LATE SEPTEMBER

A Tribute to my Grandfather: Fred Luetters

Timberline Trail Around Mount Hood

One of my big inspirations was my grandfather, Fred Luetters. When I was growing up, I remember looking over the artwork my grandfather had collected. Much of it was hand colored photography. He had worked as a master colorist for the western landscape photographers, Fred Kiser and Clarence Winter in the early 1900's. My own interest in photography began with a love for landscapes as well (still love it), but portrait work became something I wanted to explore- people are so amazing to work with- always different, always a new story.

I have a collection of photos taken of my grandfather and some he took in and around Mount Hood which inspired me to go to Mount Hood and see some of the wilderness where his own adventures had taken place over 100 years ago.

The weather window appeared to be a go with only a slight chance of rain. I would plan for 3 nights and 4 days circumnavigating Mount Hood. Approx. 41+ miles in total.

Breaking bad

The weather began to turn on late afternoon on the 3rd day while I was still above treeline. It didn’t take long for the rain and wind to change my plans and begin a series of decisions that meant reassessing what I should do next.

Making an assessment

I was quickly getting wet. I had a rain jacket but only wind pants and the temps were in the low 40s. I had to decide pushing ahead a few more miles to get below treeline or find shelter in the small scrub trees just below the trail and try to keep dry.

I found a few spots, however as I was setting up the tent, the wind was penetrating the campsite and I had to gather large rocks to keep the tent stakes in. This worked well enough to keep the tent on the ground but the screen side vents were letting blowing sand in.

I checked the weather report and now it was mentioning possibility of heavy snow. If my shelter did not hold up and I was forced to move at night I knew route finding would be difficult to say the least. I made the decision to charge up my phone and Garmin InReach (emergency satellite device) and try to get some rest. The rain had paused and I decided to make the move at 10pm.

As I was finalizing packing up the rain began again. And as I made my way by headlamp, the wind was easily gusting 50+. Now I was getting soaked. Fortunately, the wet and cold was from soaked wind pants- I would soon find out how cold you can get when it’s 40+- with soaked legs and feet.

I knew that each change, each decision would begin to add up in the plus or negative column. As I finally made it below treeline, I contemplated setting up my tent again and try to get warm and rest before heading out in the morning. At that point my concern was getting my sleeping bag wet and whether the storm would increase or change to snow and create impassable stream crossings.

I decided to push through the night. Stream crossings at night meant carefully reviewing the way across and then picking up the trail on the other side. To say it was a long night or that I was cold would be an understatement.

After nine hours, I finally made it back to the van after hiking all night. Probably one of the most challenging times both physically and mentally I have ever had.

I knew I missed out on view on that last leg of the trip. But this was an adventure I would never forget and grateful for making a deep connection with my grandfather’s memory.