6/5/2011 Route: East Slope Posted On: 6/13/2011, By: plasticman Info: On the date of this report, there was approximately 2.5 miles of road to climb before hitting kite lake. You are basically parking at the gate. Large drifts will make 4 wheeled vehicles think twice about proceeding. Dirt bike or snow machine (eeh) would make it up just fine. Skin the creek bed on the approach as most of the snow has blown and melted from sections of the road making it an agonizing switch from skins to pack (but easy if you‘re walking). There is a nice bootpack up the winter route making for an easier ascent. Skinned up to just below 13k‘ and switched to crampons. Stability was excellent. Skied from below the rocks off the false summit face down the gut- very silky and smooth around 9am. Took the ramp down just above Kite Lake and coasted across the flats to the outhouse. Keep in the creek bed for more skiing (downhill motion) and pop out to the road to walk the last 1.5 miles or so back to the car. |
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5/13/2011 Route: East Slope Posted On: 5/16/2011, By: Wally82 Info: Road snowed in from Paris Mill where the snow drifts were over 20‘ covering the road. Snowshoed up about 2 miles sinking over 12" in many places. Wednesday they had over 12" and over 6" on Thursday. Could see the Th in the distance with little site of any rocks and just a spot of the bathroom. Seemed to be surrounded by snow. Did not attempt to summit. Snow was not packed at all. Will try another day. Al-Mart, store in town of Alma said road would be inaccessible for many more weeks. |
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3/6/2011 Route: East Slope Posted On: 3/8/2011, By: SwitzerBoard Info: Easy snowshoe conditions on the road from Paris Mill to Kite Lake. From the lake TH, good snowshoeing up to 12,700 onto the East slope. The slope to the saddle is a rough combination of deep snow and shallow rock fields. The ridge is an even worse mix of deep snow drifts, hard and windblown ice/snow, and rocks. No consistency for snowshoe/crampon/boot use. Didn't get above 13,700 but if you can handle those conditions the top didn't seem like it'd be much different. |
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2/18/2011 Route: East Slope Posted On: 2/18/2011, By: Artvandalay Info: I was at Kite Lake today with the intention of climbing DeCaLiBron. I ended up only climbing Democrat due to bad weather rolling in. You pretty much need a snowmobile if you‘re gonna get past Paris Mill so count on adding 6 miles RT to your day. Plenty of snow On Democrat for skiers. With the wind sweeping through you may find yourself in a foot of powder followed abruptly by hard packed ice. Not as much ice in the basin however. |
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1/8/2011 Route: East Slope Posted On: 1/9/2011, By: hollamby Info: Climbed DeCaLiBro Saturday, beautiful day overall. Parked at the standard winter closure 2.8 miles from the lake. Snowshoes would have been nice for the road (it was clear then wind drift section, clear wind drift...annoying) and the basin. Other than that not enough snow for skis or snowshoes. Pretty much very wind sweep conditions. Left the car at 4:15am back at 1pm, post holing the road and basin slowed us up for sure. Sorry for those of you I said I would post conditions right up, I got home and had a surprise 14ers party waiting for me. Image 1: Deocrat Image 2: Cameron Image 3: Lincoln Image 4: Bross |