R
RichElton
Guest
This was a very long day, since the Corey's road was plowed out only to about 3/4 miles before the bridge. Road conditions from this point to the summer parking lot were icy and rutted from a 4-wheeler and icy from the rain the day before. Although the roadbed is unski-able, we were able to carefully ski in on the narrow band of hardpack snow lining the side of the road.
2 of our group were able to ski all the way to the Calkins Brook crossing. Watch the ice descending to the creek here - one of our group fell and hit his head!
The rest of us took off our skis at the summer parking lot. From there we were able to bare boot it well in to the Calkins Brook herdpath, following this with Stabilicers higher up, and finally everyone was wearing snowshoes before Donaldson summit. Great views of almost all the high peaks. Felt like you reachout and touch teh MacIntyres!
The path to Emmons seemed endless, as we were fighting spruce branches, snags and some false leads. Generally the path was visible, just tight. It took just under 8 hours to reach Emmons, about an hour from Donaldson.
The long return was easy to follow back. 2 skiied out, and 3 walked out since it was dark and tricky skiing the fine line.
The bright waxing crescent moon and Venus dominated the Western sky, settling through the trees as a million stars came out, with the Big Dipper standing on end ahead of us like a big question mark. For the walkers this celestial treat eased the drudgery of what would otherwise be described as an endless slog out. Cars reaches at 11:05 PM.
2 of our group were able to ski all the way to the Calkins Brook crossing. Watch the ice descending to the creek here - one of our group fell and hit his head!
The rest of us took off our skis at the summer parking lot. From there we were able to bare boot it well in to the Calkins Brook herdpath, following this with Stabilicers higher up, and finally everyone was wearing snowshoes before Donaldson summit. Great views of almost all the high peaks. Felt like you reachout and touch teh MacIntyres!
The path to Emmons seemed endless, as we were fighting spruce branches, snags and some false leads. Generally the path was visible, just tight. It took just under 8 hours to reach Emmons, about an hour from Donaldson.
The long return was easy to follow back. 2 skiied out, and 3 walked out since it was dark and tricky skiing the fine line.
The bright waxing crescent moon and Venus dominated the Western sky, settling through the trees as a million stars came out, with the Big Dipper standing on end ahead of us like a big question mark. For the walkers this celestial treat eased the drudgery of what would otherwise be described as an endless slog out. Cars reaches at 11:05 PM.
