3/27/2022 Route: East Ridge Posted On: 3/27/2022, By: d_baker Info: Similar to previous report by posthole Pete, but now an improved track (thanks to snowshoers prior to our outing today). We parked at the campground and walked the road to the summer TH from there. Hiked trail in boots all the way to near treeline, where the current trenched route exits into an open area, kind of willowy, then put on snowshoes from there to saddle, staying climber's left of willow area. Snow was frozen and firm in the morning, so long as we stayed on the trench. Stashed snowshoes near saddle then hiked to summit as it's mostly windswept. Some snow fields had to be ascended, but fairly low angle and was ok for us without traction. In afternoon, we wore snowshoes from saddle down for a 3-4 miles, then took snowshoes off and hiked in boots. Snow was still firm, again so long as we stayed on the trench. No traction devices used anywhere on mountain today. Someone had driven the road past the campground today, and rutted up the snow pretty good in places where it's still fairly deep. I'm not sure if they went all the way to summer TH, but we did see one turn-around place too. I wouldn't recommend driving past the campground just yet unless you have good clearance and use chains or have burly tires. And maybe a winch. Today's driver appeared to have some trouble with traction because they threw some wood signs down in one spot, which I assume they needed to gain traction. |
|
3/19/2022 Route: East Ridge Posted On: 3/20/2022, By: Posthole Pete Info: Reminder: No county maintenance from the campground to the trailhead. (I forgot and we got stuck first thing in the am) Had a snowshoe track from the trailhead up to the 2nd creek crossing. After that we picked up a deer track that followed the trail incredibly well. A deer track up deer creek! Followed the track up to treeline and then began to cut west towards the summit. Snow was pretty consistent with intermittent rocks all the way to the summit. Riding wise snow was funky. Very variable, flipped 3 times from submarines. Other than that, got some fun turns once in the gulley. Should have cut into skiers left trees once at the bottom of the gulley sooner. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be to find the trail from the bottom of tanglewood creek. Splitski out was quick and much deserved. |
|
2/20/2022 Route: East Ridge Posted On: 2/21/2022, By: NatDog Info: The road to the trailhead is pretty snowed in and I would definitely recommend a high-clearance, 4WD vehicle to drive the last 0.8 miles beyond the Deer Creek Trailhead. On my way out I encountered a CR-V that had gotten itself snuck in the snow and blocked the road. I had to dig it out to be able to leave. The wind was pretty brutal above 13,000' but otherwise conditions were great. I wore snowshoes from the trailhead to the saddle at 12,000' and never needed microspikes. There were 4 distinct sections of this route: 1. Trailhead to 11,400' - snow was continuous but hard packed. No traction or flotation needed but I preferred to keep my snowshoes on my feet instead of my back. 2. 11,400' to 12,000' - as the trail begins to exit the trees the snow was much deeper. Just below the saddle the snow was more sporadic but overall this was the only section of the hike that requires flotation at the moment. The only other hiker I encountered said he turned around in this section due to lack of flotation. 3. 12,000' to 13,000' - this section was almost completely dry. Only a few inconsequential patches of snow. 4. 13,000' to summit - there was a bit more snow here. It was not deep enough to require flotation and I was fine without traction. Depending on snow conditions some may find find microspikes as a nice-to-have toward the top. |
|
11/26/2021 Route: East Ridge Posted On: 11/27/2021, By: good jorb Info: Half an inch of snow in the in the trees in the AM. Icy between the first and second bridge. Scattered drifts once above the trees but mostly clear. No need for float or traction. Melting on the way down. |
|
11/21/2021 Route: Rosalie Group Posted On: 11/22/2021, By: Carl_Healy Info: Nothing but a dusting of snow on the trail. A bit more snow above treeline, and some isolated drifts here and there, but easily avoidable or not that deep. Brought microspikes and gaiters but didn't need either. |
|
10/16/2021 Route: East Ridge Posted On: 10/18/2021, By: JDroz Info: A quick outing with the pooch. Small drifts of wind-buffed snow, but nothing that requires snow gear. Light to moderate accumulations of snow everywhere west of the Evans group ATL. Did the route in trail runners; no gaiters or micros. The trail through the trees got a little sloppy later in the day. Started at 10 AM, finished around 3 PM. Hunters are out, so be sure to don your high-viz apparel. |
|
7/24/2021 Route: East Ridge Posted On: 7/25/2021, By: MTBen Info: summited pegmatite points instead of Rosalie because of somewhat threatening clouds over the summit of Rosalie, however they never developed into storms. The road getting up there is a bit rough, with some sizable potholes and rocks, but nothing most cars couldn't do just going slow and carefully. Not an incredibly busy trail so you can expect decent solitude (with the exception of some marmots above tree line). |
|
7/17/2021 Route: Summit Lake Posted On: 7/17/2021, By: denvermikey Info: No report on trail conditions as pretty much everything in the area is summer conditions. Just wanted to note that if you are looking at this route and reference climb13ers.com for the Summit Lake route, the listed distance of 4.2 RT is actually the distance for one way. If you start at or around Summit Lake, go over Epaulet and Epaulie then to Rosalie, it is all of 8.5 miles round trip. Super easy route but just wanted to clarify the mileage in case anyone was planning for a much shorter day. ;-) |
|
7/16/2021 Route: Rosalie Group Posted On: 7/16/2021, By: angry Info: Summer Conditions. |
|
6/20/2021 Route: Rosalie Group Posted On: 6/20/2021, By: Blachut Info: Virtually no snow below the saddle and quite avoidable up to the peak. |
|
6/11/2021 Route: East Ridge Posted On: 6/15/2021, By: kingshimmers Info: Trail has some avoidable water and a few small, shallow snow patches below the saddle. From the saddle to the peak there are a few snowfields, but nothing too deep or long - you could probably almost completely avoid the snow if desired. The saddle to Epaulie looks near completely dry. Lots of moose sign in the area (and another fellow spotted a mom with two babies). |
|
6/5/2021 Route: Rosalie Group Posted On: 6/5/2021, By: daway8 Info: Totally dry at trailhead, first little patch of snow at 10k then frequent small patches by 10,400ft. Midway from saddle to summit it becomes fairly continuous for a while. Never needed floatation but started half past midnight and was back at the trailhead before noon (did all 3 13ers). Snow was firm on the way up and had just enough give on the way down to plunge step comfortably downhill. Some people might want microspikes for patches of snow/ice but I never put mine on. |
|
5/15/2021 Route: East Ridge Posted On: 5/16/2021, By: mjlucarelli Info: Lots of snow below treeline and above on the route, but I only put on snowshoes for about a 1/4 mile just before treeline and didn't use them at all on the way down. My partner put them on and wore them most of the way down once we hit treeline, but we really didn't posthole much. This will probably change as the days get warmer and the snow gets softer. |
|
4/10/2021 Route: Rosalie Group Posted On: 4/10/2021, By: gluckhikes Info: Good trail up to ridge, mostly dry from there. No flotation or traction for the climb. Snowshoes were very useful for the descent between the ridge and treeline. I kept them on all the way back to the TH. |
|
4/2/2021 Route: Rosalie Group Posted On: 4/3/2021, By: tjagger Info: The route is in. There is a track all the way to treeline, and to the summit. We started at 10:00 am and summited at 3:15pm. It was warm and while snow shoes were not needed until 10,500' going up. I was post holing with my snow shoes on the way down. I found the hike down to be almost as fun as the hike up! We were able to get to Deer Creek trailhead in a RAV4 SUV, and the snow to the trailhead is starting to melt out. We saw only one vehicle and a few others on the trail. |
