Todd Glew and I have skied many steep lines together on mountains all over the world. We have seen good lines and bad lines, great conditions, and less great conditions. One June 22nd, we found perfect conditions on a perfect line. After both having two prior nights of alpine starts on other adventures we used the chairlift at Timberline ski area to gain the first 2,700 vertical with a Wasatch style start at 9:00 am. We made fast time, climbing the remaining 3,000 vertical feet of Mt. Hood in less than 1.5 hours. We had both wanted to ski the Cooper Spur for several years. Being a route that remains at over 50 degrees for 1,500 feet, it was a route that required the right conditions and the right day. We both agreed that this was our day.
The climbing route known as the Cooper Spur is a consistent 50 degree climb several thousand feet of cliff exposure on both sides. In order to ski this line properly, we had to take a variation of the climbing route that put us out onto several 55+ degree pitches of skiing.
This was truly exciting no fall zone skiing. After each series of jump turns, we would regroup on the ridge and smile in disbelief of the amazing conditions we were skiing. The Cooper Spur was genuinely amazing. It opened up our eyes to a new understanding of what volcano skiing has to offer. This was a great way to start summer on the day after the solstice.
A Cascade Classic, done right! - AML
The Cooper Spur is located on the right side of the ridgeline shown in the picutre above. It skirts along this ridgline and the North Face of Mt. Hood.
