Santanonis & Sewards Inquiry

[Daksbear]

Considering an overnight trip to the Santanonis going in Thurs (2/17). Am a 46er and have done the peaks numerous times in the past two summers. Have not been up these peaks in the winter and am wondering what to expect later this week. The Newcomb area got 18-20" of new snow the past few days. A couple of groups made the climb(s) over the weekend. I expect their tracks will be buried. We are getting rain now with another possible 6" of snow expected tomorrow then temps dropping near 0 F.

We are a group of 3 going in Thursday to camp then climb and come out Friday. We expect to snowshoe only. I'm experienced with winter camping and have done winter day hikes for many of the High Peaks. Are the brooks all frozen over or will we be able to dig for water? Any suggestions on the best place to camp in winter? We will have tents and are not opposed to using the lean-to if that would be best. Two in the group plan to pull sleds as far as "camp." There must be 4+ feet of snow on the peaks. I doubt we will need crampons. Will we be fighting the cripple brush like during the summer or will we be above it? I'm expecting it will be wet going with snow on the trees.

Same group may be doing a 3-day trip to the Sewards going in on Monday (2/21). Thought is to snowshoe in, camp at Blue Berry LT & climb Seymour on the first day. Climb the other 3 on day 2 and come out Day 3. Again, snowshoeing only. Has anyone been in there in the past week? Had planned to make arrangements for a snowmobile ride for the way in only. I was told the gate beyond Stony Creek is closed. Does anyone have any information about this? Has anyone been in this area recently?

Any information, recommendations or suggestions about either of these trips would be greatly appreciated.

 

[spaddock]

Three of us just did Santanoni & Panther on Sunday. All of last Thursdays fresh snow has been packed down. Rik also had a crew of three in there Sunday so its pretty packed, not sure what has happened since. Rik said he made numerous routes trying to find Couchie, but one of the trails does make it to the top. A few spurs in the route to Santa but nothing too bad.

As for camping, there is a lean-to just past the turnoff to the herdpath. The route to the leanto had not been broken out in quite a while and it looked like there was big time blowdown in front of it, but its not that far from the herdpath.

We saw some open water along the way but not a lot. We got pretty wet so a change of clothes was definitely needed for us. We never used our crampons but if the mountains get a lot of rain like you mentioned might be handy near the top of Panther.

I'm not sure where Stony creek is but there was a closed gate at the front entrance.

I can't speak for the Sewards.


Have fun,
Shayne

 

[Daksbear]

Thanks for the info Shane. It's greatly appreciated! BTW - Stony Creek is in the Coreys area on the way to the Sewards trailhead.