Normally images from Mirror Lake have a perfect reflection of Mt. Hood but in April the lake is still a frozen wonderland covered in snow. The 3 mile loop hike was a good warm up for my week in the Columbia Gorge to come but slogging through a foot of snow up several long switchbacks was definitely more challenging than it would be later in the year. Even so, the view from the top was worth h the effort.
I do not usually hike alone and this hike was probably near the limits of my physical ability. in retrospect it was probably not a very good idea to go it alone. Fortunately there were others at the lake when I arrived. I did not loose cell phone coverage up at the lake either which was also a good thing.
After I descended I drove up to the Timberline Lodge on Mt Hood for some warm digs and lunch. The rest of the week we were in the Columbia River Gorge at lower elevations and no snow at all. After all, it was April.