Twin Lakes Road, Winchester Mountain

Wondering if anyone has driven up this way recently and can share road conditions. What with the scant low elevation snowpack, I'm wondering how far up the road can be driven off Hwy 542.

Usually WSDOT plows a berm right at the junction with their maintenance lot.

Ah, so we'd have to dig through it. Assuming there's any snow left at that elevation. Can anyone confirm?

Drove to KM 2 today (January 20th). Snow starts there at 900 meters ASL. Continuous snow beyond.

Currently, it's snowed in down to the highway.

Can anyone weigh in on which is the better approach to Goat Mountain? The logging road that crosses Swamp Creek off Twin Lakes road or trail #673 off the Hannegan road? I did trail #673 on skis some years back but we had to carry quite high to where the first slide alder patch is. Wondering about the logging road. Is it overgrown? Which is better?

I"ve done it both ways. Definitely prefer summer trail. Pretty sure it'a bit quicker.

Thanks dberdinka. The trail was the best way in, I think. It was snow covered. Good for the ascent on skins. We went down the north side to exit via Twin Lakes road.

The obvious north-facing gully off the Twin Lakes/Swamp Creek Road is quicker both up and down once the road melts out nearly that far. It's also skiable more or less to the car if you time it right. Plus it's way more scenic, and you'll have that whole side of both peaks of Goat Mountain to yourself.

Drawbacks: a short season, and a definite rockfall risk in the gully.

I assume that's what you mean by the logging road which crosses Swamp Creek. I believe that's not the only one. I've talked to someone who tried climbing via the much lower slide path which faces approximately west, not too far from the Mt. Baker Highway. They said it was arduous and not much fun. And I've wondered about some obvious approaches from above Twin Lakes itself, but by the time it becomes practical there are always more appealing tours to be had. But with sled access in winter, that would skip the gully and start higher.

Hope that's helpful....for someone.

Mark

Yep, we saw some steep lines in there, off that gully approach to Goat.