nietzschescat
New member
We decided to try something different and started our hike in Mckinley Hollow. It's a nice easy walk to the lean to with two stream crossings, but you could hop right across on the rocks. There wasn't much snow so we just carried our snow shoes.
A little ways after the lean to, the trail gets really really steep. We started up in boots, but it was just powder over ice over rocks and impossible, so we put on the snow shoes for traction. The trail is a narrow path with the side of the mountain on your left and a steep bank down to the ice covered stream on your right. Crampons might have worked better. There was still a lot of exposed rock and it was difficult trying to find the best place to step.
Eventually we reached the trail intersection, the climbing mellowed out and the snow was finally deep enough to enjoy using the snow shoes. We took the blue trail towards Balsam. It started snowing lightly, but there were nice views through the trees. We kept walking until the trail started heading downhill and took a break and had some tea. Just as we were getting ready to head back down, two other hikers were heading up the trail wearing crampons. They had come up the red trail from the other direction.
It was a quick trip down to the steep section. I managed to stay on my feet, but after falling twice my husband decided to slide down on his butt. I was a little afraid of sliding down the bank to the stream. We finally made it to the lean to and took another break. There were a lot of deer tracks near the lean to and stream. It's always interesting to see all the different tracks and try to figure out the story there.
A little ways after the lean to, the trail gets really really steep. We started up in boots, but it was just powder over ice over rocks and impossible, so we put on the snow shoes for traction. The trail is a narrow path with the side of the mountain on your left and a steep bank down to the ice covered stream on your right. Crampons might have worked better. There was still a lot of exposed rock and it was difficult trying to find the best place to step.
Eventually we reached the trail intersection, the climbing mellowed out and the snow was finally deep enough to enjoy using the snow shoes. We took the blue trail towards Balsam. It started snowing lightly, but there were nice views through the trees. We kept walking until the trail started heading downhill and took a break and had some tea. Just as we were getting ready to head back down, two other hikers were heading up the trail wearing crampons. They had come up the red trail from the other direction.
It was a quick trip down to the steep section. I managed to stay on my feet, but after falling twice my husband decided to slide down on his butt. I was a little afraid of sliding down the bank to the stream. We finally made it to the lean to and took another break. There were a lot of deer tracks near the lean to and stream. It's always interesting to see all the different tracks and try to figure out the story there.
