Neismith Point (snow report) 18-Nov-2011
Posted: November 18th, 2011, 5:13 pm
Even though today wasn't forecast for bluebird weather, I did have it off and had time for a short hike, preferably one with fresh snow. That old gorge classic, Neismith Point, seemed to meet the distance and elevation (for snow) criteria, so off I went. This isn't a hike with a lot of views but I did catch a glimpse of Hamilton with a new dusting of snow.
It didn't start raining until I hit 1600', which was also about where the freeze line was. So I was able to do most of the hike in a gentle sprinkle of new falling snow rather than in obnoxious rain.
The snow kept deepening as I climbed - generally around 6-8" - but in some open areas higher up, it got to 18". Fluffy, soft powder - no need for snowshoes or traction devices.
Without many views, I had to focus on smaller objects, like this snowbird.
I hit the ridge at 2700' and had a weird sensation of having the snow-shrouded trees crowding in on me.
I had no trouble finding and following the trail - the snow isn't deep enough yet to have erased all signs of it. The snow on the final stretch of old road to the summit looked like it had been manicured.
The snow right at the top had actually been formed into drifts that were 2-3' deep,
and the old summit sign was starting to ice up.
It pretty cold on top, with cross wind, so I downed a piece of truly cold pizza, drank some iceberg-laden Gatorade, and headed down. I didn't see anyone else the whole day and my car was the only one in the lot - usually there's at least one other person on this popular hike. The weather wasn't great but walking through gentle snow falling on un-tracked fresh snow was pretty neat.
10 mi, 3800'.
It didn't start raining until I hit 1600', which was also about where the freeze line was. So I was able to do most of the hike in a gentle sprinkle of new falling snow rather than in obnoxious rain.
The snow kept deepening as I climbed - generally around 6-8" - but in some open areas higher up, it got to 18". Fluffy, soft powder - no need for snowshoes or traction devices.
Without many views, I had to focus on smaller objects, like this snowbird.
I hit the ridge at 2700' and had a weird sensation of having the snow-shrouded trees crowding in on me.
I had no trouble finding and following the trail - the snow isn't deep enough yet to have erased all signs of it. The snow on the final stretch of old road to the summit looked like it had been manicured.
The snow right at the top had actually been formed into drifts that were 2-3' deep,
and the old summit sign was starting to ice up.
It pretty cold on top, with cross wind, so I downed a piece of truly cold pizza, drank some iceberg-laden Gatorade, and headed down. I didn't see anyone else the whole day and my car was the only one in the lot - usually there's at least one other person on this popular hike. The weather wasn't great but walking through gentle snow falling on un-tracked fresh snow was pretty neat.
10 mi, 3800'.
With a big payoff, though. Much better to take turns breaking trail.