Skyscraper, Northwest-Style.

Cascade Range; San Jorge River (Colombia); Colombia; Oregon

The article presents information on the Copper Spur on the north slopes of 11,239 foot Mt. Hood in Oregon. It is one of the challenging dayhikes one can encounter. Within close range of downtown Portland, this eight-mile route takes you into the realm of mountain climbers, rock, and snow. On the way up, one will pass through rare snow-zone old-growth hemlocks and Pacific silver firs. The author calls them 'Buddha trees' because they are fat at the base but not tall. They get snapped off too easily by the wind. As one ascends, one sees the Eliot Glacier and may hear it pop and rumble. Just before the snowline one will reach Tie-in Rock, where climbers with crampons, ropes, and adequate training head out onto the glacier and summit. For dayhiking mortals, this is a great spot to seek shelter from the wind before returning to lower elevations , one will bask in views of Mt. Hood, the northern peaks of the Cascade Range, and the Columbia River Gorge.