Mt Pierce

[grouseking]

I'm finally going to hike a winter 4k!! The proposed trip is Pierce to Jackson on Saturday, but I have a question. It appears that Pierce is above treeline....is it completely exposed to the winds, or is their adequate shelter nearby just in case? Forecast for Saturday is for party to mostly cloudy and breezy in the valley, so I'm sure it will be a bit windy up high and I want to be ready.

grouseking

 

[poison ivy]

You are really only above treeline for the last tenth of a mile or so... the rest of the hike (assuming of course, you're heading up Crawford Path) is pretty well sheltered, though you will feel the wind as you get closer to the top. If it's really windy, you can just pop up to the top, enjoy the view and flee back down to the sheltered portion of the trail. It can be very windy up there. That top tenth of a mile can be extremely icy, so you'll probably want some sort of traction along just in case.

Pierce is a great mountain for your first winter 4K. Enjoy!

- Ivy

 

[bobandgeri]

Pierce is very well protected up until just before the summit. You are exposed for about 1/4 mile - however just past the summit (100 feet) is a protected area where you can get out of the wind and warm up.

The forecast for the higher summits is about zero degrees with winds at @ 40 mph. After leaving the summit you will drop back down into the trees again for the trip over to Jackson which also is above treeline at the summit, but with areas where you can get out of the wind.

 

[Puck]

I did this hike during that cold MLK weekend for my son's first winter 4k. It was very windy. It was a quick up and over and then into the trees on our way to Mizpah. There is another exposed area after the sumit but it is not to bad.

 

[giggy]

I would say that it is above treeline for so little - it isn't even above treeline really - its a great intro the winter hiking - easy trail, pretty low risk if you ask me.

good luck and have fun - if you have some views on top - it will be nice day.

 

[grouseking]

Snowshoes?

Thanks for the quick replies! All the reasons you have stated led me to choose this hike in the first place, but I was just making sure, and was looking to see if anyone had additional information. I like the idea of having wind at my back as I head for Jackson, and I can practice my crampon use some more. Anybody think I'll need snowshoes?

grouseking

 

[Mattl]

Don't worry, Ill take care of grouse, hes in good hands! -Mattl

http://www.geocities.com/mattlacroix4/great_outdoors.html

 

[grouseking]

Don't worry, Ill take care of grouse, hes in good hands! -Mattl

http://www.geocities.com/mattlacroix4/great_outdoors.html

Oh god, now I know I'm in trouble!

Anyways, for what its worth...maybe this can answer my snowshoe question

Our proposed trip is to go up the Crawford Path to the summit of Pierce down to Mizpah Hut to the summit of Mt Jackson then down the Jackson Branch trail (which I'm a little hesitant about because of steepness near the top) and then continuing down the Webster Jackson Trail to 302...then the mini road walk.

 

[spider solo]

I did Pierce (Clinton) yesterday over to Mizpah hut and down the Cut Off trail. I used snowshoes from near the summit then for most the day. I used them as that is my preference. Thought it would be good shoeing over toward Jackson and Webster. I would say it's an option.
Usually if I carry my snowshoes all the way up a mountain I make sure to use them for the fun factor...nice snow for 'shoeing'.

 

[Mike P.]

Better to carry them & not need them. The only time I have passed Darren was on Pierce many December's ago. He had just got a pair of snowshoes he wore going up. A friend & I left them in the car. When I got back home I saw his trip report where he thought we were moving okay & probably made it without snowshoes. (We didn't, we stopped just short of the summit at the C-Path, Webster junction because we were cold, viewless & we could not fight though the last drift right at the junction.

Also the section of trail between Jackson & the Mizpah cut-off gets less traffic so it may not be as consolidated as C-Path or the Jackson branch below the summit. Short steep part of Jackson's cone requires just a little care, better with crampons.

 

[bill bowden]

Mount Clinton Hazards

Clinton/Pierce is usually a great trip above treeline for good views cheap. There is comparatively little exposure to wind an dis usually a good trip for an inexperienced hiker.
Potential problems occur in poor visibility and wind. The re-entry of the Crawford Path into the woods can be tricky if the treadway is obscured by wind blown snow or poor visibility. If not found the trees are far enough apart that an unlucky soul can wander off the trail and possibly spend a long winter night in the woods. This occurred to two very experienced winter hikers in 1995.
Having said this, on the whole Clinton/Pierce is an excellent first winter 4k.

 

[TDawg]

Jackson was my first winter 4k and I don't recall it being overly steep at the top. There is a good pitch at the top of the Jackson branch but with crampons and a little care you should be fine.

 

[Woody]

I would agree with Bill. The re-entry to the Crawford Path can be tricky in some conditions. You might want to have some wands or surveyors tape to mark the path. Be sure to clear your wands or tape when you leave - Leave No Trace. I remember wandering around a bit to find the trail when I did Pierce a few years ago.



Woody

 

[Kevin Rooney]

I remember wandering around a bit to find the trail when I did Pierce a few years ago. Woody

It's been brushed out recently, so the re-entry point is easier/more obvious to find. Still want to pay attention though as the wind can backfill footprints rapidly in this section.

 

[forestgnome]

Bring Snowshoes!!!

There is a huge difference in the amount of traffic on the section between the hut and the summit of Mt. Jackson than there is on the rest of your hike.

The Webster-Jackson Loop and Crawford Path are well-packed. The trail between the hut and the summit of Mt. Pierce might be heavily postholed instead of packed down. This happens because many people think they won't need snowshoes because the Crawford Path is so well-packed.

The trail between the hut and the summit of Mt. Jackson is about the hardest winter hiking I've ever done. On that particular day, it was impossible for this experienced hiker to detect the trail, even though the Crawford Path could have been hiked in sneakers. I spent nearly two hours on that section, weaving around, finding the trail and then losing it again. In some parts, the tunnel through the trees is obvious, but then it breaks into areas where the scrub is barely above the snow drifts and the trailbed is undetectable. I actually used a compass because the ridge is very wide and flat, making it hard to follow terrain as a guide. Most of the blazes were below the snow.

It's a beautiful place, but bring snowshoes and allow plenty of time.

Happy Trails!

 

[Kevin Rooney]

I'd like to echo forestnome's comments about the section of trail between the Mizpah hut and the summit of Jackson. Have done this about 6 times in winter, and at least half the time the route finding is very difficult. Lots of people either do Jackson or do Pierce - not many do the route between the two peaks. Allow plenty of time.

 

[grouseking]

Thanks everybody for your thoughts. I will definitely bring snowshoes...and if the section between Mizpah and Jackson looks problematic, then I'll take the cutoff down. That way I could do Jackson andWebster another day...like I wanted to do in the first place.

grouseking

 

[giggy]

I would agree with Bill. The re-entry to the Crawford Path can be tricky in some conditions. You might want to have some wands or surveyors tape to mark the path. Be sure to clear your wands or tape when you leave - Leave No Trace. I remember wandering around a bit to find the trail when I did Pierce a few years ago.



Woody

yea - and to the "leave no trace fanatics" - don't pick up a snow wand thinking your doing good - you may be ruining someones way back.