Mount Hood/South Side (Palmer Glacier)

18 April 2016. A friend and I drove from Tacoma to the Timberline parking lot, arriving at 8pm. Car camped on a clear, cool night. Got up at 2 am and began climbing by 2:20. We took the climber's trail straight from the parking lot up towards the Palmer Glacier. Snow conditions were super firm. At the top of the ski lifts, we stopped and threw on crampons and helmets and continued straight towards Crater Rock, following a well-worn boot pack. Took a quick break at Crater Rock, where a lot of folks were ditching boards and skis for the final push through Hogback. We traversed around Crater Rock to the climber's right (east) and then climbed up to the obvious Hogback snow ridge. No schrund or crevasses were visible. Climbed through the Pearly Gates to climber's right (there were two viable routes to take, left and right). Made it up the Gates with no issues - firm snow and crampons held well. Summited and returned the same route. 7 hr round trip. Brought the standard glacier gear, but had no need for it.