6 replies to this topic

[MaizeEagle]

The snow has forced us to change our hiking destination plans. We have 2 west side hikes planned, and 3 on the east side. We were going to do Timber Lake and above day one and East Inlet day 2 for our west side hikes. Heard from the backcountry office yesterday that Timber Lake trail is closed due to avalance debris as is the East Inlet trail at the 4.5 mile mark. Now we are going to hike Mt. Ida and possibly a souhern Indian Peaks hike depending on those conditions. They also said the North Inlet trail is open for 7.5 miles, but that trail has never interested us much.

For our east side hikes, we had planned to go to Lawn Lake, Lake Helene and explore above it on the climbing trails, and then Lion Lakes. We still plan on hitting Lawn Lake. We doubt we can get above Lake Helene, and the backcountry office has no reports from Lion Lakes so we don't plan on heading that way. They said people have gotten to Thunder Lake with snowshoes, so we may try that.

We hope folks who have been in the park can give us some advice-- Are there any west side hikes in the park that are doable? On the east side, can we summit Hallet? Have people been able to get to Sky Pond? Any info on Chasm- is the snowfield you have to cross melted out, stable? We've been to all those spots, but are considering repeating them. Anything else come to mind on the east side.

We'll arrive Saturday. We do have gaitors, Yak-trax, and snow shoes, as well as a GPS to help us find our way on trails. We are not concerned with hiking in the snow. Any information you can give is appreciated.

[HighPlainsMedic]

Aside from the avalanches.. your limiting factor would have been gear.. and it appears you have that covered.. We did Ida on June 11, very doable.. the initial pitch was steep and snow covered.. but the shoes made it easier. After that we cached the shoes and proceded to Ida.. since it was above timberline and has a mostly western slope the trail was virtually clear of snow the entire way. Nice little hike.

It's been some time since we did Sky Pond.. and others might have headed up that way since... the bowl below Lake of Glass was entirely snow filled, the falls were covered with snow and there were numerous little slides.. there is a different approach on the south side of the drainage, here is an overlay of a Google earth


I think if you set your sights on getting above timberline you will find the divide pretty clear, the trick is getting above timberline, but as you said, you have the gear. I can't wait till I don't have to lug the snowshoes along...

[MaizeEagle]

I think we are a little more finalized after several phone calls today. The East Inlet Trail is not closed. The person I talked to today said after Lone Pine Lake, it is snow covered and gets pretty deep pretty fast. She said there was still 4 feet of snow before you get to Lake Verna. Therefore, we are going to hike to Lone Pine Lake on day 1. We'll do Mt. Ida day 2.

On the east side, we plan to go to Lawn Lake, Chasm Lake, and Thunder Lake. The back country office thought the snowfield on the way to Chasm wouldn't be an issue, and also knew several had been to Thunder Lake. Their last report still had 8 feet of snow there, but they felt we could get there and might need our snow shoes for that one. The person at the backcountry office was very helpful today. I am going to give them a call early next week for updates.

I'm still interested in any info others may have on conditions. We've hiked all these before, and even though they weren't our original plans, we are still very much looking forward to getting back to RMNP. I will try to post a few pictures daily, beginning Sunday.

[cardinal]

MaizeEagle, on 28 June 2011 - 04:10 PM, said:

I think we are a little more finalized after several phone calls today. The East Inlet Trail is not closed. The person I talked to today said after Lone Pine Lake, it is snow covered and gets pretty deep pretty fast. She said there was still 4 feet of snow before you get to Lake Verna. Therefore, we are going to hike to Lone Pine Lake on day 1. We'll do Mt. Ida day 2.

On the east side, we plan to go to Lawn Lake, Chasm Lake, and Thunder Lake. The back country office thought the snowfield on the way to Chasm wouldn't be an issue, and also knew several had been to Thunder Lake. Their last report still had 8 feet of snow there, but they felt we could get there and might need our snow shoes for that one. The person at the backcountry office was very helpful today. I am going to give them a call early next week for updates.

I'm still interested in any info others may have on conditions. We've hiked all these before, and even though they weren't our original plans, we are still very much looking forward to getting back to RMNP. I will try to post a few pictures daily, beginning Sunday.

I would take extra precaution on the Chasm trail. There is a section there that if you slip you will go a LONG ways down before an abrupt stop.

[Igloo Ed]

cardinal, on 28 June 2011 - 04:33 PM, said:

I would take extra precaution on the Chasm trail. There is a section there that if you slip you will go a LONG ways down before an abrupt stop.

Yes, I saw a picture of the snowfield you need to cross and it is bigger than ever. It's been traveled though.
I haven't been using snowshoes since my trip over Otis on June 4th and that was only in the lower altitudes. The snow is hard enough now to walk on.

[HighPlainsMedic]

Igloo Ed, on 28 June 2011 - 05:04 PM, said:

Yes, I saw a picture of the snowfield you need to cross and it is bigger than ever. It's been traveled though.
I haven't been using snowshoes since my trip over Otis on June 4th and that was only in the lower altitudes. The snow is hard enough now to walk on.

Re; same area.. Barb and I are headed up to Mt. Lady Washington.. going to take snowshoes in the vehicle, wonders if i should take them up the hill for the first part.. below treeline.. I'm thinking above there the snow is off .. what do you think??

Plus planning on Flattop and maybe Taylor on the 4th.. same issue for the trip down Andrews and the snowfield below.. are we looking at ice axes???? snow shoes?? I remember post holing some years ago.. and ya know.. when your 18 + stone.. physics is law lol..

J

[Igloo Ed]

I went part way up the winter creek route to Mill Junction last weekend with Waterrat and the drifts supported us. The thin edges of the drift didn't but we just walked the drift backbone and the drip lines of the trees. We only fell through getting on and off the drifts. Areas through the little willows soften up deeply, ovoid those like the plague.
The slope below the tarn will be a bit dense/fast if you slip. An ice axe might be prudent or it might still be soft enough to plunge step. An ice axe would make it so you could glissade it without the risk.
With the trail across the large snowfield gong to Chasm Lake in the picture I saw, I'd think the trail to Chasm Junction will be well packed and anything above that will be bare or hard snow.