Raven
Well-known member
Trail conditions:
The USFS lot is gated and remains unplowed. Parking is available at the lower lot of the base station; lot was not plowed but I got through with a Hyundai Elantra. A trail leads from here to the upper lot and to the 0.3 mile side access trail to the ART.
The lower parts of the trail have a base of unconsolidated snow. Lots of foot prints, not many postholes, not a solid snowshoe track yet. Snow cover increased gradually with elevation. There was a fair amount of snow up high. The water crossing up high at the turn (brown arrow sign) was pretty icy and took care to avoid the sloping ice. Care should be taken following the trail after this point to the hut.
Special Equipment: we wore snowshoes nearly car to car but others were fine with microspikes. Postholing was not an issue today but the snowshoes made the most sense to me. I had crampons but there was enough snow on the steeps to not need them. With blowing snow and cold, goggles and balaclava above treeline would be helpful.
Comments: We turned back a couple tenths below the hut as the blowing snow was getting worse and with it at our backs, we would have had to turn into the face of it on the way back. We had considered a Monroe attempt earlier but knew it was unlikely given the high wind and blowing snow. The snow was coming down steadily, although not heavily, up high and back down at the base station. Great sliding down the steeps; we were back at Gem Pool seemingly in minutes. Thanks for a great hike G. Another great day in the forest.
The USFS lot is gated and remains unplowed. Parking is available at the lower lot of the base station; lot was not plowed but I got through with a Hyundai Elantra. A trail leads from here to the upper lot and to the 0.3 mile side access trail to the ART.
The lower parts of the trail have a base of unconsolidated snow. Lots of foot prints, not many postholes, not a solid snowshoe track yet. Snow cover increased gradually with elevation. There was a fair amount of snow up high. The water crossing up high at the turn (brown arrow sign) was pretty icy and took care to avoid the sloping ice. Care should be taken following the trail after this point to the hut.
Special Equipment: we wore snowshoes nearly car to car but others were fine with microspikes. Postholing was not an issue today but the snowshoes made the most sense to me. I had crampons but there was enough snow on the steeps to not need them. With blowing snow and cold, goggles and balaclava above treeline would be helpful.
Comments: We turned back a couple tenths below the hut as the blowing snow was getting worse and with it at our backs, we would have had to turn into the face of it on the way back. We had considered a Monroe attempt earlier but knew it was unlikely given the high wind and blowing snow. The snow was coming down steadily, although not heavily, up high and back down at the base station. Great sliding down the steeps; we were back at Gem Pool seemingly in minutes. Thanks for a great hike G. Another great day in the forest.
