Sno-Surfer
Active member
Pictures coming....words too....but it was awesome!
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Tandem Tuckering to Cloud Cap
- Thread starter Sno-Surfer
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Sno-Surfer
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Sno-Surfer
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Sno-Surfer
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Sno-Surfer
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Sno-Surfer
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Sno-Surfer
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Sno-Surfer
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These were from my phone. I took a few others with my camera that I'll upload tomorrow and give a more detailed report. It looks like I am taking another crew out to Adams tomorrow. The weather is so nice right now and kids are on break so we have been playing pretty hard lately.
For sure my most fun day out in a sno cat.
For sure my most fun day out in a sno cat.
Now that's what a snowcat is
for!
for!
WOW! West is where it's at!
SNO. Looks like you had a great guide.
SNO. Looks like you had a great guide.
This hotel was built in 1889. Access was by horse drawn wagons. Wind here often exceeds 120 mph. The Craig Rats, the local search and rescue based in Hood River OR saved it from the forest service matches and maintain it. http://www.mounthoodhistory.com/Buildings/cloudcapinn.html
The Craig Rats are the oldest mountain search and rescue unit in North America. http://cragrats.org/organization/
The Craig Rats are the oldest mountain search and rescue unit in North America. http://cragrats.org/organization/
Sno-Surfer
Active member
The best guide. I consider Sno Drifter to be the undisputed world champion of sno catting.
I watched his every move from the initial start up and unloading to his speed ( a mph slower than I have been going), to his approach on the slope, the gear he brought and even the people he knew (like the sheriff who has the key to the inn), even how he stays married for so long with such a sno cat collection.
I have a lot to learn, a whole lot but believe me I'm takin notes. We really picked the perfect day to go up there with a good dose of fresh snow and a clear day with no wind. No tracks on the way up and just as pretty as it could be. This was a first for both of us to sno cat up in the winter. It was really nice to do this with some that has just a little experience.
Once we got to the burn area, I followed sno drifter straight up the ridge thru the trees. Some how we wiggle between the trees and connect the switch backs.
I've had more trouble going thru that area with a snowmobile. I was pretty amazed how these Tucker's can get around trees and varied terrain with confidence and ease. I've been itching to follow sno drifter around to see what he does. I was impressed. These old Tucker's can really climb.
We had a great crew, my wife and two kids and one of their friends, sno drifter and his incredible wife, Hal and his wife, the sheriff and the princesses daughter, yes the Princess has a very delightful, intelligent daughter that we met for the first time. She also had a hand in making the rear bench set up (thank you!). My wife did most of the talking but I listened and she is a gem.
Always need to take more pictures and get some video too, will work on it...
Thanks again sno drifter for getting this together. I'd do that (or anything else) again anytime.
Just for the record, I used not quite 7 gallons of gas for about 5 hours of catting around. I think that's great.
Looks like my check to sno-surfer cleared the bank. Just another day at the office.
BTW We started at 3200ft elevation, so that means 400ft per gallon.
BTW We started at 3200ft elevation, so that means 400ft per gallon.
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I remember reading about that machine as well,have you got a link for that Sno-drifter? Love seeing the pics, can't even imagine how cool that must be to take a cat through the mountains. Nice to see snow as we are still snowless in western NY...
Sno-Surfer
Active member
Heading up to Cloud Cap again in the morning and taking a photographer friend and another friend. We just had another dump of fresh snow and the temps are cold so it should be real light powder all the way up.
Sno-Surfer
Active member
To get inside of it you need to know someone with a key. To just sno cat up there you just need to know the secret passage. I'd be happy to escort sometime.
Eric_Ivy_PDX
Member
That looked awesome. 
I don't care who you are...that's funny
Had a chance this summer to go up to Cloud Cap Lodge with the crag rats, who have leased the lodge from the USFS since the 50's, the lodge is the oldest building on Mt Hood, predates Timberline by some 50 years, amazing history, which includes, a proposed project in 1930 to build a Tram to the peak of Mt Hood on the north side of the mountain...the brochure and poster are truly unbelievable.
