June 2015, Radiating Hope climbers made it to the top of Mt. Hood, 11,250 feet, the highest mountain in Oregon. We elected to take a route called the 'Old Chute'. This route is a variation on the South Side Hogsback route that ascends through the Pearly Gates. In the last two years, the Hogsback has been moving further left, due to climate change resulting in an enormous crevasse opening up on the Hogsback.
The route is about the same difficulty level as the Hogsback/Pearly Gates route but longer with a bit more exposure. It averages around 40-45 degrees, maybe give or take 5 degrees. A fall on the traverse could possibly end up with you in a fumarole. The traverse over to the true summit is also an exposed knife edge in one spot. This was such a beautiful climb, from the summit we could see Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Adams and onward. Keep climbing!!
