6/5/2023 Route: Gray Copper Trail Posted On: 6/5/2023, By: supranihilest Info: From trailhead to creek crossing, trail is wet with patchy snow. From creek crossing to 10,800 feet more continuous snow. From 10,800 feet to the saddle below Brown's southwest ridge we wore snowshoes, both ascending and descending. From saddle to about 300 feet below the summit we booted, then wore microspikes up long patches of snow interspersed with dry sections. Microspikes probably weren't necessary but were nice. Snow below treeline on descent was soft, wet, slick, and postholey. Would have been awful without flotation. |
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6/6/2021 Route: SW Ridge- Gray CopperTrail Posted On: 6/6/2021, By: Bombay2Boulder Info: No traction needed. There is minimal snow on the approach on the road, it's all in flat area. On the very top there is one snowfield, but you can pass thru it without any traction, bring microspikes if you really need it. I had my axe and crampons but didnt take it out. Road is easily driven in a subaru if coming from Gladstone side. PS: Poughkeepsie Gulch and Hurricane Basin are LOADED with snow, it will be a while before these are clear, unless the county plows it. |
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9/14/2020 Route: Southwest Ridge via Gray Copper Trail Posted On: 9/14/2020, By: supranihilest Info: From the Gray Copper Trailhead hike up FS 889 for .75 miles until the road ends at a 4-way intersection and the trail begins. The trail continues up past the Vernon Mine, and is easy to follow. Besides one very short section it's all snow free. Eventually the trail ends at the Vernon Mine Road, which I followed a short distance up towards the pass with Red Mountain, eventually running into a chain strung across the road. I crossed the chain and turned left, heading straight up the southwest ridge. It's unrelentingly steep but not difficult, mostly grass and kitty litter scree. Below the summit there's a bit of possible scrambling, but it can probably be avoided. The rock is poor in this section and the snow here can be avoided with ease. Descend back to the road, then to the mine, then to the trail. The trail is a bit faint where it dumps onto the road but there's a cairn and probably the best indication is a bunch of old logs embedded in the road nearby. Gray Copper Falls was super weak and not worth hiking up to see right now; if the falls interests you go in the spring or early summer when flow is higher. |
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7/7/2020 Route: Hurricane Pass Posted On: 7/8/2020, By: Flyingfish Info: Dry hiking and the pass is dry. |
