Once reaching the summit there are fairly well defined user trails along the ridge. Our return included a short bushwhack from Mirror Lake to Ski Bowl. I wouldn't recommend this route unless you really like willow and devil's club. However it did lead directly to a bike run just west of Ski Bowl and an easy exit that doesn't require crossing Camp Creek.
http://gpsfly.org/g/3958
A better route was the one I did a year ago, although I dropped too low and had to climb a little ways to hit the mountain bike trail.
http://gpsfly.org/g/2988
On a beautiful sunny day like this, the ridge offers outstanding views.
Not much snow at the warming hut.
Warm enough to hike without gloves or a fleece cap.
The ski trail had some snow. Manmade?
You know who...
Snow on the ridgeline was maybe a foot deep at most and very consolidated.
Mt. Jefferson!
The view west along the ridge
Looking east along the ridge
Mirror Lake
I've never seen it this bare in January!
Lots of people on the "official" summit
Lack of snow causing Mt. Hood to shrink!
The view from Mirror Lake
We ended the bushwhack from the lake at these ramps
