major explosive eruptions. The prominent Crater Rock just below the summit is believed to be the remnants of a dacite dome from then. This period includes the last major eruption of 1781–82 and a more recent episode ending shortly before the arrival of Lewis and Clark in 1805. The most recent minor eruptive event occurred in August 1907.[12] The glaciers on the mountain's upper slopes may be a source of potentially dangerous lahars when the mountain next erupts. There are vents near the summit that are known for emitting noxious gases such as carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide. Prior to the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens, the only known fatality related to volcanic activity in the Cascades occurred in 1934 when a climber suffocated in oxygen-poor air while exploring ice caves melted by fumaroles in Coalman Glacier.

Since 1950, there have been several earthquake swarms each year at Mount Hood, most notably in July 1980, and June 2002.[13][14] Seismic activity is monitored by the USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory located in Vancouver, Washington, which issues daily updates.[15]

[edit] Glaciers

USGS Map of Mount Hood glaciers
USGS Map of Mount Hood glaciers

Mount Hood is host to twelve[16][17] named glaciers or snow fields, the most visited of which is Palmer Glacier, partially within the Timberline Lodge ski area and along the most popular climbing route. The glaciers are almost exclusively above the 6,000-foot (1,800 m) level, which also is about the level of the average tree line on Mount Hood. More than 80% of the glacial surface area is above 7,000 feet (2,100 m).[18]

The glacial surface area totals about 145 million square feet (5.2 square miles) and contains a volume of about 12.3 billion cubic feet (0.084 cubic miles). Eliot Glacier is the largest by volume at 3.2 billion cubic feet (91,000,000 m³), and has the thickest depth measured by ice radar at 361 feet (110 m). The largest surface area is the Coe-Ladd Glacier system at 23,100,000 square feet (2,150,000 m²).

Glacier name Area[18]
millions of ft²		 Volume[18]
billions of ft³		 notes GNIS location[19]
Palmer 1.4 0.07 headwaters of the Salmon River 45.35278° N 121.70639° W
Coalman (or "Coleman") 0.9 0.04 located between Crater Rock and the summit 45.37222° N 121.69722° W
White River 5.8 0.3 feeds the White River 45.3575° N 121.6975° W
Newton Clark 21.4 1.4 source of the East Fork Hood River 45.36694° N 121.68556° W
Eliot 18.1 3.2 source of Tilly Jane Creek and Eliot Branch, tributaries of Middle Fork Hood River 45.38139° N 121.67917° W
Langille 4.3 0.3 in Hood River watershed 45.3925° N 121.67889° W
Coe 13.4 1.9 source of Coe Branch, a tributary of Middle Fork Hood River 45.38361° N 121.69333° W
Ladd 9.7 0.9 source of McGee Creek, a tributary of West Fork Hood River 45.3925° N 121.705° W
Glisan 45.39111° N 121.71833° W
Sandy 12.8 0.08 feeds Muddy Fork, a tributary of the Sandy River 45.38° N 121.71556° W
Reid 8.1 0.6 feeds the Sandy River 45.37111° N 121.71778° W
Zigzag 8.3 0.6 feeds the Zigzag River 45.36361° N 121.71111° W
(total) 145.1 12.3  

[edit] Name

North side of Mount Hood as seen from the Mount Hood Scenic Byway.
North side of Mount Hood as seen from the Mount Hood Scenic Byway.

The mountain was given its present name on October 29, 1792 by Lt. William Broughton, a member of Captain George Vancouver's discovery expedition. Lt. Broughton observed its peak while at Belle Vue Point of what is now called Sauvie Island during his travels up the Columbia River, writing "A very high, snowy mountain now appeared rising beautifully conspicuous in the midst of an extensive tract of low or moderately elevated land (location of today's Vancouver, Washington) lying S 67 E., and seemed to announce a termination to the river." Lt. Broughton named the mountain after a British admiral, Samuel Hood.

The Multnomah name for Mount Hood is Wy'east. Legend has it that the name Wy'east comes from a chief of the Multnomah tribe, the tribe after which Multnomah County was named. The chief competed for the attention of a woman who was also loved by the chief of the Klickitat tribe. The anger that the competition generated led to their transformations into volcanoes, with the Klickitat chief becoming nearby Mount Adams and the target of their affection becoming Mount St. Helens. Their battle was said to have destroyed the Bridge of the Gods and thus created the Great Cascades of the Columbia River.[20]

[edit] Climbing

Landmarks along the south side climbing route of Mount Hood.
Landmarks along the south side climbing route of Mount Hood.
Mount Hood seen from the south. Crater Rock, the remnants of a 200-year-old lava dome, is visible just below the summit.
Mount Hood seen from the south. Crater Rock, the remnants of a 200-year-old lava dome, is visible just below the summit.
Mount Hood seen from Portland.
Mount Hood seen from Portland.

Its status as Oregon's highest point, a prominent landmark visible up to a hundred miles away, convenient access, and relative lack of technical climbing challenges lure many to climb Mount Hood. About 10,000 people attempt to climb each year.[21]

The most popular route, dubbed the south route, begins at Timberline Lodge and proceeds up Palmer glacier to Crater Rock, the large prominence at the head of the glacier. Climbers then proceed around Crater Rock and cross Coalman glacier on the Hogsback, a ridge spanning from Crater Rock to the approach to the summit. The Hogsback terminates at a bergschrund where Coalman glacier separates from the summit rock headwall, and then to the Pearly Gates, a gap in the summit rock formation. Once through the Pearly Gates, climbers proceed to the right onto the summit plateau and then to the summit proper.[22]

As of Spring 2007, reported changes in the formation of the popular South Route has increased the difficulty of the climb. Reportedly, the Hogsback has shifted west. Also, a technical "ice chute" has formed in the Pearly Gates. Some climbers are opting to climb the "left chute" variation of the Pearly Gates route, but this has also increased the difficulty of the climb, as it is also a technical ice wall 30 feet (9.1 m) or greater in height, and with fall exposure of 500+ feet.

Technical ice axes, fall protection, and experience are now recommended in order to attempt the "left chute" variation or Pearly Gates ice chute. The Forest Service is recommending several other route options due to these change in conditions ("Old Chute," West Crater Rim, etc).[23]

[edit] Climbing accidents

Main article: Mount Hood climbing accidents

More than 130 people have died in climbing-related accidents since records have been kept on Mount Hood, the first in 1896.[24] Incidents in April 1986 and December 2006 attracted intense national and international media interest. Though avalanches are popularly considered a hazard, most climbing deaths are the result of falls and hypothermia[citation needed]. Despite a quadrupling of forest visitors since 1990, fewer than 50 people require rescue per year.[25] Only 3.4 percent of 2006's search and rescue missions were for mountain climbers.[26]

[edit] Ship names

USS Mount Hood (AE-29)
USS Mount Hood (AE-29)

There have been two US Navy ammunition ships named for the mountain. USS Mount Hood (AE-11) was commissioned in July 1944 and was destroyed in November 1944 while at anchor in Manus Naval Base, Admiralty Islands. Her explosive cargo ignited resulting in 45 confirmed dead, 327 missing and 371 injured.[27] A second ammunition ship, AE-29, was commissioned in May 1971 and decommissioned in August 1999.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ NGS Data Sheet. U.S. National Geodetic Survey. Retrieved on 2008-03-31.
  2. ^ Mount Hood, Oregon. Retrieved on 2008-03-31.
  3. ^ USGS GNIS: Mount Hood
  4. ^ a b Mount Hood–History and Hazards of Oregon's Most Recently Active Volcano. U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 060-00. USGS and USFS (June 13, 2005). Retrieved on 2007-01-16.
  5. ^ Glaciers of Oregon. Departments of Geology and Geography at Portland State University. Retrieved on 2007-02-24. quoting McNeil, Fred H. (1937). Wy'East The Mountain, A Chronicle of Mount Hood. Metropolitan Press. ASIN B000H5CB6E, ASIN B00085VH7W. OCLC 191334118. 
  6. ^ Mount Hood Glaciers and Glaciations. USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory. Retrieved on 2007-01-16.
  7. ^ Most likely to erupt based on history, see James S. Aber. Volcanism of the Cascade Mountains. GO 326/ES 767. Emporia State University. Retrieved on 2007-07-11.
  8. ^ a b W.E. Scott, T.C. Pierson, S.P. Schilling, J.E. Costa, C.A. Gardner, J.W. Vallance, and J.J. Major. Volcano Hazards in the Mount Hood Region, Oregon. USGS. Retrieved on 2007-02-26.
  9. ^ Frequently Asked Questions. Timberline Lodge. Retrieved on 2007-01-16.
  10. ^ Beat the Heat: Summer Skiing on Oregon's Mount Hood. FastTracks Online Ski Magazine (July 17, 2006). Retrieved on 2007-01-03.
  11. ^ USDA Forest Service Mount Hood Facts. US Forest Service (23 August 2005). Retrieved on 2007-06-22.
  12. ^ Mount Hood Volcano, Oregon. USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory. Retrieved on 2007-01-16.
  13. ^ Hood - Monthly Reports. Global Volcanism Program. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved on 2007-06-22.
  14. ^ Cascade Range Current Update for June 29, 2002. USGS (June 29, 2002). Retrieved on 2007-06-22.
  15. ^ Cascade Range Current Update. USGS. Retrieved on 2007-06-22.
  16. ^ Mount Hood Glaciers and Glaciations. USGS. Retrieved on 2007-08-14.
  17. ^ USGS Mount Hood North (OR) Topo. TopoQuest. Retrieved on 2008-05-16.
  18. ^ a b c Carolyn L. Driedger and Paul M. Kennard (1986). Ice Volumes on Cascade Volcanoes: Mount Rainier, Mount Hood, Three Sisters and Mount Shasta. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1365. USGS. Retrieved on 2007-02-26.
  19. ^ Northwest GeoData Clearinghouse. Portland State University. Retrieved on 2007-02-21.
  20. ^ The Legend of Wy'east. Retrieved on 2006-12-19. citing Ella E. Clark (1953). Indian Legends of the Pacific Northwest. University of California Press. ISBN 0520239261. 
  21. ^ Aimee Green, Mark Larabee and Katy Muldoon (February 19, 2007). Everything goes right in Mount Hood search. The Oregonian/OregonLive.com. Retrieved on 2007-02-26.
  22. ^ Climbing Mount Hood. United States Forest Service. Retrieved on 2007-02-02.
  23. ^ Mount Hood Climbing Report, May 17th. United States Forest Service. Retrieved on 2007-05-17.
  24. ^ Last Body Recovered From Mount Hood. CBS news (May 31, 2002). Retrieved on 2007-05-25.
  25. ^ Nigel Jaquiss (October 13, 1999). Without A Trace. Willamette Week. Retrieved on 2006-12-19.
  26. ^ Kristi Keck (February 20, 2007). Weighing the risks of climbing on Mount Hood. CNN. Retrieved on 2007-02-20.
  27. ^ USS Mount Hood (AE-11), 1944-1944. Department of the Navy – Naval Historical Center. Retrieved on 2008-04-20.


[edit] External links

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Major Cascade Volcanoes
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Glaciers of Mount Hood
Coe Glacier · Coalman Glacier · Eliot Glacier · Glisan Glacier · Ladd Glacier · Langille Glacier · Newton-Clark Glacier · Palmer Glacier · Reid Glacier · Sandy Glacier · White River Glacier · Zigzag Glacier