mirabela
Active member
Owing to the sub -50 wind chills this morning we changed our above-treeline plans and went for this more sheltered hike instead. Glad we did, as even in the trees the winds forced us to bundle up pretty tight.
There is new snow, ~5" at the trailhead and more like 10" at the top, drifted in many places in excess of 18". We wore snowshoes from beginning to end. It's still barebootable, I guess, but there's a good ice coat underneath; some sort of traction would help at all points, and is an absolute necessity above Whiteface Shelter.
Tricky snowshoeing, in that underlying roots and rocks are not well cemented under; these transitional times are tough on gear (and ankles).
Springs and streams are still running & not well frozen; there is some evidence of barebooters taking calf-deep soakings in the water and mud.
... it sure is pretty up there! ...
There is new snow, ~5" at the trailhead and more like 10" at the top, drifted in many places in excess of 18". We wore snowshoes from beginning to end. It's still barebootable, I guess, but there's a good ice coat underneath; some sort of traction would help at all points, and is an absolute necessity above Whiteface Shelter.
Tricky snowshoeing, in that underlying roots and rocks are not well cemented under; these transitional times are tough on gear (and ankles).
Springs and streams are still running & not well frozen; there is some evidence of barebooters taking calf-deep soakings in the water and mud.
... it sure is pretty up there! ...
