Jazzbo
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2005
- Messages
- 1,199
- Reaction score
- 171
I took the trail less traveled to Mt Lafayette and was glad I did. Started off at 8:20 and there was only 3 cars in TH lot. I hiked with occupant of one of the cars for good ways. Started encountering snow at 3000'. No surprising seeing it's the north side of the mountain. 3-5' deep snow became continuous for much of the 3/4 mile to junction with Garfield Ridge Trail. Once out of the spruce snow disappeared. The snow was well behaved for most part. Not postholed at all, firm to walk on, if it was a bit slippery. Carried microspikes but didn't feel need to put them on. If I was returning by this route I would have donned them. NO blowdowns encountered anywhere on Skookumchuck. Trail was in generally good condition. Did see waterbars needed cleaning.
I experienced culture shock topping out on North Lafayette and seeing the conga line in siloutte going up the Greenleaf Trail to main summit while I had North Lafayette all to myself. This day had near perfect viewing conditions, cool, breezy, clear. Never been on top of Lafayette with such good viewing conditions. There was the usual crowds, but this was tempered for me by the routes I had taken that evaded them.
I descended via the Hut and turned right at Greenleaf Trail. Greenleaf Trail is for a time on north slopes and still had snow. Some of it was in broken up with hollows from meltwater and bit tricky but never for very long. Greenleaf below the hut was also little traveled. Trail was nice and not as threatened by heavy traffic as the main trails. I was expecting great views of Eagle Cliffs and Cannon Cliffs around Eagle Pass, but Cannon Cliffs could only be observed from the pass and were in deep shadow this time of day and greatly subdued. I only had filtered glimpses of Eagle Cliffs from the trail as I descended. If I'd had more time and energy I suppose I might have climbed around and explored for some viewpoints. I thought Eagle Cliffs was a popular rock climbing area and was watching for herd paths to climbing routes, but didn't observe any. I only observed one blowdown on Greenleaf below the hut and it was located within 1/4 mile of trailhead. It is big and needs removal, but is small enough to handle with bow saws. Of course I was pretty tired at this point and it may only have seemed big.
The last 3/4 mile trundles along up and down through very rough wooded talus fields, was very hard on my tired legs and seemed to go on forever! I don't know if I'd ever take this route again even if it does avoid the crowds. I still needed to hitch a ride to my car, but at least I came out right at the entrance ramp. I got a ride after only the 3rd car and was deposited right at my car at Skookumchuck. Who says there's no hiker shuttle? The folks had just come from tramway that had broken down and they had to walk down the mountain.
I experienced culture shock topping out on North Lafayette and seeing the conga line in siloutte going up the Greenleaf Trail to main summit while I had North Lafayette all to myself. This day had near perfect viewing conditions, cool, breezy, clear. Never been on top of Lafayette with such good viewing conditions. There was the usual crowds, but this was tempered for me by the routes I had taken that evaded them.
I descended via the Hut and turned right at Greenleaf Trail. Greenleaf Trail is for a time on north slopes and still had snow. Some of it was in broken up with hollows from meltwater and bit tricky but never for very long. Greenleaf below the hut was also little traveled. Trail was nice and not as threatened by heavy traffic as the main trails. I was expecting great views of Eagle Cliffs and Cannon Cliffs around Eagle Pass, but Cannon Cliffs could only be observed from the pass and were in deep shadow this time of day and greatly subdued. I only had filtered glimpses of Eagle Cliffs from the trail as I descended. If I'd had more time and energy I suppose I might have climbed around and explored for some viewpoints. I thought Eagle Cliffs was a popular rock climbing area and was watching for herd paths to climbing routes, but didn't observe any. I only observed one blowdown on Greenleaf below the hut and it was located within 1/4 mile of trailhead. It is big and needs removal, but is small enough to handle with bow saws. Of course I was pretty tired at this point and it may only have seemed big.
The last 3/4 mile trundles along up and down through very rough wooded talus fields, was very hard on my tired legs and seemed to go on forever! I don't know if I'd ever take this route again even if it does avoid the crowds. I still needed to hitch a ride to my car, but at least I came out right at the entrance ramp. I got a ride after only the 3rd car and was deposited right at my car at Skookumchuck. Who says there's no hiker shuttle? The folks had just come from tramway that had broken down and they had to walk down the mountain.
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