6/3/2017 Posted On: 6/9/2017 By: sdkeil Info: Clear and open to the trailhead | ||||
5/13/2017 Posted On: 5/13/2017 By: scholbiwan Info: Trailhead closed at the Fourth of July/Hessie split. Hessie appeared open at the split, but we did not go further down that path. Signage for Fourth of July closure said "Road Work Ahead", but the cones were completely blocking the road. We suspect road damage and did not venture further. | ||||
6/19/2016 Posted On: 6/20/2016 By: emgordon Info: Take it slow in a low clearance vehicle, but anyone should be able to make it. It gets real busy so go early or late. | 1 |
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6/4/2016 Posted On: 6/6/2016 By: supranihilest Info: Clear and dry to the trailhead. | ||||
6/2/2016 Posted On: 6/3/2016 By: screester Info: Road plowed and dry all the way. Not too rough, saw 4 people in a Corolla Matrix at the trailhead. | ||||
3/12/2016 Posted On: 3/13/2016 By: emgordon Info: We parked approximately 4.5 miles from the summer trailhead. For the first 1/3 of the way, boots were fine. Then we reached a parked/stuck Ford about 3 miles from the summer TH and put on traction. This was good for about the next 1/3 until we encountered crusty/spring snow and put on snowshoes for the last 1/3 of the walk. You definitely need flotation past the summer TH, but we couldn't find the true start of the trail, so don't follow our tracks. The road is definitely not skiable without new snow, too many bare or icy spots. On the way down, we kept snowshoes on all the way to the Ford because it was softened up. Nice, scenic trip especially not seeing anyone else for most of the morning. | ||||
10/24/2015 Posted On: 10/24/2015 By: dhaines Info: With good, dry conditions, a 2WD sedan should make up to the trailhead with caution, slow speed to the LOWER parking lot (I've done it in a Honda Civic in 2011 & 2013). An AWD small SUV should be able to make it to the upper parking lot (I've done it it in mud/slush in 2015). The road is pretty rough just past the Hessie trailhead. If that makes you nervous then turn back. The road is calmer after that for a while, but gets just as rough and more as you get closer to the trailhead. Attached is a photo of the UPPER parking lot on 10/24/2015. (Two sedans were in the lower parking lot). | ||||
10/16/2015 Posted On: 10/19/2015 By: David Tennant Info: Road was good all the way to the TH. There were 4-5 sections on the way there that looked rough but navigable with a passenger car, but literally the last few hundred feet convinced me that a passenger car is a bad idea. There‘s a huge rut and tree root sticking out the road which would most certainly give you a hard time, right as you are passing the outhouse, and just after the TH sign. I‘d only recommend a higher clearance vehicle. | ||||
7/26/2015 Posted On: 7/27/2015 By: adrenalated Info: Road is in good condition, better than I‘ve seen it in the past. Doable in a passenger car if you‘re careful, but better to take an Outback/crossover SUV or the like for a stress-free experience. Complete junkshow at the TH, as crowded as I‘ve ever seen it. | ||||
5/16/2015 Posted On: 5/16/2015 By: jjb7733 Info: The road is open but it is in considerably worse condition than the last time I posted. The potholes are bigger and there are large puddles but the road is mostly clear of snow. I took an Xterra up this time, I would wait a couple more weeks before attempting this in a 2wd car. I took a splitboard with me but it was too spotty to skin up until getting close to tree line. Still a lot of fun, but snowshoes would be useful for the first 1.5 miles or so. Picture of the skin track posted. | ||||
8/13/2014 Posted On: 8/19/2014 By: centrifuge Info: I know the previous poster indicated he got a Jetta up there early in the season, but my Mazda 3 bottomed out in a way I wasn‘t willing to push any farther 1.8 miles up the road with no way to avoid it. If a person doesn‘t like their low clearance car you can probably get up to the trail head, but if you don‘t like the sound of metal on rock low clearance vehicles will struggle to get past some spots on this road. | ||||
6/14/2014 Posted On: 6/19/2014 By: jjb7733 Info: My VW jetta made it to the trailhead no problem, just a couple minor scrapes | ||||
5/17/2014 Posted On: 5/24/2014 By: jjb7733 Info: Fourth of July road still closed | ||||
7/27/2013 Posted On: 7/30/2013 By: forbins_mtn Info: 2WD can make it up there. Just be careful. Get there early to secure a parking spot. Make sure you have an exit because when you return to your car there is no guarantee some idiot won‘t block you in. | ||||
5/17/2013 Posted On: 6/4/2013 By: SmokedNutz Info: Noticed it wasn‘t updated... thought I‘d try my hand at a first post. Completely clear all the way up to the trailhead, was a fun drive as a first time up there two weeks ago, just some puddles and a small amount of mud along the way. Drove my 2wd Ranger up there, I‘m sure a competent car driver could make it. |
