Yocum Ridge/Cloud Cap to Gnarl Ridge

[sheilakpdx]

Hello!
I realize someone posted the question about Cloud Cap and conditions but am wondering if anyone was around the 6000' area yesterday or today and is able to report on the snow conditions. Cloud Cap is open but when I called the USFS ranger, they did not know whether trails were under snow or not. Or, hike Ramona Falls up to (part way) Yocum Ridge.

Planning on hiking tomorrow morning and am hoping for 1 last Timberline trail/higher elevation hike. Thanks!

[retired jerry]

https://www.skihood.com/cams/vista snow now mostly melted off PCT above Mt Hood Meadows

I think there'll be some on Yocum Ridge, but very minor

If you're averse to any snow, then you might have to turn around at some point

[dbs]

Tuesday morning there was about 12" of snow in the meadow on Yocum ridge around 6000'. There was much less in the trees and nothing below about 5600'. I suspect a lot of it has melted by now.

[sheilakpdx]

Thanks for the updates and that is a stunning pic of Mt. Hood!

[retired jerry]

I just looked at that picture, yeah, stunning

Of course it's real time. Right this moment is good because of the sunlight fading. You can't see if there's snow though, have to wait until tomorrow

[sheilakpdx]

To recap: I ended up going to Cloud Cap and setting out to Gnarl Ridge. Snow patches pretty early on and a complete detour (following others footsteps) to rejoin 600 as it heads north and south. Snow patches continued but the snow fields I crossed 5 weeks ago were now bigger and deeper. As I headed south, more of the trail was under snow. Turned around at about Lamberson Butte. The snow was soft and frequently above calf level. Ate lunch at Copper Spur shelter and never saw a person the whole time until the last 45 min. of the hike. Met a group from Australia as I started the decent to Cloud Cap. They were on day 3 of 4 on the Timberline Trail loop thoroughly enjoying themselves.

[retired jerry]

You drove up to Cloud Cap? Road must be re-opened.

You were up there Thursday? Probably half a foot of snow since, maybe that will melt off before winter...

Adventurous of those people to do the Timberline loop now.

[retired jerry]

I see there's no rain (snow) in the next week. Temps above freezing so there'll be some melting.

Maybe next weekend would still be a good time to get up there.

Probably bears up there.

Maybe Top Spur to Cairn Basin/Barret Spur