2021 Snow Level

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

Post by Charley » April 30th, 2021, 10:19 pm

dmthomas49 wrote:
April 29th, 2021, 2:23 pm
PCT about 1 mile from 3 Corner Rock. 3,000ft.
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Crap like this is why I am super picky about where I hike in the spring (I refuse to hike on snow; climbing is different).

It's so perversely inconvenient to have snow covering only the trail.
Believe it or not, I barely ever ride a mountain bike.

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drm
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Re: 2021 Snow Level

Post by drm » May 1st, 2021, 6:46 am

Snow likes flat surfaces.

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Chip Down
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Re: 2021 Snow Level

Post by Chip Down » May 1st, 2021, 7:19 am

If only there was some way to travel without using a trail. :geek:

Webfoot
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Re: 2021 Snow Level

Post by Webfoot » May 1st, 2021, 10:46 am

Chip Down wrote:
May 1st, 2021, 7:19 am
If only there was some way to travel without using a trail. :geek:
:lol:

I have none of your grit or skill but off-trail is much fun. :mrgreen:

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Chip Down
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Re: 2021 Snow Level

Post by Chip Down » May 4th, 2021, 6:22 pm

Rd 68 from Grassy Knoll TH to the PCT crossing. A few bits of snow. Pic below is as close as it came to being a problem. Around 3200'.
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Charley
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Re: 2021 Snow Level

Post by Charley » May 5th, 2021, 5:41 pm

Chip Down wrote:
May 1st, 2021, 7:19 am
If only there was some way to travel without using a trail. :geek:
Ha! I believe I understand the logic of your sentiment, but again, I'm making a distinction between...

-"hiking" (following a trail, unless I'm in Eastern Oregon and there's only dirt roads or sagebrush slopes)

-and all other wilderness travel (such as non-trail or off-trail activities like scrambling, backcountry skiing, climbing, etc. I enjoy each of these activities every year, but see them as quite different from one another).

If I want to go "hiking" around Portland, it's on a trail. For me, the point of a trail is that it allows relatively fast travel through forested terrain. Given that logic, it makes no logical sense to either travel parallel to a snowed-in trail, or constantly slip and slide in my boots on old, crappy snow on a sidehill. I also miss being able to see the plants on the ground. I just go hiking somewhere snow-free, or instead go snow climbing, skiing, etc.
Believe it or not, I barely ever ride a mountain bike.

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Chip Down
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Re: 2021 Snow Level

Post by Chip Down » May 6th, 2021, 2:23 pm

Sunset Hemlock Road yesterday:
I absolutely got shut down hard at 3200'.
That surprised me, as nearby Mowich Butte was clear nearly to the top, slightly above 3400'.
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This is where I started to get discouraged. I went a little higher, but just for fun. I knew I'd be turning back soon. A hundred feet above this, coverage was complete (not just on road).
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That bit of snow on Adams is still hanging in there.

Aimless
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Re: 2021 Snow Level

Post by Aimless » May 6th, 2021, 7:37 pm

No photos, but I hiked up the Cast Creek trail from near the Riley Horse Camp in Old Maid Flats and I encountered just a bit of patchy snow from 3900 feet on and nearly solid snow cover at just slightly under 4000 ft.

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rubiks
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Re: 2021 Snow Level

Post by rubiks » May 9th, 2021, 7:59 pm

Hit Green Point Mountain 5/9, up Gorton Creek and down Nick Eaton. The first patches of snow on the trail started about 3300', but it stayed patchy up through the junction with Nick Eaton. Continuing up Gorton snow is continuous above 4000', and 4-5' deep past the junction with the Plateau Cutoff trail ~4300'. I had spikes and gaiters, and the snow was mostly compacted and most steps never sank in more than a few inches. I think showshoes would have been marginally better, but not worth lugging all the way up there.
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GP platter ~4600', at the four way junction

The Green Point summit viewpoint overlooking Rainy Lake and Defiance was completely melted out, providing a nice dry spot to sit down for lunch. Rainy lake itself was partially ice-free, and there were some bare spots on the banks.
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GP summit

Edited to add photos.
You know exactly what to do.
There's no need to be afraid.
Keep walking.

bushwhacker
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Re: 2021 Snow Level

Post by bushwhacker » May 11th, 2021, 5:03 am

Melting out nicely up at the Cooper Spur shelter.
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