A solo adventure to check out the snow conditions in the high country.
- May 28, 2016
- Team: solo
- Peak:
- Fall Creek Peak, aka Peak 7789
- RT: 4.7 miles, 2299' gain, 3:00
- Lists of John
Note: click images to see a larger version in a new window
My original plan was to head for Lake Thirtythree. But the road was clogged with snow on the straights above the Snowslide trailhead. So instead, I headed back down to the Fall Creek trailhead. When I got there, I grabbed my pack and was locking my truck when I heard my name called; is was Leslie and Joe. A few pleasantries, and I was on my way up the trail. About here, I left the trail to follow a bare ridge. |
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I threaded the downfall and buckbrush and quickly moved up. Below, the trail was buried in snow. |
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Off to the south, I see the rock overlooking Crystal Lake. |
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As I got near the ridge, I ran into fuller snow coverage. |
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The ridge top gave me a view. Not too much farther, now. |
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Whoops. What's that rock tower going to offer up? |
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I did a little easy 4th class up the tower, only to see another tower. When I got up the second one, I took some pictures and sat down for lunch. It was a gorgeous day, and I was really soaking in the view, looking around in all directions. That's when I realized there was yet a higher point. DOH! |
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| So I packed it all up again, crawled down off THAT highpoint, and did some very steep snow to finally get to the true summit. |  |
Since I had already had lunch, I didn't stay long on top. I cruised down to Fall Creek Saddle and started down what might be the trail. The snow was supportive, but melty, wet, and slippery. I could hear water running underneath and there were exposed boulders. |
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I wasn't the only one in the valley. Note: I don't have Donald Trump hands! |
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In the meadow where the Crystal Lake trail leaves the Fall Creek trail, it was a disaster. After the winds of last winter, a large percentage of the old burn trees had fallen. All sizes, stacked on one another. |
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Map |
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