wardsgirl
Active member
Mtn: Clay (attempt) via Jewell Trail
Date of Hike: Sunday, February 17, 2008
Trail Conditions: Base Road is plowed, but icy, all the way to Marshfield Station. There is plenty of parking. The access trail to Jewell Trail leaves next to the water tank and across the cog track. The lower part of the trail had been recently snowshoed by what appeared to be only one person on the previous day. We contributed to the pack job by tamping down the alternating untrodden snow between the snowshoe prints. We used snowshoes the whole way, plowing through deep drifts above treeline. At the intersection with the AT, the conditions shifted dramatically from deep snow to boilerplate. Crampons would have been necessary from that point if we had continued.
Special Equipment Required: Carried FWG, used snowshoes, face and eye protection.
Comments: In the morning, temperatures were mild compared to the day before, and visibility was great. From treeline we could make out three hikers ascending Jefferson, presumably mid-Presie traverse. Conditions were perfect until about 1 pm when the weather quickly deteriorated. As we approached the AT, well above treeline, visibility was reduced to about 10' with blowing blizzard-like snow, the wind picked up so it became difficult to walk. When we reached the AT junction, the conditions only became worse, so we decided to call it a day.
Your name: Wardsgirl
Date of Hike: Sunday, February 17, 2008
Trail Conditions: Base Road is plowed, but icy, all the way to Marshfield Station. There is plenty of parking. The access trail to Jewell Trail leaves next to the water tank and across the cog track. The lower part of the trail had been recently snowshoed by what appeared to be only one person on the previous day. We contributed to the pack job by tamping down the alternating untrodden snow between the snowshoe prints. We used snowshoes the whole way, plowing through deep drifts above treeline. At the intersection with the AT, the conditions shifted dramatically from deep snow to boilerplate. Crampons would have been necessary from that point if we had continued.
Special Equipment Required: Carried FWG, used snowshoes, face and eye protection.
Comments: In the morning, temperatures were mild compared to the day before, and visibility was great. From treeline we could make out three hikers ascending Jefferson, presumably mid-Presie traverse. Conditions were perfect until about 1 pm when the weather quickly deteriorated. As we approached the AT, well above treeline, visibility was reduced to about 10' with blowing blizzard-like snow, the wind picked up so it became difficult to walk. When we reached the AT junction, the conditions only became worse, so we decided to call it a day.
Your name: Wardsgirl
