Mount Hood is Oregon's highest peak and the fourth
highest peak in the Cascade Range.
Mount Hood has had at
least four major eruptive periods during the past 15,000
years. The last three occurred within the past 1,800 years
from vents high on the SW flank and produced deposits that
were distributed primarily to the south and west along the
Sandy and Zigzag rivers. The last eruptive period took
place around 170-220 years ago shortly before the arrival
of Lewis and Clark in 1805. Minor 19th-century eruptions
that were witnessed from Portland were in 1859, 1865 and
1903 A.D. When Mount Hood erupts again, it will severely
affect areas on its flanks and far downstream in the major
river valleys that head on the volcano. Volcanic ash may
fall on areas up to several hundred kilometers downwind.
GLACIERS
The Palmer Glacier, on the east
side of the mountain, was once known as the Salmon River
Glacier after its 1924 discovery. It was thought to be a
snowfield until a mild winter in 1923 - 1924 revealed the
crevasses of the glacier. It is situated in the valley below
Triangle Moraine and drains into the Salmon River.
The Zigzag Glacieroriginates in the crater between
Crater Rock and Hawkins Cliff below Illumination Rock. This
was the first Glacier on Mt. Hood to be trod upon by the
white man when Joel Palmer climbed the slope in 1845. The
Zigzag Glacier today has receded vastly. It drains into the
Zigzag River, Lost Creek, and Rushing Water Creek.
Reid Glacierlies between Illumination Ridge and
Yocum Ridge. It was named in 1901 for Professor Harry
Fielding Reid of Johns Hopkins University, who was an
expert in glaciology who did extensive studies of the White
River Glacier. Reid Glacier drains into the Sandy
River.
Sandy Glacier, on the west-northwest side of the
mountain is seldom seen and drains into the Muddy Fork of
the Sandy River.
Glisan Glacierwas named for Rodney L. Glisan. It is
situated on the northwest side of the mountain and drains
into McGee Creek.
Ladd Glacier, on the north-northwest side of the
mountain is named for William Ladd, one of the builders of
Cloud Cap Inn. It is situated
between Cathedral Ridge and Eden Park and drains into
Ladd Creek.
Coe Glacieron the north side of the mountain was
named for Henry L. Coe, a Hood River store keeper and an
early developer of the north side area. It is situated
below Pulpit Rock and is divided by Horseshoe and Anderson
Rocks. It drains mostly into Coe Creek with some flow into
Elk Cove.
Langille Glacierlies just west of Langille Crags and
drains into the East Fork of Compass Creek.
Eliot Glacierwas named for Thomas L. Eliot, an early
north side explorer. It lies northwest of the summit. It is
the most spectacular glacier on Mt. Hood and can be
accessed easily from
Cloud Cap Inn. It drains into
Eliot Creek.
Newton Clark Glacierwas named for a well-known Hood
River surveyor from the 1800's. It is on the east side of
the summit and drains into Newton Creek to the north and
Clark Creek on the south with a large morain between the
creeks.
White River Glacieron the east side due south of the
summit originates in the crater to the east of the
Hogsback. The White River is a branch of the Deschutes
River flowing into it near Tygh Valley. It has receded
vastly since it was first spotted in 1845 by the Barlow
Party. It will occasionally release pockets of retained
water and will devastate Highway 26 at the White River
Bridge.
Coalman Glacierwas named for Elijah Coalman
legendary Mountain Man. It lies on the south-side. It
changes in shape dramatically from a sloping body of ice
down to Hot Rocks, to a 40 foot ice cliff in the same
place.
RIVERS
The White River flows southward and
southeastward and joins the Deschutes River, a
tributary of the Columbia.
The Salmon River takes a southwesterly course, then
northwesterly and joins the Sandy River.
On the west side of the mountain the Zigzag
River drains the southwest slope of Mount Hood. The
Zigzag River flows westward to join the Sandy
River near the community of Zigzag.
The Sandy heads on the west side of the mountain and
flows westerly and north westerly to its confluence with the
Columbia River at Troutdale.
The north and east sides of the mountain are drained by
tributaries of the Hood River, which joins the
Columbia at the city of Hood River.
MORE TO COME.....