April 20-21, 2016, Howard/Mastiff, Nason Ridge

Spent a night on Mastiff, then had fun skiing on Howard.  Approached via Merritt Lake trail though the FS road was blocked by a big truck stuck in the 100' patch of snow a mile before the TH.  After lending them a shovel, I started hiking to about 4500' where switched to skinning.  Radka and I did this tour mid March last year, the condition is almost identical including the stretch of snow on the road. Merritt and Lost lakes are still snow covered though water is starting to show at shores.  Originally hoping to camp on the flat summit of Mastiff, but it got breezier near the upper ridge and decided to camp ~600' below.



Huge fracture line ~4' on the North slope off Mastiff:


Track on the East slope off Howard:


Down on the NE slope off Howard:


Sleeping-in took a toll and I hiked out just around the sunset.  There is still a lot of snow high, but the approach is long and a bit painful.  More pics here.