Mummy Range Conditions

[longshanks]

I'm looking at trying to climb Comanche Peak on Saturday, from the Pingree Park side. Has anyone been in this area recently? We will probably go up the Mummy Pass trail and then over Fall Mountain to the summit. I'm interested in how much snow is still in this area.

Thanks!

[madbuck]

<Bump>
Longshanks, or anyone, did you make it up there? What are the (snow/mud) conditions like?
Thanks!

[longshanks]

Yeah, I did it with two friends on Saturday. We took the Old Morrill Trail (actually there is only a well-defined trail about 40% of the way there). The lower parts were surprisingly dry...only a few patches of mud. Once the trail started petering out around 11000 feet, there were some significant snow piles in the trees, which made bushwhacking more difficult. Above treeline, there were large snowfields still lying around...one particularly massive one on a steeper east-facing part of the ridge just above the rock outcroppings. We did have to cross a couple of large snowfields on our way around the huge one, but they were not steep at all. We didn't have any gear other than hiking boots. Above that huge snowfield, the ridge was dry all the way to the summit. There was quite a bit of running water above treeline, but no significant mud.

[Alpine]

Hey longshanks,

When i climbed Comanche a few summers ago, I don't recall seeing the name "Old Morrill trail" anywhere. Is this sthe same trail that goes up to Emmaline and Cirque Lakes, or a differnt one?

I don't see much on Google about it, what can you tell me about the name or history? I really enjoy these kind of details and find they add much to my understanding of an area as well as enriching my experiences.

Thanks,

Jim

[longshanks]

Yeah, I had never heard of this trail before about a week ago. It's a different trail from the Emmaline and Cirque Lakes trail...it's north of that trail all the way. Instead of going up the Fall Creek valley, it goes along the top of the lateral moraine on the north side of the valley and then follows the ridgeline all the way west to Comanche Peak. It is signposted pretty well for the first couple of miles from Pingree Park at this point...and I believe the last turnoff sign says that the trail was built in 2006. So the "old" part of the name isn't really accurate, although it may be a reconstruction of a historical route. I don't know anything about the name Morrill...possibly a historical rancher in the Pingree Park area? That's just a guess though.