Today I hiked Mt. Liberty by the Liberty Spring Trail. As usual I parked at the Flume Visitor Center and walked the bike path; I find the Whitehouse Trail unappealing, and see no point in the long drive round the Notch to get to the Basin herd path. Excellent weather, cool in the morning but absolutely no wind; started off with fleece top and hat in my pack (mittens on; my hands are very cold-sensitive).
The trail was very wet until about 200 vertical feet above the stream crossing. I found a makeshift bridge across the stream crossing:
Zooming in:
I am not sure that it was really needed today, but thanks to the civil engineers who build it!
There was a fairly abrupt snow line around 3,700 feet, enough icy patches to put the micro-spikes on. I suspect the going would have been rough without them; going up above the spring I met two women going down very slowly without traction!
Lots of sun, minimal wind on summit. Enough haze to discourage much photography, but I was struck by how moth-eaten the snow is on Washington:
Leisurely lunch on summit, followed by uneventful descent. leaving the parking area I caught a glimpse of the last rays of the sun on Liberty and Flume, stopped for a final picture:
The trail was very wet until about 200 vertical feet above the stream crossing. I found a makeshift bridge across the stream crossing:
Zooming in:
I am not sure that it was really needed today, but thanks to the civil engineers who build it!
There was a fairly abrupt snow line around 3,700 feet, enough icy patches to put the micro-spikes on. I suspect the going would have been rough without them; going up above the spring I met two women going down very slowly without traction!
Lots of sun, minimal wind on summit. Enough haze to discourage much photography, but I was struck by how moth-eaten the snow is on Washington:
Leisurely lunch on summit, followed by uneventful descent. leaving the parking area I caught a glimpse of the last rays of the sun on Liberty and Flume, stopped for a final picture:
