#50 classics

Sad news from #Denali...

Ski Mountaineer Pavel Michut Died From Injuries Suffered After A 1500′ Fall In Denali’s Messner Couloir In Alaska

Denali, Alaska – At approximately 18:15 on Saturday, May 28, 2016 ski mountaineer Pavel Michut, 45, was skiing at 17,000′ in the Messner Couloir on Denali when he fell 1,500′ and suffered deadly traumatic injuries.

Denali | Pixabay Image

The fall was witnessed by multiple parties at…

Location: Newton Clark Headwall, Mount Hood, Mount Hood National Forest, Cascade Range, Oregon Aspect: East Starting Point: Mount Hood Meadows Ski Area Main Parking Lot (5360′) Distance: 8 miles Time: 6.75 hours Top Elevation: 10,865′ Vertical: 5715′ USGS Maps: Mount Hood South

After skiing the Worm Flows on Mount Saint Helens, our plan was to ski the Southwest Chutes on Mount Adams. Unfortunately, things don’t always go as planned. The FS roads to Mount Adams were still covered in snow, so we decided to head south and tick off the Newton Clark Headwall on Mount Hood in Oregon.

East Face of Mount Hood

The Newton Clark Headwall was first skied by Sylvain Saudan on March 1, 1971. It has been named one of the 50 Classic Ski Descents In North America. Located on the East aspect of Mount Hood, Oregon’s highest point, the steep slopes of the Newton Clark Headwall loom over the Mount Hood Meadows Ski Resort.

Chris Ebeling, Jeremy Wood, and I cruised south from Mount Saint Helens along OR 35. As we laid eyes on the Newton Clark, we knew we were in for a cool skiing adventure. It was late when we pulled in to the parking lot at Mount Hood Meadows. We got a good look at our route before the sunset. Parking overnight is allow in the main parking lot of Mount Hood Meadows, but we decided to camp in our trucks down at the Bennet Pass Sno Park where there was an outhouse and decent cell service.

Good Morning! Mount Hood from Bennet Pass Sno Park

We woke early in the morning (8 AM)  and drove back up to the main lot of Mount Hood Meadows at 5360′. I packed my Mammut Trion Pro pack and slipped on my Dynafit TLT6 boots and started walking. It’s always a bit strange ski touring up a closed ski area. At least there was no downhill traffic to avoid. We quickly made our way to the top of the ski area at 7,300′ and started our true ascent.

Booting Up In Mount Hood Meadows Main Parking Lot

We skinned as far as we could up the ridge line on the Wy’East face. Wy’East is the name used for Mount Hood by the Multnomah tribe. It’s a steep climb that required crampons and an axe. At the ridge we were greeted by wafts of sulfur and stunning views over the rime down toward the standard Mount Hood climbers route near the Hogsback above Timberline.

Touring through the deserted resort

As we approached the Newton Clark Headwall, we peered down several different potential ski lines – all of them cliffed out. In fact it’s a bit confusing to actually find the correct line up there. Our plan was to summit Hood and then ski the route Sylvain Saudan had skied, but that route didn’t seem to go cleanly. It could have been climbed, but a clean ski from the summit didn’t seem to be possible. Maybe with a rope…

Above the ski area

Last flat spot before WyEast face

The Wy’East Face

Ridge Line

Almost to the line

The Summit Push

Instead we skied from 10,865′ (about 400′ short of the summit) at the bench above the Newton Clark Headwall. It was steep – pushing 50 degrees and a little bit puckering. The headwall was sustained for about 1500′ and then mellowed out into the crevasses of the Newton Clark Glacier. It’s a no fall zone.

Dropping Into Newton Clark Headwall

Steep

STEEP

Skiing out

WYEast Face on left, Newton Clark on Right

The snow was both sun affected and punchy. We skied the line and then took a mellow traverse back to the ski area boundaries. After a little bit of hot pow on a blue run called Swirly Chunky, we were back at the parking lot. Today was a good day.

Our Route – Up on left, down on right

Our route to ski the Newton Clark Headwall took 6.75 hours, 8 miles, and 5715′. It’s an easy day trip that is relatively straightforward

See our route to ski the Newton Clark Headwall on Mount Hood:

http://www.hillmap.com/embed/ag1zfmhpbGxtYXAtaGRychULEghTYXZlZE1hcBiAgICw3ND-Cww

See additional photos from skiing the Newton Clark Headwall on Mount Hood:

This trip report for skiing the Newton Clark Headwall is from April 26, 2016.

51 Disney Classics List :

1 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

2 Pinocchio

3 Fantasia

4 Dumbo

5 Bambi 

6 Saludos Amigos

7 The Three Caballeros

8 Make Mine Music

9 Fun and Fancy Free

10 Melody Time 

11 The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad

12 Cinderella

13 Alice in Wonderland

14 Peter Pan

15 Lady and the Tramp 

16 Sleeping Beauty

17 101 Dalmatians

18 The Sword in the Stone

19 The Jungle Book

20 The Aristocats 

21 Robin Hood

22 The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

23 The Rescuers

24 The Fox and the Hound

25 The Black Cauldron 

26. Basil The Great Mouse Detective

27. Oliver And Company

28 The Little Mermaid

29. The Rescuers Down Under

30 Beauty and the Beast 

31 Aladdin

32 The Lion King

33 Pocahontas

34. Hunchback Of Notre Dame

35. Hercules 

36 Mulan

37 Tarzan

38 Fantasia 2000

39 Dinosaur

40 The Emperor's New Groove 

41 Atlantis: The Lost Empire

42 Lilo & Stitch

43 Treasure Planet

44 Brother Bear

45 Home on the Range 

46 Chicken Little

47 Meet the Robinsons

48 Bolt

49 The Princess and the Frog

50 Tangled