NeoAkela
Active member
Date of Hike: 06/08/2010
Trail Conditions: Jewell trail snow, mud and blowdown free all the way to summit. Good condition. Trails above treeline between Jefferson, Clay and Monroe mostly snow free - some occasional remaining drifts to traverse. Ammo Ravine trail slippery as usual with some minor snow and mud patches. Bottom of the ravine is a mass of fallen trees, but someone has done a fair job of routing the trail through them.
Special Equipment Required: Barebooted the whole way - no traction needed. Below freezing up above treeline today, so winter clothing (hat, gloves, many layers, windbreaker) necessary. Ski goggles would have helped during the several violent hailstorms and wind-whipped snow squalls.
Comments: Typical inclement-weather spring day on the side of Washington. Went through the gamut of bright sun, stinging wind, rainbows, snow squalls, and bouts of pea-sized hail sandblasting sideways like buckshot. Dark black clouds flew quickly up the ravines with whatever interesting weather they were carrying, then soon were gone, bringing back the sun for a few more minutes. The peak of Washington itself seemed immersed in a dark black cloud, so I opted instead to wander over to Jefferson and Clay, then across the West side trail to Monroe and Lakes of the Clouds. Lots of people for such a weather-poor day - I must have met 50 or more. Alpine flowers were right about peak in all these regions, except at the beginning of the Jewell Trail alpine zone where they seemed past peak already. Photos for the day were mostly speckled with rain and snow. The rest all look odd since a solid dark perfectly straight cloudline split the horizon in almost every shot. All in all, though, a great day to be out above treeline!
Your name: NeoAkela
Trail Conditions: Jewell trail snow, mud and blowdown free all the way to summit. Good condition. Trails above treeline between Jefferson, Clay and Monroe mostly snow free - some occasional remaining drifts to traverse. Ammo Ravine trail slippery as usual with some minor snow and mud patches. Bottom of the ravine is a mass of fallen trees, but someone has done a fair job of routing the trail through them.
Special Equipment Required: Barebooted the whole way - no traction needed. Below freezing up above treeline today, so winter clothing (hat, gloves, many layers, windbreaker) necessary. Ski goggles would have helped during the several violent hailstorms and wind-whipped snow squalls.
Comments: Typical inclement-weather spring day on the side of Washington. Went through the gamut of bright sun, stinging wind, rainbows, snow squalls, and bouts of pea-sized hail sandblasting sideways like buckshot. Dark black clouds flew quickly up the ravines with whatever interesting weather they were carrying, then soon were gone, bringing back the sun for a few more minutes. The peak of Washington itself seemed immersed in a dark black cloud, so I opted instead to wander over to Jefferson and Clay, then across the West side trail to Monroe and Lakes of the Clouds. Lots of people for such a weather-poor day - I must have met 50 or more. Alpine flowers were right about peak in all these regions, except at the beginning of the Jewell Trail alpine zone where they seemed past peak already. Photos for the day were mostly speckled with rain and snow. The rest all look odd since a solid dark perfectly straight cloudline split the horizon in almost every shot. All in all, though, a great day to be out above treeline!
Your name: NeoAkela
