Oregon Hikers

Anyone tried to reach the Marion Lake trailhead this spring? The SNOTEL readings are all over the map -- some as high as 5600 feet in the area showing little or no snow, others at 4200 feet showing 20+ inches remaining. Marion is at about 4,000. Hoping to get to Marion and Gatch Falls.

Thanks!

Tom

I'm trying for Pamelia Lake this weekend, so I'll let you know what I find (unless you already went?).

Nope, I'm going to hold off a bit... 4,000 feet seems to be right at the margins for remaining snowpack, especially as you head south. I think Pamelia is a bit lower than that... more like 3,500 feet?

Tom

http://adamschneider.net/hiking/snow_depth.html

says it's snow free to Pamelia Lake, just barely

click on USGS Topo

i read recently that the trail was snow free to Ann Lake, then deep drifts right after the lake....which sounds typical for this type of snow year. But I'm guessing the lake has a lot of bare ground around it.

Hiked from the Marion Lake trail head to Marion Lake on May 23rd, to Marion Falls on the 24th, and to the top of Marion Mountain on the 25th. The only place that snow was on the trail was the last half mile or so going up Marion Mountain. It took extra time to make sure we were following the trail through the snow drifts. Foot prints in the snow stopped before the peak. We also saw bear tracks in the snow. The weather was beautiful on the 23rd but cold and wet the rest of the time. Fishing was not so good.

Jack