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North Star Mountain

Peak Condition Updates  
3/4/2023
Route: Southeast Shoulder
Posted On: 3/5/2023, By: kyrawhitworth
Info: Winds were surprisingly tolerable and made for a great day. Snowshoes were definitely needed. We traded out snowshoes for spikes once on the ridge but honestly keeping the snowshoes on was likely the better choice. Snow is very soft and was not supportive in a lot of spots on the ridge. Views very much worth it! 
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3/4/2023
Route: Southeast Shoulder
Posted On: 3/4/2023, By: 14er101
Info: Good day to be out, wind was manageable. I kept my snowshoes on the entire day and I think it was the right decision. Definitely want them (although you could get by without them) until 13000, then you could switch over to micros or crampons but the snow on the ridge was unsupportive and having a nice snowshoe platform was very helpful. All in all, snow covered, minimal avalanche risk if you stay on the ridges the entire time, bring snowshoes! 
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2/18/2023
Route: Southeast Shoulder
Posted On: 2/18/2023, By: Embercleave
Info: Turned around at 13k for circumstances not related to conditions. The most recent snow was unconsolidated and made one of our party regret not bringing snowshoes. They were postholing when the rest of us were having a happy time just trodding along. Otherwise the day was sunny and pretty with winds that were kind of obnoxious but doable. 
10/8/2022
Route: Traverse from Wheeler
Posted On: 10/8/2022, By: bangerth
Info: It snowed on and off today while we were on North Star, coming from Wheeler via the traverse. So who knows how long this conditions report is going to be useful, but here goes: North Star has this very long east-west ridge, and the south side of that is completely dry whereas on the north side there is snow -- not much, maybe 4 inches between the rocks, but enough that it doesn't inspire too much confidence. That said, as long as you stay on the south side, it's really summer conditions. And one *can* stay on the south side for nearly the entire length of the ridge from Wheeler all the way to the downtrot on the east side. We really enjoyed the traverse, and that wouldn't have been the case with snow, but there was not a single spot where the traverse was ever affected by snow. 
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9/5/2022
Route: Southeast Shoulder
Posted On: 9/8/2022, By: kwhit24
Info: We did this as a car shuttle starting at Montgomery Reservoir and finishing at top of Road #2 off Hoosier Pass. I was able to get Ford Edge up Road #2 but did bottom out towards the top. Any 4Runner type would get there to top no problem just good driving. The road walking all the way to the lake and then used the South Ridge route to the top of Wheeler Mtn. There is a trail and/or cairns all the way to the ridge. Only some on the route over the summit and there are some class 3 spots getting there. After making it back to a high grassy saddle we started our way to Northstar. There was one spot where we really dropped to our right to get around what Daway8 described as a the "sweat slab". That would've been too much for the pup. While dropping unfortunately I released a crockpot size rock that triggered a microwave size rock. I'm sure people on Lincoln heard it because it was pretty loud. After dropping right we made our way back to the ridge in time the make it to the "rock window". After that point we thought the route became much more obvious and presented itself as we made our way. I wouldn't recommend dogs on this route but I never had to pick Mav up. He did it all himself but he is a very good climber. Didn't see anyone until we were almost back to the car but there were a lot of people walking up the road off Hoosier Pass. (9.07 mi; 3,386' gain; 5:30:05 total time) Start at Montgomery Reservoir 6:15am; Wheeler Lake 7:35am; Wheeler Mtn 8:55am; Northstar Mtn 10:30am; Back to Road #2 TH 11:45am 
10
7/19/2022
Route: Southeast Shoulder
Posted On: 7/20/2022, By: mtngoatwithstyle
Info: Drove to Hoosier Pass,where I parked. Took the road and followed directions to the gated road and to the right. Road up to where you can park at 12K has some big and deep ruts, so if you do have quite a bit of clearance, that may be what you want to do. A Subaru would not be able to make it, though. Past the road where the gate is, to the right, I encountered many cairns on the way up that did not "match" the GPX file on this page but still brought me up enough to reconnect with the route below the ridge. The ridge is dry and in great shape. I truly enjoyed it. Right before the false summit, as your are cruising on the beautiful ridge, suddenly, everything changes and it is all big rocks that one needs to navigate and traverse as the ridge proper is too narrow and exposed to do so. It is here where I had to turn around because clouds were building behind the summit and I could see potential for a storm. I am glad I did as when I was coming down, I heard a rumble. I would say that this part before false summit may be a little more than class 2, maybe class 2+. No navigation problems as you just need to keep going forward and then eventually go up past that part but if it definitely is a surprise to encounter and one needs to take its time to traverse. Great day!. 
6/27/2022
Route: Southeast Shoulder
Posted On: 6/27/2022, By: madadraw1
Info: About 1 inch of fresh snow on the ridge from the prior day's storm, but no traction needed/didn't slow things down much. If you forget the day's prior storm, summer conditions except for one short area on ridge with unsupportable snow — traversed off ridge to the north for very short stint on talus to avoid. 
1/2/2022
Route: Southeast Shoulder
Posted On: 1/3/2022, By: astranko
Info: First avvy slope on 4wd Road is passable on mixed dirt/rock, although not for much longer. Slope below first false summit is wind-blown and passable on the 4wd road from the low saddle without avalanche concern. Ridge to summit doesn't have much in the way of "real" cornices yet. A few small sections that you need to be careful of. Did the whole thing in just mountaineering boots, but brought crampons. Mixed snow conditions from hard wind slab to sugar depending on where you are on the ridge. It's in great condition right now. Get at it. 
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12/4/2021
Route: Southeast Shoulder
Posted On: 12/4/2021, By: wintersage
Info: Depressingly dry with patches of ice at the beginning. The ridge is loaded with snow and has a few cornices but the postholing is minimal. I carried snowshoes all the way up and down but never had to use them. Did not have to use microspikes either. Despite the wind, it was quite warm at the summit. 
11/7/2021
Route: Southeast Shoulder
Posted On: 11/7/2021, By: Alpinefroggy
Info: Lots of unconsolidated 2-3ft drifts on parts of the road to the beginning of the ridge, bypassable by hiking on the rocks but these areas turned into postholey uncomfortable messes of sugar snow. Ultimately bailed at 12,900 or so due to 40+ mph winds. Ridge looks corniced. 
8/14/2021
Route: Southeast Shoulder
Posted On: 8/18/2021, By: snigrus
Info: Summer conditions. Ridgeline very traversable. Parked at Hoosier Pass and made it basically to the second summit and back in ~5 hours, watch said 8.2 miles. 
6/2/2021
Route: Southeast Shoulder
Posted On: 6/2/2021, By: Brittanyjomad
Info: Only made it to the AllTrails “summit” at 13,438 ft about a mile shy from the true summit due to the snow covered ridge we didn't feel comfortable on with the dogs. Crampons would be a must for that section. Most of the trail was dry until you reach the mine and then it was mostly snow but with some dry areas. Did not use any traction. Started at 5:40 am, hiked 2.8 miles to the false summit before the final ridge and made it there at 7:30, back to the car at 8:30. 
5/25/2021
Route: Southeast Shoulder
Posted On: 5/25/2021, By: tylerreedjohnson
Info: Started right before sunrise at Hoosier and skinned up to the false summit with just 2-3 steps over exposed rocky bits. Big cornice over tractor bowl, another cornice right at the false summit that can be easily dodged with a good bootpack to the south. Stashed skis and proceeded along the knife edge ridge traverse to the true summit. Ridgeline has a fair number of cornices to be managed with some major exposure, ice axe highly recommended. Nailed the ski down at corn o'clock. Lapped a little 900' run between the cornice above tractor bowl and the top of the dirt road a few times before heading home. Dirt road is mostly snow covered, maybe 0.25-0.5 mile total over three sections on dirt instead of snow. 
4/24/2021
Route: Southeast Shoulder
Posted On: 4/25/2021, By: gluckhikes
Info: Broke a massive trail to the false summit with an 11 person CMC group. Did not continue on ridge due to high winds, knife edge snow conditions, and group size. 
4/18/2021
Route: Southeast Shoulder
Posted On: 4/20/2021, By: hhoetmer
Info: Flotation necessary until on the high ridge around 13,200' & then the snow firms up and the ridge narrows with steep/slick snow. Crampons and ice axe from there on out. There was a solid skin & snowshoe pack up until around 12,800 and then I was on my own from there. My tracks quickly filled in with the new snow and wind, so don't expect to have a trail to follow. Summer trail had old avalanche debris over it, some skiers opted to cut above it. Be comfortable making terrain choices based on conditions. Lots of cornices on ridge to true summit. I wish I had better pictures, but I was inside a cloud most of the day & couldn't see much. 
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