Timberline Trail
Re: Timberline Trail
Good Intel. Thank you pinecone.
Re: Timberline Trail
I’m new here. I called the Zigzag station and I was told to check out this forum. Lots of great info here.
A couple friends and I were aiming to do the loop starting on 7/24, but it seems like the conditions aren’t favorable.
I assume most of the people who post detailed info on this forum are locals who are on trails quite frequently. If words like “sketchy” and “tough” are used by them, then it’s probably more difficult for people who aren’t experienced at crossing snowfields and rivers/creeks.
Is there anyone here who wouldn’t question starting the trail on 7/24? If so, why wouldn’t you be concerned?
Thanks!
A couple friends and I were aiming to do the loop starting on 7/24, but it seems like the conditions aren’t favorable.
I assume most of the people who post detailed info on this forum are locals who are on trails quite frequently. If words like “sketchy” and “tough” are used by them, then it’s probably more difficult for people who aren’t experienced at crossing snowfields and rivers/creeks.
Is there anyone here who wouldn’t question starting the trail on 7/24? If so, why wouldn’t you be concerned?
Thanks!
Re: Timberline Trail
I don't know if it is a matter of questioning whether or not the trail can be completed- even now, it certainly can, I know of several groups or individuals that have already, with more snow and hazards in places that made me personally turn back, despite myself having almost certainly more experience on this trail than them. I'm certain more will continue to do so over the next week. We all have individual levels of skill, and acceptance of risk and hazards, and without knowing your level of skill or acceptance of risks, personally, I don't feel like I can make that call for another individual. All I can do is provide all the info and documentation that I can, and hope that helps people make the decision for themselves that ensures everyone gets home at the end of the hike, and has a good time.Is there anyone here who wouldn’t question starting the trail on 7/24? If so, why wouldn’t you be concerned?
There's going to still be a lot snow, and hazards still present in a week, at a greater concentration where it will be much easier for an accident, a slip, or a slight misjudgment to occur and lead to a disaster, injury or death that would not be present when hikers normally are on the trail when it is clear of snow.
There are a lot of factors to consider when approaching a hazard that contributes to concern, things like the distance and complexity of a rescue mission. I love the Timberline Trail, and want to share it, and all its wonders with everyone who can hike it, and part of that is I want to push people to hike the trail in conditions that they will have a more enjoyable, safe, and responsible experience. Slogging along, constantly dealing with side sloping snowpack on the trail that a misstep can cause a fall and kill, not seeing the bountiful displays of wildflowers that come out once the snow recedes, creating erosion as hikers make alternate paths around snow on the trail, and miss out on camping in some of the best spots, isn't the best way to encounter the trail. You'll spend more time staring at your feet, kicking steps in and balancing on snow, missing out on some of the coolest creeks and views, flora and fauna.
There is also some hesitancy among local folks to tell people to go forth and encounter hazards they may be unprepared and unskilled for, but are objectively "doable" because that is how we lose nice things. We can't have temporary bridge crossings on the creeks here because a disaster happened that cost a hiker their life that could have been avoided with different risk assessment and response. The more accidents, rescues, or mishaps that happen on the trail, for sure the sooner we get real permits and quotas restricting our access.
I don't know your experience, but I see it as worrying that you highlight crossing snowfields as the hazard that you don't have experience with, it suggests you may not be familiar with the type of hazards that are present now on the trail. In reality, crossing the snowfields themselves (the wide, more vast expanses of snow that often linger or remain much of the season, present on the east side, and to an extent, around Wyeast Basin, now aren't as much a hazard. It's the stretches of trail, relatively level grade but not on flat terrain, often in forest, often around small drainages like the talusy arms of Compass Creek or debris chutes, now covered in several feet of snow angled down perpendicular to the trail, snow on steep sidehills with greater relief or curving away that runaway downhill fast, greater than 45 degree slopes. A 20-foot section of snow clinging to the side of a slope in the shade below cliffs, or even just a steeply sloping snowpack in the forest has a lot more present danger than the snowfields. I'd guess there will still be plenty of these hazards present in a week.
A few days ago a backpacker busted up their ankle in a snowy area of the trail close enough to the lodge that last year at this time was seeing hordes of tourists, often in flip flops, and they had to turn back. The rest of their party called it quits after struggling, with spikes, and poles the way down to Ramona Falls.
I was surprised by the speed of the retreat of snow on sections of trail around Elk Cove, and equally surprised by how much snow I found sticking firm and hazardous in other spots. I can't say for certain how much, other than, "a bunch, in places" will melt in the span of the week. Personally, if I had to put money on it, I would wait, and am planning on waiting for August. There are plenty of folks on this forum that have been experiencing Oregon summer snow melts longer than I, and hopefully, they can add their experience and estimates to help guide you better than I can in this regard of melting.
What I can say for certain, is if I wanted a definite 5-star backpacking experience in the next week and an adventure where I didn't have to stress about early seasons hazards, and got to experience a location in prime wildflower glory, I'd go that little bit north to Mt. St Helens, and backpack the Loowit Trail, and throw in some extension trips off the trail to places like Loowit Falls or Coldwater Peak. Or the Eagle Creek-Whatum/Rainy Lake-Herman Creek/PCT Loop exploration.
I understand the pressure of coming from far away puts on pushing to make an expedition happen, and part of my judgment when approaching risk is that I promised my cat I'll come home, and for me as a local, it's easy to just wait a few weeks, which is a luxury that not everyone can afford, and factors into how hikers approach and take on risks.
If you have any questions about spots along the trail, or other routes or areas, this is a great forum to look through and ask. Lots of knowledge here. I'll get a new snow level map of the trail on my site, referenced above, hopefully, tonight or by tomorrow, with fresh imagery taken from satellite yesterday, and maybe some 3d views or other details that may be insightful. I'd like to get up soon to the Eliot Branch crossing and scope out how washed out it is, as I've heard from a few folks that the scramble up/down, not the actual ford itself is a most harrowing experience at the moment, and hopefully some more snow reports.
Re: Timberline Trail
Wow, fantastic reply, pinecone. Thank you!
Re: Timberline Trail
I was up on Barrett Spur via Vista Ridge on Saturday and it was the most snow I have seen in July. The drifts and cornices were pretty big, and the sidehill section of the VR trail between Eden Park and the TT was still fully socked in with no boot prints.
There was also no sign of where the Timberline Trail crossed Vista Ridge into Wy'East Basin and no recent tracks indicating anybody had attempted it... at least anywhere near the actual trail. The snow field on the east side of Vista Ridge was pretty steep and you'd need to get a few hundred feet above the basin to have a safer transit. I wouldn't follow the actual route without an ice ax.
And just east of the Dollar Lake junction, on the way to Elk Cove, I would routinely get turned away in years past by a steep snow bank on the north-facing slope, and although I didn't get down there this year, I am sure it's still a lot of work to get around.
As has been said, it's probably doable... but just too much effort and risk vs. too little reward until mid-August.
And if you're looking to go around a mountain, maybe the Loowit is in better shape right now? It most likely still has some snow hanging around, but not nearly as much.
There was also no sign of where the Timberline Trail crossed Vista Ridge into Wy'East Basin and no recent tracks indicating anybody had attempted it... at least anywhere near the actual trail. The snow field on the east side of Vista Ridge was pretty steep and you'd need to get a few hundred feet above the basin to have a safer transit. I wouldn't follow the actual route without an ice ax.
And just east of the Dollar Lake junction, on the way to Elk Cove, I would routinely get turned away in years past by a steep snow bank on the north-facing slope, and although I didn't get down there this year, I am sure it's still a lot of work to get around.
As has been said, it's probably doable... but just too much effort and risk vs. too little reward until mid-August.
And if you're looking to go around a mountain, maybe the Loowit is in better shape right now? It most likely still has some snow hanging around, but not nearly as much.
instagram: @remyodyssey
Re: Timberline Trail
I saw your prints down in the basin and I was puzzled at how they got there. But now it makes sense, seeing that you didn't come up Vista Ridge. I thought it was somebody possibly coming down from Barrett that missed the ridge entirely.
And +1 to that gnarly north face between Dollar Lake and Elk Cove. That can be a no-go well into late July on a meager snow year. There's a boot path that routes down below it (even visible on Google Earth) but it's over 100 feet down and back up... and even that probably still has a ton of snow right now.
instagram: @remyodyssey