Started at Elk Meadows. Followed Newton Creek up, same as 5 days prior, but this time I stayed low, down by the water, and took two right forks, taking me to a steep series of waterfalls, and then a relatively easy rocky bowl. Getting warm, shorts and tee weather, even at mid morning.
Thought I'd exit near Lamberson Butte, but the creek surprised me, curving left up towards Newton-Clark Glacier. Time anxiety was setting in, because I was planning a loop. But the terrain was suddenly much easier, and I quickly followed the creek all the way up to 2016 snow, then climbed up to a high point to get my bearings. Yep, right where I thought I'd be, overview to the neat basins below the Cooper-Spur side of Newton-Clark Glacier. It was extremely rewarding to link my route up with previously-explored territory.
Looking down, wondering where the heck the trail was, I spotted a couple hikers! Glissided/plunged down, yelled over, asked if they were on trail. They were looking for it too. I went and found it, but they struggled, wandered, went way off route (which I realized when I was lower and looking back up). I felt a little bad about that, but I guess there really wasn't anything I could do. It's not as if they were in trouble, just struggling a bit. They could have followed me, but of course they had no way of knowing that even in my ignorance I knew the mountain better than they did. On the way down, I was amazed at the views into the canyon I had ascended. All that time (after the creek took its surprise turn) I had a trail right up above me. No regrets, of course; I just found it interesting/amusing.
Went up Lamberson. Much easier than expected. Then found the shelter ruins, which I had heard of but had forgotten. Lower than I expected; I thought it was well above treeline. As I paused here, the hikers I had spoken with earlier passed by, and explained their difficulties. They had started at Cloudcap, and were intending to do the full TLT loop. Based on their footwear and routefinding difficulty, I wonder if they should have done this a month ago. I do admire their tenacity though, and hope they had a fun successful loop.
The trail hike down was very pleasant. More people than expected, considering the snow, and the fact that it was a weekday.
I messed up and took the upper trail to Newton Creek; I was planning to take the lower crossing. I didn't even notice my mistake until I was at the creek. The mountain seemed awfully close. Then it dawned on me. Hmm. Well, I hiked a section of trail that was new to me (down to the creek) and then up out of the canyon on a trail I've never seen bare, so it was somewhat rewarding anyway. I can always go back later to finish up that last little section of the timberline trail that I haven't set foot on.
Although I had previously considered this to be a minor fork of Newton Creek, I think it terminates (goes under snow) higher than the others, and was the most interesting rewarding fork to follow. Combine that with the fact that there's an easy on-trail decent, and an easy abort route to get out of the canyon and on-trail early, I'd say this has to be the best route for Newton Canyon explorers, with the only drawback being that it doesn't plow right up the center of Newton Canyon for maximum adventure.
As usual, there will be a second set of bonus pics, so come back in a few minutes.
Lamberson/Gnarl the hard way
Lamberson/Gnarl the hard way
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