2006 came with a new vigor to climb, having only done 2 climbs in 2005, I was ambitious to get the year started off with the elusive (for me) Hood summit. With a fantastic weather forecast, as well as good snow condition reports, it seemed nothing was going to stop me outside of sickness or injury. You can imagine my concern as my temperature read 99.8 just 2 days before the climb. I had also developed a pretty bad cough.

The day before the climb turned out more hectic than imagined, as I worked a half day, drove to REI and back, and then attended my sons final baseball game of the year. It was 8pm before I started packing for the climb. by 10:15pm we were on the road to timberline where we would meet up with the group. total sleep/rest for the day...40 minutes in the car.

Being under the weather with little rest took it's toll, and any advantages I had assumed were leveled off by my weakened state. Something I sorta knew might happen, but could only guess until I started climbing. I guess history played a part in my success that day too. After 3 failed attempts, having good snow under perfect weather conditions, I wasn't planning to turn around, regardless of how I felt. Overall though, I felt like the batteries in my phone, only half charged at any given moment.

The summit was a special moment. As I hugged my wife the elation brought tears to my eyes. I always told myself that it wasn't about getting to the top of any mountain, but that was before 3 failed attempts on one of them. Hood became important because of what it represented. It didn't seem to matter which or how many of the other mountains I'd summited. As time went on it became more clear to me that to most Oregonians, Mt. Hood was like some strange compass which pointed toward mountaineering success. As mountaineers we know this is false, but just ask the myriad of family and friends who don't seem to care if you've been to the top of K2 (an example). The question was always, "have you been to the top of Hood?" I guess now the question can be answered in the affirmative.

I want to give a special thanks to Keith, our assistant leader. My wife was feeling much the same as I was, and his positive encouragement and "perceptiveness" was very helpful to both of us.