6/15/2025 Route: EngRoBaParn Loop Posted On: 6/15/2025, By: Dan_Suitor Info: Starting at Ruby Gulch TH, it was clear. Going up the slope of Engelmann was clear until near the top, where there were a few snow fields. The loop from here to Parnassus saw some patches of snow. I used my spikes for safety, but you could get away without them. No need for floatation. I put my gators on since there were a few places I punched through. I found a dry rocky/grassy route down from the Parnassus/Woods saddle. From there, I went a little left and stayed high to avoid the snow in the willows. This worked ok to a point, but once I got into the trees, there was a lot of punchy snow and run-off. I got a bit off route and had to traverse some fast running streams utilizing logs and snow bridges. The road was snow covered in a lot of places. Again, no need for floatation if you don’t mind a little bit of calf to knee deep punch-throughs. |
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6/7/2025 Route: Drainpipe Posted On: 6/7/2025, By: Wildernessjane Info: The Drainpipe is still skiing pretty well, especially given the snowpack this year. We descended from the summit at around 10:30 with a good freeze the night before. There was a small wet-slide originating from one of the cornices but we were able to hug skiers right on the way down. It was a mix of powder, corn and firm snow. On the way in, we transitioned to skinning at 10,800 but we could’ve transitioned even earlier. With some minor shenanigans, we managed to ski to within a mile of the car on the way out. |
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6/1/2025 Route: Drainpipe Couloir Posted On: 6/1/2025, By: Geckser Info: I was amazed by how goos the coverage was on Parnassus. We were able to ski from the top all the way to the main road at 10,300, the coverage on the offshoot road was unbelievable. There were some walking sections but I was able to keep skis on all the way down with relative ease. None of this will be the case for long though! Obviously snow was softening quick today but there was a passing freeze above 11,000. Descent started at 8:10 and some parts of Drainpipe were good corn, others were slopped out, and inset sections were still fully hard. Not sure if I could have timed it much better. The line is a fairly fun moderate and still skiable from the summit with only one rock crossing. |
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4/26/2025 Route: Drainpipe Posted On: 4/26/2025, By: Danger_D Info: You can ski a few hundred yards off the top, but there is a 20 yard melted section before the top of the couloir. The steep entrance to the line was rock hard at 10:30, but there is a lower entrance a few hundred yards down the ridge that was a lot softer. The line skied decently with a mix of sticky corn and churned up snow. The ski down to the car is downright enjoyable |
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4/20/2025 Route: Drainpipe Posted On: 4/20/2025, By: Veory Info: This weekend brought amazing snow (for skiing anyways, climbing the drainpipe was a bit of a slog). Road was open to the upper trailhead. A handful of folks skinned the ridge, my party and I booted the route, which was occasionally waist deep but a lot of fun, and much easier with a group of 5 to switch out with. The drop in was pretty steep with a bit of slab to punch through, most of the rest of the route was deep powder on crust. Hit one rocky patch on the bowl, but otherwise an amazing way to celebrate my 100th ranked 13er. |
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4/14/2025 Route: NE Face Posted On: 4/14/2025, By: jmanner Info: Climbed the North face couloir, skied the NE Face. Both are skiable, although the north line requires more rock avoidance, the snow seemed colder and less sun affected. Good freeze last night, snow was till cold from the wind at the TH at 12:30pm. |
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6/30/2024 Route: From Herman Gulch TH Posted On: 6/30/2024, By: kal_18 Info: Excellent conditions, all snow avoidable. Very beautiful right now with lots of flowers. Perfect time to hike it. |
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6/22/2024 Route: Herman Gulch Posted On: 6/22/2024, By: AndrewJCraigie Info: Parnassus & Bard - only a few very briefly handful patches of snow melting quick, easily avoided. |
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6/16/2024 Route: from Watrous Gulch Posted On: 6/16/2024, By: cougar Info: almost summer conditions, west slopes of Parnassus are totally dry. Lingering snow ribbon in upper Watrous Gulch covers part of the trail above treeline, but easily bypassed on either side. Bard looked totally dry too, and the peaks on the east side. Still some snow drifts in upper Herman Gulch, and lots of snow on Pettingell and the Citadel still. Big difference in snow coverage across the basin and much more in ranges to west. |
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6/5/2024 Route: Standard via Watrous Gulch Posted On: 6/5/2024, By: SionaRW35 Info: Whoever said mostly avoidable snow on Parnassuss in a recent conditions report did not do the standard route. There are plenty of lengthy snowfields (see pics). Once on the ridge its all avoidable. Went with trail runners only and carried spikes but never used them. Definitely got wet feet from post holing but thats the name of the game in early June. Views are spectacular. Had complete solitude today. |
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6/1/2024 Route: Herman Gulch TH Posted On: 6/1/2024, By: Laxer04 Info: Ideal spring conditions. We started around 430AM, trail is mostly dry until just before you head up the slope to Parnassus. Snow is most avoidable up Parnassus. We continued on to Bard, Robeson and Engelmann. Spikes and an axe were helpful for those, but not needed. Snow really softened up around 1030AM, but we were able to do all 4 without snowshoes (even though we carried them). My strava came in at 12.41 miles 6438ft of vert for all 4 |
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5/16/2024 Route: Herman Gulch TH Posted On: 5/16/2024, By: Istoodupthere Info: Mostly dry Watrous Gulch trail for 1 mile. Then hard packed snow until I left the buried trail at 1.4 miles. Made way to the couloir that is the next one left of the first couloir you see. Put on crampons and used axe up the couloir to gain the initial ridge at 11,800. Very good conditions. A few softer spots before gaining the ridge as the sun just started hitting it around 8am. The last 50 yards or so at top of the left hand side of the couloir is fairly steep. The right hand side goes up further, with steeper conditions but it had unstable looking snow. After another couple hundred feet of gain the crampons came off for good. Mix of rock and less steep snow in general to the summit. Beautiful warmish windless summit. Some postholing down around gulch area as expected. Saw one other person just below the saddle. Evidence of a couple skiers yesterday. The couloir goes but its going fast. The face of Woods and Machebeuf looked prime for skiing. I took a more roundabout descent closer to the saddle. There were a few areas of a couple inch crust that was cracking in slabs here |
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12/28/2023 Route: Wattrous Gulch from Herman Gulch TH Posted On: 12/28/2023, By: bmcqueen Info: I ascended Parnassus today from Herman Gulch TH. I wore my snowshoes from the Bard Creek trail sign as there was trenching required after the fresh snow. I kept them on until the summit, but could have easily taken them off once I got to the Wood saddle. |
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11/13/2023 Route: Watrous Gulch Posted On: 11/13/2023, By: Piotr Info: Great day, 40F in the parking lot at 10AM. Trail 95% dry, with few sections of packed ice. No need for spikes. |
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10/14/2023 Route: Watrous Gulch Posted On: 10/16/2023, By: dylangraves24 Info: Hiked Mount Machebeuf and Woods Mountain starting from Herman Gulch, then descended from Woods down to the saddle between Woods and Parnassus. Winter conditions for much of the route above treeline on Watrous Gulch trail. Easy hiking up to Parnassus, no traction needed, but wore trail runners and my feet were wet for most of the day. Still a beautiful day out, but would recommend planning for some pockets of snow up to 1' deep as of Saturday/Sunday, October 14/15. |
