Ed'n Lauky
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 15, 2007
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From Cog Railway to the intersection with trail to WMNF parking the trail is mostly bare with running water and mud. From the intersection the snow increases and after the next 1/4 mile the trail is mostly to completely snow covered. I barebooted to a point just below the gem pool where there is an ice bulge. Put on the MSRs and left them on until just below the Lakes of the Clouds shelter where the snow abruptly ends. Barebooted thereafter to top of Monroe and back to that spot.
The stream crossings are all fairly easy. There are a couple of snow bridges left higher up. As you clear the tree line the trail begins to wander and fan out a bit. I noticed at one point that many of the tracks cross the stream over a snow bridge. This is not unusual except that I noticed from up above that the stream itself is four or five feet below the bridge. If that bridge ever lets go with someone on it, it could be really nasty. You could find yourself sucked down into the stream under the snow, so watch it up there especially if you are going solo.
The MSRs were perfect for going up. Crampons might have been better for the steep sections going down, but I didn't have mine with me. There were some folks who barebooted the whole thing.
I met a number of interesting people today as I was coming down. Talked with Greg and a buddy for some time. Also met someone I had never met before who lives quite near me.
This was Lauky's first 5000 footer. He now is an official member of the mile high club.
[email protected]
The stream crossings are all fairly easy. There are a couple of snow bridges left higher up. As you clear the tree line the trail begins to wander and fan out a bit. I noticed at one point that many of the tracks cross the stream over a snow bridge. This is not unusual except that I noticed from up above that the stream itself is four or five feet below the bridge. If that bridge ever lets go with someone on it, it could be really nasty. You could find yourself sucked down into the stream under the snow, so watch it up there especially if you are going solo.
The MSRs were perfect for going up. Crampons might have been better for the steep sections going down, but I didn't have mine with me. There were some folks who barebooted the whole thing.
I met a number of interesting people today as I was coming down. Talked with Greg and a buddy for some time. Also met someone I had never met before who lives quite near me.
This was Lauky's first 5000 footer. He now is an official member of the mile high club.
[email protected]
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