Baxter Peak; Roaring Brook Road, Chimney Pond, Cathedral Ridge

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giggy

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Location
Hikin' the scree on Shasta....
Date of Hike: 3/1-3/6

Trail Conditions: Abol Bridge to Roaring Brook: Somewhat packed due to snowmobiles, hiked in the 12 miles during full brunt of the storm that dumped a foot to 18 inches sat. (guessing at those amounts) - slog got much tougher as day went on and conditions worsened. Most of us said it was one of the tougher single days we had ever done due to conditions.

We broke the chimney pond trail to about halfway rock the next day and then the ranger came down with the sled to make life a little easier. All trails broken on hike out, but the afternoon sun was starting to mash potatoe the conditions on 3/6 - still much easier going out then in.

Cathedral Ridge - the entire mountain had pretty much high avy all week - gully climbs were out of the question as the ranger said it was about as bad as it gets and we all knew this already. Pretty much only safe way to summit was the cathedral ridge or dudley/knife edge trail.

We had to do our own routefinding to avoid an avalanche path on the lower cathedral trail and joined to official trail between the 2nd and 3rd cathedrals and from there all rock and ice.

3 of the 5 continued on the knife edge and reported a mix of ice and rock along the ridge. Dudley trail was reported by our group and the group before us to be very tough to follow from about 1/2 down pamola peak to chimney pond - the folks from our team had to do some bushwhacking to get back to base.

Special Equipment Required: Its a winter baxter trip - you have it all when you walk on the trail.

Comments: Fun but tough trip up there with the gang, we did not have great weather or conditions, but the trip was a great time and an amazing group to head in with. We saw it all - 2 winter storms, sleet, high winds, some melt one day and a little bit of sun here and there. Didn't expect to summit at all due to "not ideal" conditions - was a nice bonus when we did. Resting for a week now! :) The sun glowing in the am on the baxter headwall may have been the single best mountain view I ever had.

Special thanks to Arm for making it all happen and his amazing knowledge of baxter state park.

Your name: Giggy
 
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