Calendar

Past Activity

Sand Mountain Lookout

  • Start date: 03/10/2018

  • Start time: 12:00 AM

  • End date: 03/10/2018

  • End time: 11:59 PM

Description:

Sand Mountain is a cinder cone south of Hoodoo Ski area. There are fairly steep open slopes, with the potential for a fun descent on the north or east side. We will go to the lookout if conditions permit. High winds or low visibility may force changes in the itinerary, however.
With generous snow pack that has accumulated recently we are now planning to set up a car shuttle and ski from Hoodoo ski area parking lot, southwest and then west to Sand Mountain, and go down from there to the Little Nash sno-park. This allows for an 11-12 mile trip, with about 1500 ft. climbing and 2500 ft. descending.

  • Event Leader: Gordon Sayre

  • Event Leader Phone: 541-515-9450

  • Event Leader Email: gsayre@uoregon.edu

  • Assistant Leader: John Hartman

  • Event category: Trips

  • Area Type: Mountain

  • Departure Location: South Eugene High School, 19th & Patterson

  • Rating: Difficult

  • Roundtrip total drive miles: 180

  • Season: 2018

  • Permits Required:

  • Event Status: Passed

  • Supplies and Equipment Required: special gear: backcountry boots and skis suitable for steep descents. Climbing skins are recommended, but a no-wax pattern may be adequate depending on snow conditions. Skiers should be experienced at downhill runs on nordic skis. Bring Lunch, warm clothing, ten essentials

  • participant prerequisites:

  • Conditions:

  • Total Distance: 9

  • Member Fees: 1

  • Elevation Gain: 800

  • Non-Member Fees: 5

  • Committee: Trips

  • Junior member fees: —

Trip Report

The timing for this trip was lucky, as generous snowfall during the past three weeks covered the trails at Little Nash sno-park with a foot or two. In recent winters there usually has been little or none at that elevation. The six skiers left South Eugene HS a bit after 8 am and left one car at Little Nash, then all piled into Harold's Hyundai to proceeded to Hoodoo ski area. The most direct route to Sand Mountain is along the road between Hoodoo and Hayrick Buttes, then x-country and on snowmobile trails to the base of the mountain, where we stopped for lunch. Many snowmobiles were whining and buzzing up nearly to the lookout on the south summit, but we were able to stay above them as we climbed up diagonally southward using skins. It was windy on top, but clear, with execellent views from The Husband all the way to Hood. Our group then traversed to the north summit and enjoyed a descent on excellent firm snowpack with no snowmobile tracks. The ski out to Little Nash was mostly downhill, which was a relief to our legs in heavy plastic boots, on snow that become wetter and heavier as the afternoon warmed. The point-to-point ski was at least eleven miles, and took about five hours. Patrick is a new member on his first Obsidians ski trip, and we welcome him to the small group of backcountry enthusiasts. Everyone enjoyed the trip.