May 30, 2003, Grand Park, MRNP

Charles and I were hoping for a nice tour of Grand Park in sunshine and warm temps with perhaps a trip to the summit of Mt. Fremont or Berkley Park.  We parked about a mile short ot the trailhead on FS 73 where the road was still blocked by snow for our low clearance car.  The snow coverage in the woods is still good.  Upon reaching Grand Park, pollen or whatever that black gooey stuff is began building up on our skis, really slowing them down.  Curious this stuff would get on our skis more while skiing in the open in Grand Park, rather then in the deep woods.  We stopped several times to clean our ski bases.  About midday dark clouds moved in.  It began to drizzle, then rain.  Then the fog moved in...  So much for the mostly sunny, chance of showers forecast.  We got as far as Cold Basin before we were too wet to continue.  It was fun to cross Grand Park in dense fog and rain on a compass bearing and end up just where we planned.  The snow surface was fairly firm and would have provided great touring if it wasn't for the pollen.