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I got a late start but by then Valley Way started out in Spring; the trail snowfree and dry and me in my synthetic T. Gradually pieces of monorail show slowly increainge in number and length, often being icy with mud/flowing water between them in places. By Watson the trail was mostly snow, with fresh snow on top of the monorail of around a couple of inches. The spruce-fir branches were covered in snow, and dripping. Higher up the snow increased and on the side contour it was a bit slow avoiding the snowy branches but also avoiding having the foot slide down with the wet snow. At treeline I put on my usual winter clothes due to the colder temps and wind. In places the new snow had piled up 8" or more. The mighty tough little dog found he could run across the surface now without pawpoling. I put microspikes on at the hut, but they were only marginally better than bareboots on the rocks, which were gorgeous with 4" rime "leaves" all over them. No problem ice and most new snow was gone too. On the Madison cone's exposed sections the wind made the rock scrambling interesting, it was much stronger than forecast when I was there. Great views. Warm where sheltered from the wind due to the strong sun.
On the way down I got wet in the spruce-fir section from melting snow and holding branches but that was fine, and we could move fast. The monorail supported us all day, but get off to the side down lower and it could be a posthole. I kept the microspikes on to hold the monorail until past Watson. By tomorrow the branch snow should largely be gone, but the trail will be softer. Take the snowshoes just in case.
No problem blowdowns or stream crossings. There is debris from broken branches being uncovered as the snow melts. I moved a bunch but more awaits full release.
Fallsway was almost all clear and dry. The falls were beautiful with all the water but they too have broken branches in places that kind of mars any picture taking. After forbidding Pepper any water walks since December, I now allowed him to do so and he went swimming in the brook over and over on the way down. Too cold for me.
On the way down I got wet in the spruce-fir section from melting snow and holding branches but that was fine, and we could move fast. The monorail supported us all day, but get off to the side down lower and it could be a posthole. I kept the microspikes on to hold the monorail until past Watson. By tomorrow the branch snow should largely be gone, but the trail will be softer. Take the snowshoes just in case.
No problem blowdowns or stream crossings. There is debris from broken branches being uncovered as the snow melts. I moved a bunch but more awaits full release.
Fallsway was almost all clear and dry. The falls were beautiful with all the water but they too have broken branches in places that kind of mars any picture taking. After forbidding Pepper any water walks since December, I now allowed him to do so and he went swimming in the brook over and over on the way down. Too cold for me.
