I had thought about bringing snowshoes but guessed, based on the weather pattern the previous week, that there’d be consolidated snow with minimum new stuff, and so it was. This saved me from carrying snowshoes up 3000’+ just for “exercise.” The PCT was free of snow until just past the wilderness boundary at about 2000’, where about 1-2” appeared,
increasing to about 6-8” on the crest of the ridge at 2400’.
This “snow ‘shroom” sprouted just before the first viewpoint at 2800’,
and once there, I could see SE across to where clouds were pouring over Green Point Mountain,
and NE to where Mt. Adams was just visible above the fast moving clouds.
While it was clear and sunny all day, the air temp was at or below freezing in the sun and, with the wind whipping across the ridge, the windchill was intense. The little tiny controls on my camera are really hard to operate with partially frozen fingers. From the viewpoint on, the snow deepened to about 12” with a good base – little or no postholing. Someone had used snowshoes from here on but they weren’t really needed (which is likely to change if the next round of weather brings the promised 12-24” of new snow).
Teakettle Spring was flowing, with more water visible than I've ever seen in summer – so if you wanted to snowcamp on the Plateau, the spring is currently a source of running water.
I love this “avenue of trees” that marks your arrival on the Plateau.
My usual turn-around spot at the informal camp near the 405B trail junction had changed since I’d last seen it in October. Then (remember summer?)
and now.
As I was retracing my route back to the TH, I noticed, in the boulder fields just before the PCT-406 trail junction, that it had never gotten warm enough during the day to melt the frost off of the plants.
This is a good hike – about 12 mi RT, 3900’ – summer or winter. In winter, the trail is easy to follow, has views, and gives access to the Plateau, where you could wander around in snowshoes to your heart’s content. I, on the other hand, headed back for a hot shower and a cold drink...