Loowit trail in mid-June, 2017

[mokefish]

Hi, I'm planning a trip to Oregon in mid-June, 2017. Given the large snowfall this year, does anyone think the Loowit trail will be passable by then?

[drm]

Simply said, no. Of course "passable" varies, and the Loowit will melt out before other trails at a similar altitude.

You can do a search online of "Washington snotels" and choose the link with a clickable map. These are automated weather stations with data downloaded daily. The one at June Lake, just below the Loowit, says there is 11 feet of snow there now. The one at Swift Creek (still just 4400') says there is 16 feet of snow now. These numbers are about 50% above average. I expect the Loowit will not be mostly melted out till mid-July this year at best. But you can find these snotels and check them as your date gets closer. Btw, Swift Creek is showing over 200 inches of water precip since Oct 1.

[mokefish]

Thanks for the reply. I was looking at the Snotel site and was in awe at the volume of snow. I was hoping they were faulty!

Oh well, looks like a Gorge adventure will have to suffice.

[drm]

They definitely can be faulty, it's not rare. I think the Spirit Lake snotel said there was 2" of snow.

Check back here a week before you start hiking and you will be able to see what is open for hiking.

[kepPNW]

They definitely can be faulty, it's not rare. I think the Spirit Lake snotel said there was 2" of snow.

That one's been 1/10 the others all winter. And ground truth tended to bear it out.

[mokefish]

So forgive me, but looking at the Webcam, isn't the vantage point basically showing Spirit Lake? It looks bone dry in the today's photo:

[kepPNW]

So forgive me, but looking at the Webcam, isn't the vantage point basically showing Spirit Lake? It looks bone dry in the today's photo:

No, that's looking out on the Pumice Plains. Spirit Lake is maybe three miles to the left/east of there, and not visible at all from JRO. But from that shot, it appears most of the north side Loowit Trail is melted out now, with the snow mainly above 4000'-ish, other than some of the gullies. Here's nearly the same view of MSH with the Loowit Trail overlaid in Google Earth:

• 

Spirit Lake is just barely visible on the far left edge of the image. JRO is at very bottom.

[mokefish]

Thanks so much for that view!

[Peder]

Welcome Mokefish! A couple of years ago, in a low snow year, Karl and I did the Loowit on June 6. As I recall, we saw no snow, so it may be possible in mid-June this year... I really don't know. Obviously, the snow would tend to linger in the most inconvenient spots, which would probably be the steep gullies on the east side. So try to check conditions as your trip comes closer, for example by asking here.