Tom Rankin
Well-known member
We started up the Leach trail about 8:15 and slogged up the muddy trail. There are a lot of markers that are missing before the burn area. Not a summer problem, but maybe Winter...
The burn area is growing back nicely, the trees are up to 15 feet tall!
Down and up Bear Den and over to Dial. No views.
Off to Nippletop, slowly gaining elevation and losing and gaining and losing and .. Eventually we reached the top. Again, no views, but there are other reasons to hike. As we are going down to Elk Pass, I slipped and my foot fell into deep mud. I quickly tried to pull my foot out and my foot came right out of my boot! W/o a gaiter this would have been a full 5, but I guess we'll have to call it a BSM 4.9!
A little misty today, no real rain. Snow spine did not start till after Dial (4100'), but lingered down to 3500' in Elk Pass. Trails are all very muddy, but mostly well maintained. Did not need any traction devices.
Down to the road and out, and off to hot showers followed by cold beer!
The burn area is growing back nicely, the trees are up to 15 feet tall!
Down and up Bear Den and over to Dial. No views.
Off to Nippletop, slowly gaining elevation and losing and gaining and losing and .. Eventually we reached the top. Again, no views, but there are other reasons to hike. As we are going down to Elk Pass, I slipped and my foot fell into deep mud. I quickly tried to pull my foot out and my foot came right out of my boot! W/o a gaiter this would have been a full 5, but I guess we'll have to call it a BSM 4.9!
A little misty today, no real rain. Snow spine did not start till after Dial (4100'), but lingered down to 3500' in Elk Pass. Trails are all very muddy, but mostly well maintained. Did not need any traction devices.
Down to the road and out, and off to hot showers followed by cold beer!
