14ers.com • Trailhead Status

Trailhead:	Baldwin Gulch Sawatch Range
Posted By:	Btuperkwh
Date of Info:	09/13/2020
Date Posted:	09/14/2020

Status Update
Note: I walked up, did not drive Sun 9/13. Saw 3 vehicles the whole day. 7am, frozen ground whole way up. By 2pm, lots of run-off, slushy ankle deep snow, and slippery mud. - First mile: Run-off, slushy snow and mud. There are a 1-2 very deep holes/ruts now due to vehicle traffic sliding through the mud and run-off from the past several days. One rut is very close to the drop off edge of the road. - Second mile to creek crossing: Good shape. Note: Creek crossings are running higher/wider due to run off - watched a high clearance jeep wrangler and 4-runner cross very tentatively. They made it. - Treeline to switchbacks: Snow and drifts. Switchbacks up were covered in drifts up to knee-deep, waist level. Frozen in the morning and easy to walk on and slush in the afternoon (post-holing all the way down). Gully is the same - frozen snow in the AM and then mud in the afternoon. Note: You can walk on the edge of the road most of the way down without postholing. One jeep was parked at the 1st-2nd switchback (pointed up). Not sure how they got turned around and down with all the mud. - Trail to summit: Intermittent 'dry' trail/snow. Snow between the rocks - afternoon melt made them a bit slippery.

Status Update

Note: I walked up, did not drive Sun 9/13. Saw 3 vehicles the whole day. 7am, frozen ground whole way up. By 2pm, lots of run-off, slushy ankle deep snow, and slippery mud.
- First mile: Run-off, slushy snow and mud. There are a 1-2 very deep holes/ruts now due to vehicle traffic sliding through the mud and run-off from the past several days. One rut is very close to the drop off edge of the road.
- Second mile to creek crossing: Good shape. Note: Creek crossings are running higher/wider due to run off - watched a high clearance jeep wrangler and 4-runner cross very tentatively. They made it.
- Treeline to switchbacks: Snow and drifts. Switchbacks up were covered in drifts up to knee-deep, waist level. Frozen in the morning and easy to walk on and slush in the afternoon (post-holing all the way down). Gully is the same - frozen snow in the AM and then mud in the afternoon. Note: You can walk on the edge of the road most of the way down without postholing. One jeep was parked at the 1st-2nd switchback (pointed up). Not sure how they got turned around and down with all the mud.
- Trail to summit: Intermittent 'dry' trail/snow. Snow between the rocks - afternoon melt made them a bit slippery.

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