Hey guys, doing my first hike up Mt. Hood this weekend. Any advice? Thinking base layer + Dri-fit tee, maybe leggings, hoodie, rain jacket, and boots. Also bringing sandwiches, water, energy bars. Suggestions? Appreciate any tips!
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Ditch the hoodie, it gets sweaty fast. Opt for a fleece instead. Snacks sound good, but take extra water—it’s easy to underestimate how much you’ll need. Mt. Hood’s unpredictable. Layers are key.
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I’ve done Hood twice. Layers are spot on, but bring a hat and gloves—wind can sneak up on ya. Swap lucozade for electrolyte tabs. Lighter to carry and easier to dose out.
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Good shout on the hoodie swap! I was leaning towards the fleece but second-guessing myself. And yeah, definitely upping the water. Last thing I want is to be halfway up dying of thirst. 
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I’d go with wraps instead of sandwiches. They are easier to pack, and no soggy bread surprise when you stop for lunch. Also, consider trekking poles if the trail’s muddy—it’ll save your knees big time.
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I wasn’t even thinking about soggy bread. I’ll look into those poles too. Saw someone using them once, and they seemed pretty handy.
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Shorts?? In October? You’re bold, my friend. Stick with leggings, helps protect those legs from the wind and stray branches plus mosquitoes.
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Yeah… shorts might be wishful thinking. Leggings it is. No mosquito feasts this time, thanks.
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Energy bars are cool, but don’t forget something salty. You sweat out a lot more than you think. Also, bring moleskin, you’ll thank me when your boots start biting halfway up. 
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Honestly, I’ve never found Mt. Hood too bad, but I always pack extra socks. Wet feet are misery on a hike. Trust me, changing into dry socks mid-hike is pure bliss.
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Extra socks are good, but moleskin’s still the real MVP. One blister and it’s game over. Ever tried hiking down with a raw heel? Not fun, trust me
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I hear you on the moleskin, but I’ll take dry feet over blisters any day. Hiking with wet socks is like walking on sponges… pure misery. Socks, moleskin, both—it’s all good insurance.
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Oh man, I once forgot both socks AND moleskin. Blisters for days. Had to hobble back like a penguin. Now I pack enough moleskin to start a small pharmacy.