Nick Eaton Ridge (Short Loop) 25-Mar-2011
Posted: March 25th, 2011, 2:34 pm
March is doing its very best to enter the record books for total rainfall and consecutive days of rain (and continually less than optimal hiking conditions). I’m doing my best to keep hiking regardless so that summer (should it ever arrive) doesn’t find me as an out-of-condition blob. Short-term forecasts indicated a break between fronts this morning so I took that as THE opportunity to squeeze in a short hike up to Nick Eaton Ridge, with a return via the cutoff trail and Gorton Creek. There were rain squalls along I-84 but none at the Herman Ck TH, and things remained dry up to 2000’ on the Nick Eaton Trail (#447), where snow first appeared on the trail. There was even a “sun break” (of sorts) for encouragement.
A little higher, more snow on the ground, and then it started snowing – which, combined with the old frozen snow that was falling off the trees, made for quite a pelting with various types of stiff water.
Up to the cutoff, the snow never got very deep on the trail and there was no need for snowshoes or traction devices.
I was wondering about the fresh “dog” tracks when it dawned on me that mine were the only human tracks in the fresh snow – there was no person with a dog ahead of me! Maybe bobcat? Nice kitty?
The ridge cutoff trail (#437) had more snow on it but, on the track at least, it was over a well consolidated base of frozen foot prints.
However, if I stepped off the packed trail I went at least knee deep in soft snow. My guess is that higher up, without a packed trail, snowshoes would be essential. By the time I reached the Gorton Ck trail (#408), the it had stopped snowing, and I thought about going out to Indian Point, but there didn’t seem to be much point to that since the views were nil.
Just a short distance down the trail from Indian Point (at about 2400’ or so), the snow mostly disappeared and I almost thought it really was Spring.
Overall, a nice little hike (8.5 mi RT, 2900’) to keep the joints flexible. The weather wasn’t great but I didn’t get hit with walls of water either. This is one place were the actual trails (and probably the guidebook mileages) deviate impressively from those on the map!
A little higher, more snow on the ground, and then it started snowing – which, combined with the old frozen snow that was falling off the trees, made for quite a pelting with various types of stiff water.
Up to the cutoff, the snow never got very deep on the trail and there was no need for snowshoes or traction devices.
I was wondering about the fresh “dog” tracks when it dawned on me that mine were the only human tracks in the fresh snow – there was no person with a dog ahead of me! Maybe bobcat? Nice kitty?
The ridge cutoff trail (#437) had more snow on it but, on the track at least, it was over a well consolidated base of frozen foot prints.
However, if I stepped off the packed trail I went at least knee deep in soft snow. My guess is that higher up, without a packed trail, snowshoes would be essential. By the time I reached the Gorton Ck trail (#408), the it had stopped snowing, and I thought about going out to Indian Point, but there didn’t seem to be much point to that since the views were nil.
Just a short distance down the trail from Indian Point (at about 2400’ or so), the snow mostly disappeared and I almost thought it really was Spring.
Overall, a nice little hike (8.5 mi RT, 2900’) to keep the joints flexible. The weather wasn’t great but I didn’t get hit with walls of water either. This is one place were the actual trails (and probably the guidebook mileages) deviate impressively from those on the map!