Enapai
New member
5 of us left the summer trailhead (yes, gate is still open) at 7:00am.
Snow was minimal to the turn off for Calkins Brook. It appeared there had been a small amount of snow since the last trip to Calkins Brook, but at most there were only 5-6 inches of snow on the ground. The herds path was easy enough to find and the rain that was falling turned the existing snow into slush.
It was not until we got up to the blow down area that the temperature dropped enough to turn any precipitation into the frozen variety. The snow on the ground was powdery at that point (about 6 inches of new snow on the ridge). We swapped out in-step crampons/microspikes for snowshoes and donned wind protection just before ascending to the ridge.
We turned right first and quickly were on top of Donaldson. We then trekked out to Emmons, continuing to make good time. We were back at the junction in the Seward/Donaldson col at 2:00pm. We decided to make a go at Seward. The upsloping of the snow on the cliffs/rocks made for some slow going, but we made it to the top where one in the group finished off his 46 (all season).
We headed down and about a third of the way down we all took off snow shoes (save for one) and walked out in microspikes. The slush/snow depth was only a couple of inches and could have easily been barebooted.
After the slow slog up the hill from Calkins Brook, we were out a little bit before 8:00pm.
It was a great day in the mountains.
Snow was minimal to the turn off for Calkins Brook. It appeared there had been a small amount of snow since the last trip to Calkins Brook, but at most there were only 5-6 inches of snow on the ground. The herds path was easy enough to find and the rain that was falling turned the existing snow into slush.
It was not until we got up to the blow down area that the temperature dropped enough to turn any precipitation into the frozen variety. The snow on the ground was powdery at that point (about 6 inches of new snow on the ridge). We swapped out in-step crampons/microspikes for snowshoes and donned wind protection just before ascending to the ridge.
We turned right first and quickly were on top of Donaldson. We then trekked out to Emmons, continuing to make good time. We were back at the junction in the Seward/Donaldson col at 2:00pm. We decided to make a go at Seward. The upsloping of the snow on the cliffs/rocks made for some slow going, but we made it to the top where one in the group finished off his 46 (all season).
We headed down and about a third of the way down we all took off snow shoes (save for one) and walked out in microspikes. The slush/snow depth was only a couple of inches and could have easily been barebooted.
After the slow slog up the hill from Calkins Brook, we were out a little bit before 8:00pm.
It was a great day in the mountains.
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