January 12, 2014, Mt. St. Helens, Swift Creek
1/12/14
WA Cascades West Slopes South (Mt Rainier)
5138
0
Mt. St. Helens - Swift Creek Trailhead (2650') to about 3000' has very thin coverage. Snowmobiles were kicking up pine needles on the bottom section. Trees are holding lots of snow in spite of the high wind forecasts for the past two days. This is unfortunate as most of it will melt and drip if the temperatures rise over the next couple of days.
12 inches on the open trail sections around 3500' and looked to be getting deeper with each 500' of elevation gain. Turned around at about 4000' as Hika wasn't breaking any trail and starting to stand on my ski tails. Plus the wet snow fall had turned to mostly rain. Didn't bother to peel skins off and skinned back to the snow park.
Most fun was the drive up as the road wasn't plowed and had about 12 inches on it...only a handful of high clearance vehicles in the snow park. Contract crew was just starting to clear the lot and road as I left around noon.
12 inches on the open trail sections around 3500' and looked to be getting deeper with each 500' of elevation gain. Turned around at about 4000' as Hika wasn't breaking any trail and starting to stand on my ski tails. Plus the wet snow fall had turned to mostly rain. Didn't bother to peel skins off and skinned back to the snow park.
Most fun was the drive up as the road wasn't plowed and had about 12 inches on it...only a handful of high clearance vehicles in the snow park. Contract crew was just starting to clear the lot and road as I left around noon.
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