You call that "fun"?

Troy kicked off his week of vacation with a new adventure. He joined several other friends for a day of "Extreme Sledding" and a "Snow Cave Camp out".

They rented snow shoes
packed overnight backpacks
brought inner tubes
drove to Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood
signed in the back country hiking log
rented a locator beacon
(this at the request of the wives)
hiked 2 miles or so around Mt Hood to a "bowl" area
(an area which I have been assured has never had an avalanche in recorded history)
sledded down this very long and steep bowl area
dug a very elaborate snow cave
They ate
they slept
packed up
and hiked out.

The snow cave was later called more of a ice castle because it was so fancy and the snow was hard packed and icy. It took them most of the day to complete the castle. Aparantly, if built correctly, it is not so cold sleeping in a snow cave. Troy said he stayed plenty warm over night. A good time was had by all and I was very glad to see him return safely.

"Ice Castle" being built


They used the snow removed from the cave to build a wind-blocking wall outside the entrance.


View of Mt. Jefferson & foothills from Mt. Hood


Looking up sledding "bowl" to the top of Mt. Hood.