Mt Hood is spectacular!! I've climbed it a couple times, but this was my first time going for it. I started skinning up a little after 7am. Hardly any wind. I skinned up the cat track until it veered over to the top of the Palmer lift, then cut up the ridge. I don't think most of the mountain froze overnight, but there was a sun-affected crust. This got a lot icier right below Crater Rock, to the point where skinning was ineffective. I took my skis off at the base of the steep saddle below Crater Rock, then put on crampons and carried my skis up to the flat spot near the lower fumaroles right beside Crater Rock. Stashed skis and one pole there. Then, I headed up towards the Hogsback, over the sulfur-y rocks which were unusually bare for April. Not much of a Hogsback present. Then I made my way up the snowfield towards the Old Chute. Due to lack of snowpack, the Pearly Gates route wasn't really being climbed, as it would require crossing bare rocks.
This FKT is listed as supported because as Jackson Cole was going back down, he passed off his ice axe to me and traded me for my pole. Jackson had started about 20 minutes before I had, and I didn't see him at all on the way up until he was on his way down the snowfield below the Old Chute. When I saw him, he told me that the Chute was pretty steep and I would want a second ice axe to be able to move quickly and safely through. So I ended up swapping my pole for his ice axe for safety reasons, that way I could double ice axe up and down the steep section of the Chute. Other than that instance, it was a solo effort. Shoutout Jackson for being a chiller, taking some great pics as we crossed paths, and helping me believe I could go for this beforehand.
A couple other parties were kind enough to let me slide by them safely on the Old Chute and they cheered me on! Fortunately, it wasn't crowded. Popped up to the summit then took the skiers' left side of the Chute to descend so I didn't run into the two parties. Plunge-stepped down the snowfield, crossed the rocks, then transitioned to skis and descended back to the climber's lot. Somewhat icy conditions on the way down. Such a great experience overall!
I grew up in Hood River and Portland, so Mt Hood (Wy'East) has always been a peak with some extra significance for me. I've been admiring the mountain and playing in it's rivers and foothills and slopes and forests and lakes for most of my life. It was rad to go for speed on a mountain I know so well!