hikes-with-him
New member
We are slowly working our way towards completing the 48’s. Today, we decided to finish (ok…almost) the S. Presies. We had hit both Pierce and Eisenhower last month but had decided to forgo the frustration of trying to get Monroe due to postholing and constantly playing the game “how many times can you take off and put back ON your snowshoes). Today, Monroe was to be ours.
The Ammy-Jewell Trail loop is something that we had wanted to do for quite some time so, after a brief discussion with Big Earl…we decided to go this route (with his disclaimer in mind, of course ). We arrived at Marshfield Station the night before, just to stake out the trailhead (we have a history of trail head difficulties…remember?) and were greeted by a few bats and a lovely fox. The next morning…bright and early as usual…we started up the trail. We had been told the night before by two skiers we met that there had been an avalanche sometime in January and we would see the damage. Ok…no issues and a very easy hike for the first bit; and then we saw some tree debris. “Hey, this must be it”…huh…kinda neat. Hike on…oh LOOK…the Ammy stream is a little choked. WOW!!! Then we looked to our right and the actual ravine. It was a wasteland!! A huge swath of trees…gone with debris everywhere! It was quite something to see what the power of nature can do. THIS must be what they were referring to.
After a bit of dazed awe at the damage, we hiked on…following skier tracks and some boot prints (he he…we should KNOW not to do this). No problem right to, what we THINK was Gem Pool…we skirted right and…headed UP. Hmmm…no trail markers…hmmm…where did those footprints go? Ok…so…let’s put on those crampons and see what we can find. As usually happens when we follow footprints (rather than TRAIL MARKERS!!) we were heading UP the headwall…sigh. Good thing it was cold and the snow nice and hard. Not liking to be “lost”…and heading UP a headwall in the winter… I started to get a bit nervous. Finally, we crested and VIOLA!! There it was, to our right…Lake of the Clouds Hut. What is it doing that far to our right? Sigh…time to pick our route and get back on track.
Pretty uneventful to the hut and, other than the WICKED WIND…the summit of Monroe. HA HA!! #17…time to celebrate. Ok…which way? No…we are NOT following those ski trails. The marker says THIS way So…enjoying the views, we headed up the Crawford path to catch the cut off for the West Side trail…and from this trail, the Jewell trail.
We were both pretty excited at this point…YEA!! We made it up and now it’s down, back to the care, and some good food!! Again, I should know better. After experiencing the “Eisenhower Loop” last time (nothing like side walking, on rotten snow, on a steep slope, into an abyss!), we decided that this around the base-like trail might not be the best move we’ve ever taken…so, we decided to visit Washington. Heck, how can you be that close and NOT? It was pretty, sunny, and not really that cold. The walk up was tiring…but really enjoyable! The summit is quite a site this time of year! There were skiers everywhere enjoying the weather and the ravines.
After chatting with a few folks…we headed down the cog to meet the Jewell trail. No real issues here…just a nice walk down. Interestingly, it appears a moose thought the same thing earlier in the day. Wish I’d have seen him!! The Jewell trail is really beautiful…but, I was concerned at one point that I would need to play “snowshoes on…snowshoes off” due to the rocks and snow…but, we were fine keeping them on for a bit and then switching to Microspikes for the rest of the trek down to the car.
All in all, it was an AWESOME day for a hike!! But…we STILL havn’t hiked the Ammy trail…maybe someday
Pictures here
The Ammy-Jewell Trail loop is something that we had wanted to do for quite some time so, after a brief discussion with Big Earl…we decided to go this route (with his disclaimer in mind, of course ). We arrived at Marshfield Station the night before, just to stake out the trailhead (we have a history of trail head difficulties…remember?) and were greeted by a few bats and a lovely fox. The next morning…bright and early as usual…we started up the trail. We had been told the night before by two skiers we met that there had been an avalanche sometime in January and we would see the damage. Ok…no issues and a very easy hike for the first bit; and then we saw some tree debris. “Hey, this must be it”…huh…kinda neat. Hike on…oh LOOK…the Ammy stream is a little choked. WOW!!! Then we looked to our right and the actual ravine. It was a wasteland!! A huge swath of trees…gone with debris everywhere! It was quite something to see what the power of nature can do. THIS must be what they were referring to.
After a bit of dazed awe at the damage, we hiked on…following skier tracks and some boot prints (he he…we should KNOW not to do this). No problem right to, what we THINK was Gem Pool…we skirted right and…headed UP. Hmmm…no trail markers…hmmm…where did those footprints go? Ok…so…let’s put on those crampons and see what we can find. As usually happens when we follow footprints (rather than TRAIL MARKERS!!) we were heading UP the headwall…sigh. Good thing it was cold and the snow nice and hard. Not liking to be “lost”…and heading UP a headwall in the winter… I started to get a bit nervous. Finally, we crested and VIOLA!! There it was, to our right…Lake of the Clouds Hut. What is it doing that far to our right? Sigh…time to pick our route and get back on track.
Pretty uneventful to the hut and, other than the WICKED WIND…the summit of Monroe. HA HA!! #17…time to celebrate. Ok…which way? No…we are NOT following those ski trails. The marker says THIS way So…enjoying the views, we headed up the Crawford path to catch the cut off for the West Side trail…and from this trail, the Jewell trail.
We were both pretty excited at this point…YEA!! We made it up and now it’s down, back to the care, and some good food!! Again, I should know better. After experiencing the “Eisenhower Loop” last time (nothing like side walking, on rotten snow, on a steep slope, into an abyss!), we decided that this around the base-like trail might not be the best move we’ve ever taken…so, we decided to visit Washington. Heck, how can you be that close and NOT? It was pretty, sunny, and not really that cold. The walk up was tiring…but really enjoyable! The summit is quite a site this time of year! There were skiers everywhere enjoying the weather and the ravines.
After chatting with a few folks…we headed down the cog to meet the Jewell trail. No real issues here…just a nice walk down. Interestingly, it appears a moose thought the same thing earlier in the day. Wish I’d have seen him!! The Jewell trail is really beautiful…but, I was concerned at one point that I would need to play “snowshoes on…snowshoes off” due to the rocks and snow…but, we were fine keeping them on for a bit and then switching to Microspikes for the rest of the trek down to the car.
All in all, it was an AWESOME day for a hike!! But…we STILL havn’t hiked the Ammy trail…maybe someday
Pictures here
I'm glad you came through the experience without any real problems.
