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Conditions:
Skookumchuck: Old snowshoe track with a couple inches of fresh snow at lower elevations, becoming progressively more filled in as you go higher, and barely visible starting around 3500-4000 feet. A bit icy underneath the snow at lower elevations. A couple of bare spots on the section next to the brook. A few blowdowns, all of which can be easily bypassed. Some moderate drifting at higher elevations, but nothing terrible. All in all, not a very frequently traveled trail in the winter, but not very difficult to follow.
Garfield Ridge: A mixture of windslab, drifts, rime ice, water ice and rock. One short, but steep (30-35 degree) section just below the summit of North Lafayette with a not-so-great runout. No signs of recent passage, but still fairly obvious, at least in good weather (if in doubt, just stay on the ridge). Cairns are pretty heavily iced over; some are visible but should not be relied upon, especially if visibility is low.
Greenleaf: Above treeline, conditions are similar to above, but with plenty of signs of passage and generally easy to follow. Well-established boot track from treeline to the hut. Deep snow between the hut and Eagle Pass. Below the pass, snowpack diminishes rapidly, and lower trail is thin and rocky, but tracked out. One major blowdown on the lower trail that requires some creativity and/or athleticism to get around.
Equipment: Snowshoes (essential) for upper Skookmchuck and Greenleaf from the hut to Eagle Pass; traction (essential) for all above-treeline portions. Some may want full crampons for the steep bit on North Lafayette; otherwise, light traction should be OK.
Comments: Wore snowshoes all day, mostly out of laziness (they are not necessary on the lower trails, especially the lower Greenleaf, where they're probably more of a hindrance). Didn't see a single person until the summit of Lafayette. Trail breaking was not difficult - managed to do the whole loop in about 6.5 hours, including the 3-mile or so walk back from the Tramway parking lot to the Skookumchuk trailhead along the snowmobile track. A wonderful outing if you're looking for solitude and winter beauty.
Skookumchuck: Old snowshoe track with a couple inches of fresh snow at lower elevations, becoming progressively more filled in as you go higher, and barely visible starting around 3500-4000 feet. A bit icy underneath the snow at lower elevations. A couple of bare spots on the section next to the brook. A few blowdowns, all of which can be easily bypassed. Some moderate drifting at higher elevations, but nothing terrible. All in all, not a very frequently traveled trail in the winter, but not very difficult to follow.
Garfield Ridge: A mixture of windslab, drifts, rime ice, water ice and rock. One short, but steep (30-35 degree) section just below the summit of North Lafayette with a not-so-great runout. No signs of recent passage, but still fairly obvious, at least in good weather (if in doubt, just stay on the ridge). Cairns are pretty heavily iced over; some are visible but should not be relied upon, especially if visibility is low.
Greenleaf: Above treeline, conditions are similar to above, but with plenty of signs of passage and generally easy to follow. Well-established boot track from treeline to the hut. Deep snow between the hut and Eagle Pass. Below the pass, snowpack diminishes rapidly, and lower trail is thin and rocky, but tracked out. One major blowdown on the lower trail that requires some creativity and/or athleticism to get around.
Equipment: Snowshoes (essential) for upper Skookmchuck and Greenleaf from the hut to Eagle Pass; traction (essential) for all above-treeline portions. Some may want full crampons for the steep bit on North Lafayette; otherwise, light traction should be OK.
Comments: Wore snowshoes all day, mostly out of laziness (they are not necessary on the lower trails, especially the lower Greenleaf, where they're probably more of a hindrance). Didn't see a single person until the summit of Lafayette. Trail breaking was not difficult - managed to do the whole loop in about 6.5 hours, including the 3-mile or so walk back from the Tramway parking lot to the Skookumchuk trailhead along the snowmobile track. A wonderful outing if you're looking for solitude and winter beauty.
