S
Some Scout Guy
Guest
Trail Conditions: Fairly new snow ranging from about 8 to 12 inches. Air temp about 16 degrees, with some wind at higher elevations.
Trail is well-defined, and has obviously had several hikers since the recent snowfall. One easy stepover on the lower trail. No postholing if staying on the trampled part of the trail, but the snow is slippery.
Crossings are all easy (meaning I didn't fall in). Barebooted from trailhead to above the lookout spur trail, and then finally got tired of slipping around and put on the snowshoes. I should have done this right after the 3rd stream crossing (or even between the 2nd and 3rd). Live and learn.
I underestimated how much slower the snow would make me, and turned around before reaching the ridge when it became obvious I wasn't going to make it to the summit and back to the trailhead to meet my scheduled return home (I had allowed a max of 3 1/2 hours to the summit but at 2 1/2 hours still wasn't at the ridge). Descent was much faster, only 1 1/2 hours.)
Special Equipment Required: Poles, winter boots, and snowshoes. Though I saw one pair of women headed up at about noon as I went down, with no visible equipment other than the clothes they were wearing, so maybe no special equipment was required. I found poles a necessity on the Tecumseh Brook crossings.
Comments: Saw 4 pairs of hikers today. 2 guys who left the trailhead when I did at 9AM, and who disappeared after the second stream crossing (us old guys aren't fast). A couple was just leaving the lookout to continue up as I reached it descending, another upwardly-bound couple near the 3rd stream crossing, and the 2 previously-mentioned women. All but the last 2 had snowshoes, but as far as I know, I'm the only one who was using them.
I'll go for the summit again when I have a little more time. Or maybe the snow is deeper and I won't hesitate on the shoes.
Jeff Carter
jeffc at apeirogon.org
Trail is well-defined, and has obviously had several hikers since the recent snowfall. One easy stepover on the lower trail. No postholing if staying on the trampled part of the trail, but the snow is slippery.
Crossings are all easy (meaning I didn't fall in). Barebooted from trailhead to above the lookout spur trail, and then finally got tired of slipping around and put on the snowshoes. I should have done this right after the 3rd stream crossing (or even between the 2nd and 3rd). Live and learn.
I underestimated how much slower the snow would make me, and turned around before reaching the ridge when it became obvious I wasn't going to make it to the summit and back to the trailhead to meet my scheduled return home (I had allowed a max of 3 1/2 hours to the summit but at 2 1/2 hours still wasn't at the ridge). Descent was much faster, only 1 1/2 hours.)
Special Equipment Required: Poles, winter boots, and snowshoes. Though I saw one pair of women headed up at about noon as I went down, with no visible equipment other than the clothes they were wearing, so maybe no special equipment was required. I found poles a necessity on the Tecumseh Brook crossings.
Comments: Saw 4 pairs of hikers today. 2 guys who left the trailhead when I did at 9AM, and who disappeared after the second stream crossing (us old guys aren't fast). A couple was just leaving the lookout to continue up as I reached it descending, another upwardly-bound couple near the 3rd stream crossing, and the 2 previously-mentioned women. All but the last 2 had snowshoes, but as far as I know, I'm the only one who was using them.
I'll go for the summit again when I have a little more time. Or maybe the snow is deeper and I won't hesitate on the shoes.
Jeff Carter
jeffc at apeirogon.org
