7/10/2011 Route: East Slopes Posted On: 7/10/2011, By: SurfNTurf Info: The road is passable to the radio towers and beyond to any high-clearance vehicle. The standard trail is snow free and open for summer hikers -- no ice axe or microspikes needed. When hiking up the road, make sure not to miss the trail turnoff to the right. It‘s a fairly obvious staircase. Other than that, you‘d be hard-pressed to get lost on this route. |
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7/9/2011 Route: East Slopes Posted On: 7/10/2011, By: Toni Marie Info: Good trail conditions, from the lower trailhead all the way to the summit. The small snowfield is still present, but it‘s very easy to hike around. |
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7/3/2011 Route: East Slopes Posted On: 7/3/2011, By: tjerasdave Info: No real change from the earlier report. Trail is mostly snow free with exception to one snow field which is fairly well boot packed but was also a bit slick later in the morning. Also, I was hesitant to drive my Chevy Equinox to the 4wd drive trail head so I hiked up the road (made for a long ascent in terms of vertical feet). That being said, as long as you have AWD/4WD and are not driving a sedan you should be able to make it to the 4wd trail head. Fortunately, I got a ride back down to my car after descending to the 4wd trail head. |
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7/1/2011 Route: East Slopes Posted On: 7/1/2011, By: mrschaible Info: Route is clear of snow except for one small 20‘ sretch which is heavily boot packed. Summertime is here! |
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6/28/2011 Route: East Slopes Posted On: 6/28/2011, By: iquack08 Info: A negligible amount of snow on the trail. There were only two small patches of snow on the rocks that were already bootpacked. Only boots are necessary for the hike. |
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6/24/2011 Route: East Slopes Posted On: 6/25/2011, By: MichiganBrian Info: Road is clearly, or nearly so to where the trail leaves the road. The stairs are covered in snow and invisible, so you must notice the closed old trail or miss the turnoff. Very easy to miss the turnoff right now. Three small snowfields on the route that are easily manageable/pre-postholed for your convenience. Otherwise route is entirely clear. |
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6/15/2011 Route: East Slopes Posted On: 6/17/2011, By: garrett99 Info: The route had very little snow, nothing you cant boot across with ease. The trail is visible the whole way. One snow field is about 30 yards across and has a path angling up towards the "new" trail approaching the ridge. The 4x4 road is clear up until about a 1/4 mile past the radio tower. pic three is the 4x4 road after the towers. Didnt get pics of the snow fields. They are small. |
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6/11/2011 Route: East Slopes Posted On: 6/13/2011, By: Mtn_Topper Info: Climbed from the radio towers at 10,800. The road is still covered with deep snow at several points along the road above this point. The steps where the trail leaves the road is currently under snow but you can reach the trail in about 50 feet if you head up the hill as soon as you reach the large stretch of snow on the road below Tigger. I went over Tigger on the way up to avoid the snow but followed the standard route on the way down. The standard route crosses three moderately steep snowfields, ranging from about 75 to 200 feet wide. The first two are fairly easy to cross right now but you definitely wouldn‘t want to slip. The largest snowfield, just below the saddle, is the toughest. There were several spots where I postholed to the mid-thigh. The rest of the route is clear. |
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5/28/2011 Route: via Tigger Posted On: 5/29/2011, By: Monster5 Info: Road drivable to camping spots about 1/4 mi past radio towers. Hitched a ride for the last 2 mi up to the towers from a couple in a 2wd passenger car - bottomed out more times than I can count. Went up Tigger‘s E. flank, descended Princeton standard route. If I had to do it again, I would avoid the standard route altogether (posthole annoyingness on the return). No avy concerns on route at the time. Used ice axe; snowshoes not needed; crampons may be useful if you ascend standard route early - I didn‘t use them at all via Tigger. |
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5/22/2011 Route: East Slopes Posted On: 5/23/2011, By: mattpayne11 Info: Princeton has a lot of snow on it. It is very ski-able. Some light avalanche run-out visible, but did not seem too threatening. Snowpack is stable for now, but seems that it could run soon with more heat. Don‘t quote me, but seems could be iffy soon. Road clear to just after the radio towers, with good clearance you should be able to make it to the camping past the towers. Lots of snow, crampons would be somewhat useful. |
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5/14/2011 Route: East Slopes Posted On: 5/15/2011, By: ilium Info: The road is clear to about 11,500‘. I biked it. After that it is still covered up. After crossing the north facing slope (using snowshoes) as described in Roach‘s book the trail is covered up and crosses over some potential avalanche zones. The snow condition is soft and heavy with an icy layer underneath. Most of the snow has ran off already, but new snow is always showing up. Be careful. I avoided the trail and headed toward point 13,300‘ on talus, and then traversed to the ridge. This cost a lot of time. The ridge was fine to the top. The weather changed quickly. In the morning I was shedding layers. In the afternoon it was a pretty severe winter storm with some electricity. |
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5/8/2011 Route: Standard...Princeton Road Posted On: 5/9/2011, By: Matt Lemke Info: The Mt. Princeton Road is snow free all the way to the radio towers and a little bit of snow beyond. Melting very fast over there. I biked up to the towers (which was great for the return). Where the road crosses the avalanche gully there was considerable snow but a portion of the road was walkable on rocks most of the way up to 12,000 feet The remaining route was hit and miss with snow. Much of the ridge between Princeton and Tigger was free. Photos coming. |
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5/6/2011 Route: East Slopes Posted On: 5/8/2011, By: BillMiddlebrook Info: Some closeups of Princeton from US 285. |
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2/16/2011 Route: East Slopes Posted On: 2/17/2011, By: Summit Lounger Info: Climbed Mt. Princeton via East Slopes route. Road is boot packed now. Left snowshoes in car. Walked on side of road past radio towers, postholed for 50 feet total, not including bypass for avy path, which has a reasonable trail now. East slopes are wind scoured. Gully crossings are safe. No wind loading up above. Snow is consolidated for 2-3 feet then rock. Top 8" was hard snow requiring traction or cutting steps. New snow may not adhere very well to hard snow in gullies, maybe it will blow away. |
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2/10/2011 Route: East Slopes Posted On: 2/10/2011, By: RobertPetrowsky Info: Broke trail to just shy of the radio towers today. The snow ranges from 6 to 24 inches of heavy, hard to move through snow. There is good snow coverage on the slopes at treeline as you move past the radio towers. The snowpack was still a bit reactive with shooting cracks and collapsing. I didn‘t make it past the towers. Anyway, the skin track is finally there so go get it! |
