Mt. Hood or Mt. Baker

[gunner252]

I'm trying to plan a trip out west with my wife. We're taking an 11 day vacation at the end of the year, and trying to decide between Mt. Hood and Mt. Baker (we'll only be snowboarding for a few days). She's spoken to a friend who loves Mt. Hood, and nothing but great things to say about it. However, with us going at the end of December, I'm wondering if Mt. Hood is too far south to have descent snow. Has anyone been to either of these places at the end of Dec or beginning of Jan? Any insight is helpful, thanks.

[ShredLife]

the weather is a crap shoot. no one will know until we get there.

last year the jetstream was notably north of Hood for the start of the year, but really no one knows what will happen this year.

Baker has gnarlier terrain, Mt Hood is bigger and has 3 different resorts to ride at.

so, none of that is probably much help to you others will chime in i'm sure but to be fair - who knows?

[gunner252]

Right. Yeah, with last years crappy winter, who knows what will happen. Just wondering, in normal winter conditions, what each mtn is like at the end of Dec.

[ShredLife]

Originally Posted by gunner252

every year in the PNW - who knows what will happen.

fixed.

the only sure thing is that the end of February and pretty much all of March will go off.

[bseracka]

Food for thought- While it's been a few seasons since I've made it to Baker I don't recall there being lodging at the Mt. There are a ton of vacation rentals on the way up to Baker though. The rentals typically go for a pretty penny. This could mean adding in the cost of a 4wd rental if you're flying into bham.

[gunner252]

Originally Posted by bseracka

Food for thought- While it's been a few seasons since I've made it to Baker I don't recall there being lodging at the Mt. There are a ton of vacation rentals on the way up to Baker though. The rentals typically go for a pretty penny. This could mean adding in the cost of a 4wd rental if you're flying into bham.

Good to know, thanks!

[wrathfuldeity]

Don't need 4wd to baker...you need sensible driving, infact 4wd will more likely get you in the ditch due to being over confident...btw they keep the road cleaned off been driving up there 10 years with 2wd rear and front and only 1 time had to turn around to make a run back at it....because a friend who was driving got wigged and stopped her 4wd and we couldn't get going again because of her 4 bald tires. I drove back down the hill 3 miles so we could maintain a wee bit of speed and made it up no problems.

Last year, iirc...mid Dec was good...perhaps the only place in lower 48 that was. Then the snow machine shut down and was crap til 2nd week Feb.

If I were you I'd seriously consider flying in to Seattle (or Portland or Vancouver) rent a car, check where the snow is falling and go....hood, cascades, whistler. Lodging near the hill is pricey...but in town in Bham or Portland at motel 8 or whatever is very doable little jaunt back and forth.

[gunner252]

Originally Posted by wrathfuldeity

Don't need 4wd to baker...you need sensible driving, infact 4wd will more likely get you in the ditch due to being over confident...btw they keep the road cleaned off been driving up there 10 years with 2wd rear and front and only 1 time had to turn around to make a run back at it....because a friend who was driving got wigged and stopped her 4wd and we couldn't get going again because of her 4 bald tires. I drove back down the hill 3 miles so we could maintain a wee bit of speed and made it up no problems.

Last year, iirc...mid Dec was good...perhaps the only place in lower 48 that was. Then the snow machine shut down and was crap til 2nd week Feb.

If I were you I'd seriously consider flying in to Seattle (or Portland or Vancouver) rent a car, check where the snow is falling and go....hood, cascades, whistler. Lodging near the hill is pricey...but in town in Bham or Portland at motel 8 or whatever is very doable little jaunt back and forth.

Thanks. Yah, that's just it, who knows what it's going to be like. I just assumed Baker would be better, cuz it's further north.... But it sounds like Hood is the place to be if there's snow.

[wrathfuldeity]

Originally Posted by gunner252

Thanks. Yah, that's just it, who knows what it's going to be like. I just assumed Baker would be better, cuz it's further north.... But it sounds like Hood is the place to be if there's snow.

I would beg to differ...if its going off...Baker...so much accessible gnar terrain in or out of bounds. Its not the latitude...its the temp and precip.

[gunner252]

Originally Posted by wrathfuldeity

I would beg to differ...if its going off...Baker...so much accessible gnar terrain in or out of bounds. Its not the latitude...its the temp and precip.

well, touche