I started my unsupported attempt on 07/17/23 at 2:42 am at the Wy’East flagpole. It was a very dry ascent of Hood, I basically didn’t touch snow until the Hogsback. Wind conditions were far worse than anticipated. I believe the wind launched sand in my face with such velocity it scratched my corneas; I had blurred vision the rest of the day. However, my summit of Hood was swift, I believe just under 3 hours. Hood is volatile in the warmer months, I was dodging rock fall from above and sliding on shale underneath me— not ideal. The bergschrund on the Hogsback dissuaded me from the Pearly Gates so I summited via Old Chute.
I returned to the Wy’East flagpole at 7:10 am, a round-trip of about 4.5 hours. I then immediately turned around to hike to the trailhead of Timberline. Weather conditions were beautiful; cloudy and cool for the first several hours, eventually burning off but temperatures didn’t exceed 85°F. Rolled through Ramona around 9:30 am. I hit Cloud Cap around 2:45 pm. I was a little slow on this section but it is a lot of vertical, perhaps there is room for improvement. River crossings all around were very manageable, due to cooler temperatures I imagine. Gnarl Ridge back to the Lodge were much easier miles. I touched the flagpole for the third and final time at 7:26 pm. This completed my 16h 44m 19s unsupported attempt of the Mt. Hood Summit & Circumnavigation.