Oregon Hikers

Today I drove the Cascade Lakes Highway "clockwise" from Crane Prairie up past Elk Lake and Mt. Bachelor. There was no snow at all until Elk Lake, and then just a few patches. The snow increased until it was about 50% coverage around Devil's Lake, then 100% from Todd Lake to just before Mt. Bachelor. After Bachelor, it instantly disappeared. (Rain shadow, I guess.)

The Devil's Lake and Green Lakes trailheads are still snow-covered, but at both of them, people were parked along the clear part of the entrance roads near the highway.

I presume the road had been plowed?

Webfoot wrote: ↑

May 31st, 2019, 6:50 am

I presume the road had been plowed?

The highway, yes, but none of the side roads.

Plains of Abraham (St Helens) is bare! I was shocked and disappointed.

PCT in the vicinity of Santiam Pass is snow-free.
No snow on the Old Summit Trail past Square Lake to Booth Lake. Most likely clear to the Jack Lake TH, but didn't go that far.

It looks like it's still snowy along the PCT up on the flanks of Three Fingered Jack, which is no surprise.

Three of us did the Herman Creek - PCT loop Sunday/Monday. There is still a final snowbank as you get up to the ridge, but we had no trouble navigating through it, and it will be shrinking fast. Flowers are great along the ridge between Chinidere Mtn and Benson Plateau, including something my friends told me is called a Grandmas Pincusion, which I don't think I have seen before. Even lower Herman Ck has the best flowers I've ever seen there. This is the first spring it has been open since the fire so I assume that is the reason.

The next few days should be interesting. NOAA says Coldwater on MSH (a mere 3200' elevation) will see snow in the coming days, possibly several consecutive days of snow. Of course, realistically this will be maybe a couple inches that will melt on the next hot day, so it's not a game changer for trail hikers, but those of us who favor high alpine routes might be in for an unusual Sunday (they predict Sunday will bring clearing, hopefully good hiking weather).

Funny that as I was typing this, I heard "I never saw a spring with so much snow" in a song being played on Portland Radio Project. Not that I really think this is a record setting spring (far from), but it was interesting timing.

Incidentally, off topic, I feel compelled to share that I damn near wrecked my Outback once on a June afternoon driving home from a hike when I encountered a freak snowstorm and took a curve a little too fast.

FYI, snow report on Mt Hood as of 6/9/19. 95% snow coverage from Timberline Lodge all the way to Mississippi head and beyond. Sloppy and wet. Not fully compacted yet. Very difficult to walk in.

In contrast to B2BB's observations on Hood, St Helens was a delight! (Also 6/9.) Near Sheep Canyon, Crescent Ridge, to crater rim. Morning was dry and firm, but not icy. Afternoon brought good glissading conditions. A little postholing in spots, but not a serious impediment. I suspect the new snow is pretty much gone from Loowit Trail already, but old hard snow persists. Full TR to follow when I can find a few minutes.

Born2BBrad wrote: ↑

June 10th, 2019, 8:07 pm

FYI, snow report on Mt Hood as of 6/9/19. 95% snow coverage from Timberline Lodge all the way to Mississippi head and beyond.

Amazing the difference from this week last year! Appreciate that update.