NeoAkela
Active member
Date of Hike: Thursday 03/15
Trail Conditions: Jewell is a "jewel" of a trail. Well packed, fairly solid, not too much ice. Wore microspikes up to treeline, switched to snowshoes for a while until there were more rocks than snow, then switched back. Trail in good shape. Over-Clay loop well tracked out - some postholing in the drifts. Coming down north side of Clay had tricky spots - full crampons would have made a more comfortable descent, but microspikes managed OK. Gulfside to Jefferson and back well tracked out and easily followed.
Special Equipment Required: Snowshoes stayed on the pack most of the day. Microspikes or similar traction needed for most trails - could bareboot most of the same, but it wouldn't be recommended. Section of Jewell from near treeline to below gulfside was prone to postholing every 10 steps or so - used snowshoes but with all the mixed rocks, it wasn't long until we switched back. Along the ridgeline and up to Jefferson was solid enough that the trail held us up without shoes. North slope of Clay on the Clay Loop had quite a bit of hidden ice, so traction there would be a must, especially coming down.
Comments: Late start awarded us with a great sunny, warm day with little wind and an incredible undercast which lasted the entire day. Met many great people up on the hill. Great sunset show from the top of Clay. Jewell trail was a nice after-dark romp with headlamps. Fog was so thick at Marshfield that we had trouble finding the trail bypass and then the car! Note to self: Headlamps suck in heavy fog - lucky we didn't have that higher up tonight
Your name: NeoAkela
Your E-mail address: [email protected]
Trail Conditions: Jewell is a "jewel" of a trail. Well packed, fairly solid, not too much ice. Wore microspikes up to treeline, switched to snowshoes for a while until there were more rocks than snow, then switched back. Trail in good shape. Over-Clay loop well tracked out - some postholing in the drifts. Coming down north side of Clay had tricky spots - full crampons would have made a more comfortable descent, but microspikes managed OK. Gulfside to Jefferson and back well tracked out and easily followed.
Special Equipment Required: Snowshoes stayed on the pack most of the day. Microspikes or similar traction needed for most trails - could bareboot most of the same, but it wouldn't be recommended. Section of Jewell from near treeline to below gulfside was prone to postholing every 10 steps or so - used snowshoes but with all the mixed rocks, it wasn't long until we switched back. Along the ridgeline and up to Jefferson was solid enough that the trail held us up without shoes. North slope of Clay on the Clay Loop had quite a bit of hidden ice, so traction there would be a must, especially coming down.
Comments: Late start awarded us with a great sunny, warm day with little wind and an incredible undercast which lasted the entire day. Met many great people up on the hill. Great sunset show from the top of Clay. Jewell trail was a nice after-dark romp with headlamps. Fog was so thick at Marshfield that we had trouble finding the trail bypass and then the car! Note to self: Headlamps suck in heavy fog - lucky we didn't have that higher up tonight
Your name: NeoAkela
Your E-mail address: [email protected]
