Location summary:

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• City: Hood River, Oregon

• Skill level: All

• Wind: West, Southwest, Northwest

• Access: The entire week, Monday through Sunday

• Landing area quality: Grass, good approaches

• Hazards in the area: Trees on the back side, transmission lines (pretty far away)

 

Direction to the site:

 

• Hwy 84 E of Portland to Hood River.

• Take Hwy 35 south to just north of the town of Mt. Hood.

• Turn left on Pine Mountain Road.  This is next to the lumber mill, but north of the ranger station.  Take this road E, and then curve S.

• The map shows the trailhead near forest service road #640.  The exact location is: N45°  32.157' W121° 31.936'.

• The trailhead is just under the huge transmission lines.

• The top of the butte is a 3/4 mile uphill hike from here, but only 180' elevation gain.  

• The trail goes almost straight north.  It is trail #688.

• An alternate route (the 1st one I took) is a 4-mile, 2000' elevation-gain hike from the bottom of the valley.

• For this you need to take plenty of water, some bug repellant, and sturdy shoes.

• Start south of the ranger station on Hwy 35.  Take Smullin Road east, and find the trailhead for trail #688A.

• You will need a map for this hike.

• View the map.

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Site review:

 

West wind.  Excellent view of Mt. Hood in the background.  Nice little hike in.  A great relaxing place to fly.

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Might work as well as the Lumber site for slope races, and this is public land.  The hike in is about the same length as Lumber, but a little more elevation gain.  I think it's well worth it.

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Description provided courtesy of Pat Chewning.