Mt. Parnassus

Route: Via Woods Mountain
Posted On: 2/18/2018, By: Buddyboy27
Info: Set the skin track to Machebeuf but enough traffic from other skiers later in the morning that you shouldn't be breaking trail unless it has been windy or recent snowfall. After ascending Machebeuf, Woods mount is not difficult with good hard wind packed snow. The climb from Woods to Parnassus is basically free of snow. Ridge to Bard Peak has a few drifted sections were you will sink to your knees but these sections are short. Bard ridge is incredibly windy and carries snow from the west. I completed the loop with ski boots, but regular hiking boots after treeline would be fine. 

Route: Watrous Gulch
Posted On: 1/1/2018, By: coleofsoup
Info: Climbed Mt. Parnassus on Friday, 29Dec2017 as the snow conditions seemed favorable on its west-facing slope and avalanche danger was so high in many other areas.

The trailhead parking area at Herman Gulch was nicely plowed and easily accessible in a sedan.

Forecast was for winds around 25 miles an hour and gusts up to 44 mph.

We started out just at sunrise and quickly warmed up as winds were almost nonexistent on the trail to Watrous Gulch. The trail itself was well-packed by skiers all the way to the junction where one can either continue along the skiers trail or break right to head up Parnassus. My partner and I broke trail from that junction all the way to the saddle and snowshoes were absolutely mandatory. We followed the ridge line avoiding the steep south face as much as possible.

Up on the saddle, the snow gave way to frozen tundra and rock due to the high sustained winds. Warm boots were all that was needed and we never put on our microspikes on the ascent nor descent from the summit.

The summit itself was cold and windy indeed, but the views were incomparable and I can't wait to go back. 

Route: West Ridge
Posted On: 12/20/2017, By: Jay521
Info: To expand on LetsGoMets report - snowshoes definitely not needed but spikes were helpful on the way down after Mother Nature used her warming temperatures Zamboni on the ice. 

Route: Herman Gulch TH
Posted On: 12/18/2017, By: LetsGoMets
Info: Avy free route at the moment. That could change later this week, so just be aware of the slopes around you @ around 11,400 feet.

Traction is very helpful getting out of tree line. Flotation could be useful if it warms up, but not needed at the moment. Ridge between Woods and Parnassus to the summit is essentially windblown and rock. 

Route: North Face Couloirs
Posted On: 7/3/2017, By: KyleS
Info: The two-track trail into the Ruby Creek cirque is completely free of snow but the multiple creek crossings are swollen and during our pre-dawn approach the crossings were icy.
The couloirs on the north and northeast faces are still holding enough snow for respectable snow climbing, but the surface is heavily sun-cupped/runneled - the ski descent was less than ideal. There was also evidence of serious rockfall near the bottom of the drainpipe.
Shortly after dawn we watched a pack of coyotes chase a herd of elk around the basin. 

Route: NW Slopes via Watrous Gulch
Posted On: 6/19/2017, By: xcrunner365
Info: The route from Herman Gulch TH via Watrous Gulch is 90% snow free. With only a few small lingering snow fields along the trail. Mainly from the Bard creek/ Watrous Gulch trail junction to treeline. I brought gaiters and microspikes and used neither. The water level at the stream crossing in Watrous Gulch is high and care must be taken to find the best way across. 

Route: Watrus Gulch
Posted On: 6/11/2017, By: SteveT
Info: About half way up Watrous Gulch, the trail is covered by snow. And snow continues intermittently as you head up to the saddle between Woods and Parnassus. Parnassus is mostly clear of snow. Overall, the snow was not too deep (never post-holed past knee). With gaiters and waterproof boots it was a very enjoyable hike. Definitely don't need snowshoes. Microspikes were useful but not really mandatory. 

Route: NW Ridge
Posted On: 6/4/2017, By: JeffR
Info: Snow-free until entering Watrous Gulch proper. Then random snow patches until treeline, where snow is continuous for remainder of route. Aside from the random posthole, snow was fairly firm until about halfway back down the descent (10AM?) - things started getting pretty greasy then. Snow was nearly-bulletproof in many places on the ridge and W. slope... spikes kept the pucker factor down on the steeper areas. 

Route: 
Posted On: 1/1/2017, By: rijaca
Info: Trail into Watrous Gulch is hard packed. Once into Watrous Gulch the track/trail becomes braided and snowshoes were helpful until timberline.
Grassy tundra with minor amounts of snow above that (no snowshoes needed).

A Richard Derkase sighting also. 

Route: 
Posted On: 11/6/2016, By: lkk8815
Info: Continuous snow above ~12,500', only a few inches deep. Spikes were nice to have but not necessary. 

Route: 
Posted On: 10/31/2016, By: highcountryhiker
Info: Ascended via Watrous Gulch and Bard Creek Trail to SE ridge. Descended via standard NW ridge route back to Watrous Gulch. Nice loop. Minor snow on leeward faces of ridges, otherwise ridges dry with no snow on the routes. Essentially summer conditions, except for a constant chilly wind. 

Route: 
Posted On: 6/11/2016, By: Ericds84
Info: Climbed Parnassus from Watrous Gulch. The trail had some pretty serious drifts over it just before tree line. Postholed quite a bit, but the snow was too intermittent to bother with snow shoes. Muddy and wet--gaiters are a big help. Above tree line, the snow can be avoided almost entirely. NW Ridge is practically bare. 

Route: NW Ridge Standard Route + Traverse to Bard Peak
Posted On: 5/30/2016, By: jasayrevt
Info: Good, prime conditions for this route and reaching the top of the peak. Variable, definitely still a lot of snow around. There are many high-quality mountaineering lines that are in. Watrous Gulch was fine way to go. Make a trip up and enjoy the great outdoors / summits. We saw a wolverine on the slopes ascending Mt. Parnassus, which was pretty surreal. Such a rarity. Ridge over to Bard is absolutely excellent. Dropping down at saddle is viable. Pictures included for beta 

Route: 
Posted On: 5/23/2016, By: emgordon
Info: Hiked then skinned into Watrous Gulch under the full moon. Snow well frozen all the way from trailhead. Continuous snow encountered within half a mile of summer Bard-Watrous trail intersection. Watrous Bowl looks good to ski for now. 

Route: 
Posted On: 5/20/2016, By: JeffR
Info: Continuous snow starts at ~1 mile. I got on 'er early so was able to boot it all the way to the summit with only random postholing. Spikes would've been nice on the ridge (had to kick-step a lot). Snowshoes on the descent made it a breeze, otherwise it would've blown donkey.