matt - Network

When to hike the Timberline Trail - an early season guide

At this time of year I see quite a few posts asking when they can hike the Timberline Trail. In addition to my own experience, I went back through the Timberline survey and came with these broad recommendations:
(a) Before July - expect extensive snow, consider this to require specialized skills and equipment. Be prepared for long and difficult snow traverses.
(b) First two weeks of July - still some snow, microspikes are likely to still be needed. Some longer stretches of now, especially on the north and east sections.
(c) After mid July - generally snow free

Of course this will depend on the snowpack and the spring and early summer temperatures that will impact the rate of snow melt. I have written a little more about this here: hikeit.info/2025/04/13/when-to…

@Timberline Trail

How's the snow looking on Mount Hood

As we are already talking about hiking the Timberline Trail this summer - I thought it was a good time to start looking at the snowpack and when the likely start of the hiking season may be. Of course there are many factors that can impact this. Currently we are running at about 111% of average with a storm or two predicted over the next week or so. How this will melt in the rest of spring or early summer - still to early to tell. But given this it leads to a pretty typical mid to late July time before the trail is snow free for most hikers.
There is a little more analysis of this here - hikeit.info/.../how-is-the-sno…
I'll keep updating this as the spring progresses.

@Timberline Trail

Enchantments Permit Lottery is now open - one of the more difficult permits to get for - especially ...

Enchantments Permit Lottery is now open - one of the more difficult permits to get for - especially for the Core Enchantments.

recreation.gov/permits/233273

Looking forward to the start of the hiking season

Even thou we are still in the middle of winter - with lots of fresh snow on Mount Hood - and the skiing season well underway - can't wait until the start of the hiking season!

As we move into February - permit season is about to start for several of the popular hikes in the area - @Wonderland Trail kicks off in a few days.

This year I'll likely put in for a Wonderland Trail permit as well as the Enchantments. Fingers crossed

IOS Beta of Relatica

@Hank G ☑️

Hello Hank - could you add me to the beta for the IOS version of Relatica - I already have TestFlight installed.

Thx - Matt

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