Off-Trail Testing: Little Mt. Deception (27-Jan-2010)
I did a very short off-trail jaunt today (27-Jan-2010) to get a rough idea of what the conditions might be for some winter bushwhacking following our recent big rain event.
I parked by the gate at the south end of Cherry Mountain Rd. I then road-walked for about 0.5 mile to a spot between campsites 3 & 4, and then did an off-trail trek eastward for about 1.0 mile to Little Mt. Deception. Without a snow cover, there is a faint path from this location, but in winter conditions, it's basically a mild-mannered bushwhack.
So, in the
"for what it's worth" department, below is what I experienced. And, I should caution that it's entirely possible that someone hiking off-trail in a different location at similar elevations would have an experience different from mine. Also, it goes without saying (but I'll say it anyway
), the conditions I experienced today will change as soon as the predicted colder weather arrives.
From the start of the trek (at about 1,800 ft) up to about 2,100 ft, I was breaking through the crust on a fairly regular basis. I was wearing MSR Denali snowshoes (without tails). And, I'm a real lightweight! With a winter pack, I might weigh in at a whopping 160 lbs (or slightly less).
Starting somewhere around 2,100 ft, my "break-throughs" became less frequent. The firmness of the snow gradually increased as I made my way to Mt. Little Deception which tops out at 2,428 ft. Although the snow at the top of Little Deception was moderately firm, I sort of suspect that someone heavier than me might have experienced "break-through".
There were no views today, but on a clear day, there are nice views toward the Presidentials.
