nartreb
Well-known member
Saturday afternoon: Webster Cliff trail to Nauman tentsite. Trail dry with a few blowdowns. Black flies swarmed without biting for a while, then struck with a vengeance. Bug spray essential. Arrived at Mizpah to a snowball fight in progress among a noisy swarm of boys scouts, who soon retired indoors for dinner.
Sunday: Crawford plus summit loops to Washington, Gulfside plus summit loops to Edmands Col, Israel Ridge to Perch.
Plenty of blowdowns on Pierce, not enough snow to need traction even in the cool morning. Very brisk wind from Pierce summit onward - gusts to 60mph according to the Observatory. (No black flies!) The steep little snowfield on the north side of Jefferson is still there, but crossing was easy enough without traction. Plenty more blowdowns on Israel Ridge. Had to shovel some snow off the platform at the Perch; overnight temperatures dropped below freezing.
Monday: Randolph to Amphibrach. Trails in beautiful shape except for blowdowns.
Alpine zones are in full bloom: diapensia is at peak in the southern presis, a tiny bit ahead of peak in the north. Lapland rosebay a little past peak in the south. In the forest, Clintonia mostly still budding, some blooms at lower elevations. Trillium fading; still some painted at the higher end of its range. Lady-slippers open down low, budding a little higher.
Sunday: Crawford plus summit loops to Washington, Gulfside plus summit loops to Edmands Col, Israel Ridge to Perch.
Plenty of blowdowns on Pierce, not enough snow to need traction even in the cool morning. Very brisk wind from Pierce summit onward - gusts to 60mph according to the Observatory. (No black flies!) The steep little snowfield on the north side of Jefferson is still there, but crossing was easy enough without traction. Plenty more blowdowns on Israel Ridge. Had to shovel some snow off the platform at the Perch; overnight temperatures dropped below freezing.
Monday: Randolph to Amphibrach. Trails in beautiful shape except for blowdowns.
Alpine zones are in full bloom: diapensia is at peak in the southern presis, a tiny bit ahead of peak in the north. Lapland rosebay a little past peak in the south. In the forest, Clintonia mostly still budding, some blooms at lower elevations. Trillium fading; still some painted at the higher end of its range. Lady-slippers open down low, budding a little higher.
