2021 Snow Level

General discussions on hiking in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest
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Don Nelsen
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Re: 2021 Snow Level

Post by Don Nelsen » May 11th, 2021, 9:13 am

Yesterday, May 10th, Road 43 blocked by snow at 3,000' about a quarter mile before the junction with road 41.
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"If you don't do it this year, you will be one year older when you do" - Warren Miller

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Chip Down
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Re: 2021 Snow Level

Post by Chip Down » May 11th, 2021, 1:13 pm

Don didn't believe my recent report on Rd 41 in the same area (approaching that junction from a different direction) and had to go check it out himself. :lol:

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Don Nelsen
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Re: 2021 Snow Level

Post by Don Nelsen » May 11th, 2021, 2:38 pm

Chip Down wrote:
May 11th, 2021, 1:13 pm
Don didn't believe my recent report on Rd 41 in the same area (approaching that junction from a different direction) and had to go check it out himself. :lol:
Oh! I spaced out that Sunset/Hemlock is road 43 and road 41. Did you turn off 43 onto 41 and were stopped by snow above me?
"Everything works in the planning stage" - Kelly

"If you don't do it this year, you will be one year older when you do" - Warren Miller

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Chip Down
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Re: 2021 Snow Level

Post by Chip Down » May 11th, 2021, 4:10 pm

My route is shown below, starting at Wind River Work Center. Never made it to rd 43. I got that high, so it wasn't an elevation problem. I just didn't want to trudge through the snow that far.
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dmthomas49
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Re: 2021 Snow Level

Post by dmthomas49 » May 11th, 2021, 5:03 pm

15 Mile Creek Trail snow on the trail after the start at about 4,500 feet. Not enough to cause issues. Downed trees were more of an issue.
On the drive here the temperature went up substantially. It was about 36 degrees on the way up. We came around a bend and the temp jumped to 46 in an instant.
IMG_1317.JPG
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Chip Down
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Re: 2021 Snow Level

Post by Chip Down » May 12th, 2021, 5:23 pm

Larch Mountain, WA:
Tarbell Trail at 3300' was a little snowy, but almost melted out. Continuing up to the top of Larch (3500') snow was fairly consistent, but there were bare spots. Larch summit was bare, as were the sunny roads on the south side.

Silver Star:
I didn't visit, but I could see there was essentially no snow on exposed (unforested) slopes. Curiously, Bluff Mountain is still snowy. It's lower than Sturgeon and Silver Star, and just a few feet higher than Little Baldy (its closest neighbor).

Mt Adams:
No view today, but judging by St Helens, I have to believe there's still some lingering snow on Adams.
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TodF
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Re: 2021 Snow Level

Post by TodF » May 13th, 2021, 9:17 am

I hiked Gotchen Creek Trail #40 on the south side of Mt Adams yesterday (Wednedsay, 5/12) as well as parts of the Cold Springs trail and Morrison Creek trail.

No snow at all to the trailhead at a little less than 3700 ft. Didn't see any snow at all on the Gotchen Creek trail until a couple of small patches at 3845 ft. After that there were occasional small patches until I got to McDonald Ridge towards the north end of the trail. Even there, at almost 4700 feet, there was not much snow:
IMG_6631.JPG

The Cold Springs trail had one small patch of snow at 3945 ft, then none until I turned around at a little over 4100 feet. No snow on the east end of the Morrison Creek trail (3500 to 3785 ft).

I haven't done much in this area until this spring. I'm guessing the snow melts early here because it is all south facing slopes, plus a lot of sun exposure due to past burns (?)

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Chip Down
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Re: 2021 Snow Level

Post by Chip Down » May 13th, 2021, 10:10 am

Oh, look, a real report on Adams. :lol:
Thanks TodF.

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drm
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Re: 2021 Snow Level

Post by drm » May 13th, 2021, 12:51 pm

TodF wrote:
May 13th, 2021, 9:17 am
I'm guessing the snow melts early here because it is all south facing slopes, plus a lot of sun exposure due to past burns (?)
That's what I always figured. Sometimes I do those equestrian trails that start near Mt Adams Horse Camp early on, but the Snipes Mtn Trail is really the one to aim for late in the Spring, or Shorthorn after that. Snipes starts at 3800 and Shorthorn at 4800. The issue is always how bad the trees down are, but the Mt Adams trail team usually get to them fairly early because they know they melt out fast, and particularly Snipes since it isn't in the wilderness.

TodF
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Re: 2021 Snow Level

Post by TodF » May 14th, 2021, 5:52 am

dmthomas49 wrote:
May 11th, 2021, 5:03 pm
15 Mile Creek Trail snow on the trail after the start at about 4,500 feet. Not enough to cause issues. Downed trees were more of an issue.
On the drive here the temperature went up substantially. It was about 36 degrees on the way up. We came around a bend and the temp jumped to 46 in an instant.
IMG_1317.JPG
Did you start at 15 mile camp, or somewhere else? I’m wondering how FS 44 is from 35. Snow map says still under snow.

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