Join the annual Mazama Labor Day Tradition!
Round-the-Mountain (RTM) is coming back, after a three year absence, over Labor Day weekend 2022. Join us, as we set out from our base camp at Mazama Lodge each day for a 13 to 14-mile adventure. We carry only day packs, because each night we return to the lodge for great food, hot showers, a cozy bunk, and stories from your day on the trail. Your adventure includes all meals and dorm lodging. Shuttle vans will transport you from our meeting place in Portland to Mazama Lodge, as well as to/from the trailhead each day.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND ROUND THE MOUNTAIN?
You don’t need to be a 20-year old super athlete to do well on this 40-mile, 3-day hike. However, you should be well aware that this is a strenuous and challenging event that requires your commitment and preparation. Expect these challenges:
Distance: About 13 miles each day
Duration: 3 consecutive days of challenging hikes
Elevation Gain/Loss: 3,000–4,000 vertical feet daily
Terrain: Uneven terrain, steep inclines and descents, water and snow crossings
Pace: Choose the team that fits your hiking speed
If you are up to the challenge, our volunteer hike leaders are ready to help you achieve this dream, all while enjoying amazing views you can only get on foot from the trail. Be prepared to work, but be prepared to be WOW’d!
RTM 2022
This year, RTM will be a little different than in years past. While we can still have 6 teams, total paying participants will be capped at 36. On the evening of Friday, September 2 we will gather at Mazama Lodge, our mountain home for three nights. We will then meet our teams, and with those teams we will hike three Timberline Trail segments around Mt Hood over the following three days, returning to Portland in the late afternoon on Monday, September 5. Three teams will hike clockwise around Mt. Hood, while three teams will hike counter-clockwise around the mountain.
- Cloud Cap to or from Top Spur (north side of Mt Hood): 12.3 miles, 3,743 feet up in one direction, 1,808 feet up in the other direction
- Cloud Cap to or from Timberline (southeast side of Mt Hood): 13.6 miles, 3,694 feet up in one direction, 3,619 feet up in the other direction
- Ramona Falls to or from Timberline (southwest side of Mt Hood): 11.4 miles, 4,741 feet up in one direction, 1,224 feet up in the other direction
The main hazard on the Timberline Trail is stream crossings, as there are no bridges. The streams are generally easier to ford by Labor Day. It's possible to cross the many streams without getting feet wet.
Each team of eight will be co-led by two volunteer hike leaders. Hike leaders will drive their team to each morning's trailhead, swapping keys along the way with the team hiking in the other direction. When the day's destination is reached, the team will hop in the waiting vehicle for the trip back to Mazama Lodge. You can drive your own vehicle to Mazama Lodge, but for those for whom Portland is a more convenient starting/ending point, transportation will be offered to/from Mazamas, 527 SE 43rd Avenue, on Friday afternoon and Monday afternoon.
Mazama Lodge offers a common space that's warm and inviting. In the great room, we'll gather for meals and RTM team meetings. All meals will be included between Friday dinner and Monday post-hike snack; we will self-assemble lunches every morning. The lodge offers bunks with a large co-ed bunk room and smaller men-only and women-only bunk rooms. There is also the possibility to sleep outside on the deck or in a tent. Bring a sleeping bag or blanket, as it's chilly year-round in the bunk rooms. The lodge offers wifi and a game room.
Weather is one variable we can't control. Past RTM days have featured cold rain, extreme heat, heavy smoke, and/or strong winds. But the weather tends toward beautiful in September, and teams will be happy to stop for those who want photos.