Just before 1PM on July 4th, 1926 these participants in the American Legion climb reached their goal, the summit house on Mt. Hood. They had been climbing since before 5AM.
The firelook out building on the top was still very much in use in those days. If anyone wishes to see the replica (and I think it might have some of the original equipment in it) you can see it at the wonderful mountain museum in Government Camp.
Seems like if they left prior to 5 a.m. and it is 1 p.m it took a long time for them to get on the top. Guess it would depend on numbers involved, climbing conditions and how long they actually had been on top prior to this photo.
Wonder if they drank tea from the fire look out?
Arthur
We have hundreds of Alva Day climbing images, many with date and time on them. It would be interesting for a modern climber to compare the routes and speed of ascent/descent. These Legion climbs, with so many participants, must have been logistical nightmares.
Tom K
Must have been a light snow year. Usually, there’s much more snow than that at the top.
charlott
They would have been a nightmare, as many, many of them were without any experience climbing. Just wanted to say they had climbed Mt. Hood. At least they weren’t like some "experienced" climbers of today and went alone. Depending on the number of climbers would determine the number of "guides" they had. Naturally with long lines of climbers they would be going slow, so wouldn’t be a quick up and down trip.
My Dad used to tell of experiences when he was a "guide" on many many Legion Climbs over a great span of years…….It was just as rough, when the weather up above was too dangerous to take the group and they would just take a trip out onto the glacier, again weather permitting.
One of the reasons that Legion Climbs were done away with was when the word "liability" and "insurance" came into play.
nels
Great shot. Never seen the rocks on top before. Is this looking north with the bare rock being west facing?
Arthur
Anyone know how big these climbs got? What was the greatest number to summit? Some of the pictures show 50 or more, and that’s just at one moment.
charlott
I know there were climbs of over 100……
Buzz
My memory from 55 years ago may be skewed but here is what it tells me. We started hiking from Timberline Lodge. We were in snow all the way up to the steep part where there was a strong smell of sulfer. Near the top we got on a narrow hogsback and went east to reach the summit. One misstep to the North and it would have been a long drop nearly straight down. My guess is this was taken looking east and the left side of the picture is part of the north face. Somebody tell me if my memory is off.
Jill Stanford
Your memory is good Buzz — I climbed it in July of 1959. I smelled the sulfer too.
Buzz
Jill, I was just reading where to climb up from the South side now you are required to wear a helmet, crampons and have an ice axe. I don’t remember being tied together or having any of that stuff. Do you remember any of that?
Jill Stanford
No Buzz — in fact, it was something of a lark. The guy I climbed with was experienced, but we wore no helmets. We wore boots with studs and duct tape (!) with our pants tucked in to the boots and had pike staffs. Slathered in zinc – I remember that! I recall a sweatshirt tied around my waist. We were young, agile and thought we could do anything and by golly, we did! 🙂
Buzz
Good for you!!
Charlott
1927 Legion Climb had 197 participants. 1939 Legion Climb 74 plus guides, total 111.
No climbs during the war years. I don’t have data on other years.
Bill P.
The true story is that the look out was not very effective because of the atmosphere haze and the smoke from the many fires obscured the vision to see new fires.
Ben M. Angel
I don’t suppose there is a list of climb participants kept somewhere for each year, is there?
Arthur
Ben, the Mazamas maintained a log book which people would sign when they reached the summit. I will be posting a brochure from the Legion climbs soon which indicates people should "sign in" when they reach the top. I know at least some of the log books have been preserved by the Mazamas. I would suggest contacting their archivist if you have a question about those log books.
Charlott
The firelook out building on the top was still very much in use in those days. If anyone wishes to see the replica (and I think it might have some of the original equipment in it) you can see it at the wonderful mountain museum in Government Camp.
Seems like if they left prior to 5 a.m. and it is 1 p.m it took a long time for them to get on the top. Guess it would depend on numbers involved, climbing conditions and how long they actually had been on top prior to this photo.
Wonder if they drank tea from the fire look out?
Arthur
We have hundreds of Alva Day climbing images, many with date and time on them. It would be interesting for a modern climber to compare the routes and speed of ascent/descent. These Legion climbs, with so many participants, must have been logistical nightmares.
Tom K
Must have been a light snow year. Usually, there’s much more snow than that at the top.
charlott
They would have been a nightmare, as many, many of them were without any experience climbing. Just wanted to say they had climbed Mt. Hood. At least they weren’t like some "experienced" climbers of today and went alone. Depending on the number of climbers would determine the number of "guides" they had. Naturally with long lines of climbers they would be going slow, so wouldn’t be a quick up and down trip.
My Dad used to tell of experiences when he was a "guide" on many many Legion Climbs over a great span of years…….It was just as rough, when the weather up above was too dangerous to take the group and they would just take a trip out onto the glacier, again weather permitting.
One of the reasons that Legion Climbs were done away with was when the word "liability" and "insurance" came into play.
nels
Great shot. Never seen the rocks on top before. Is this looking north with the bare rock being west facing?
Arthur
Anyone know how big these climbs got? What was the greatest number to summit? Some of the pictures show 50 or more, and that’s just at one moment.
charlott
I know there were climbs of over 100……
Buzz
My memory from 55 years ago may be skewed but here is what it tells me. We started hiking from Timberline Lodge. We were in snow all the way up to the steep part where there was a strong smell of sulfer. Near the top we got on a narrow hogsback and went east to reach the summit. One misstep to the North and it would have been a long drop nearly straight down. My guess is this was taken looking east and the left side of the picture is part of the north face. Somebody tell me if my memory is off.
Jill Stanford
Your memory is good Buzz — I climbed it in July of 1959. I smelled the sulfer too.
Buzz
Jill, I was just reading where to climb up from the South side now you are required to wear a helmet, crampons and have an ice axe. I don’t remember being tied together or having any of that stuff. Do you remember any of that?
Jill Stanford
No Buzz — in fact, it was something of a lark. The guy I climbed with was experienced, but we wore no helmets. We wore boots with studs and duct tape (!) with our pants tucked in to the boots and had pike staffs. Slathered in zinc – I remember that! I recall a sweatshirt tied around my waist. We were young, agile and thought we could do anything and by golly, we did! 🙂
Buzz
Good for you!!
Charlott
1927 Legion Climb had 197 participants.
1939 Legion Climb 74 plus guides, total 111.
No climbs during the war years. I don’t have data on other years.
Bill P.
The true story is that the look out was not very effective because of the atmosphere haze and the smoke from the many fires obscured the vision to see new fires.
Ben M. Angel
I don’t suppose there is a list of climb participants kept somewhere for each year, is there?
Arthur
Ben, the Mazamas maintained a log book which people would sign when they reached the summit. I will be posting a brochure from the Legion climbs soon which indicates people should "sign in" when they reach the top. I know at least some of the log books have been preserved by the Mazamas. I would suggest contacting their archivist if you have a question about those log books.