Mt Defiance Early Season Snow

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theoglick
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Joined: May 5th, 2019, 9:38 am

Mt Defiance Early Season Snow

Post by theoglick » May 5th, 2019, 10:44 am

I did the Mt Defiance Trail/Starvation Ridge Trail loop yesterday. There was very little information available about snow conditions this early in the season, so I thought I'd share.

From trailhead to 4,000 feet, it's all sunshine and butterflies... just like a summer hike. At about 4,200 feet, the snow is quite deep and post-holey. But all seemed to do just fine without any special equipment. I think early in the morning maybe some microspikes might be helpful on hard snow, but later in the day it's just slushy and tedious.

I didn't go the last .7-ish to the summit from the Starvation Ridge/Defiance Trail junction, but the boulder field there looked like it was easily do-able.

Enjoy! :D

P.S. Warren Lake is completely clear of snow.

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Starvation Ridge Trail Cutoff closure slide
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Great conditions below 4,000 feet
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4,200 feet on the Defiance Trial, right as it turns eastward
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Boulder field below the summit
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Gorge view from 4,200 feet
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Fred, the trailhead restroom urinal scorpion

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Chip Down
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Joined: November 8th, 2014, 8:41 pm

Re: Mt Defiance Early Season Snow

Post by Chip Down » May 5th, 2019, 2:07 pm

Where did you get the pic of the slide? Presumably from the paved path. Looks to me like it's grown. A few months ago, from the path you wouldn't be likely to notice it unless you were looking for it. Only an unusual number of toppled trees suggested something was amiss up there.

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Bosterson
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Joined: May 18th, 2009, 3:17 pm
Location: Portland

Re: Mt Defiance Early Season Snow

Post by Bosterson » May 5th, 2019, 4:59 pm

I think that's what it looked like before; earlier in the year parts of it were covered in snow. ;)
#pnw #bestlife #bitingflies #favoriteyellowcap #neverdispleased

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Chip Down
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Joined: November 8th, 2014, 8:41 pm

Re: Mt Defiance Early Season Snow

Post by Chip Down » May 5th, 2019, 5:30 pm

Bosterson wrote:
May 5th, 2019, 4:59 pm
I think that's what it looked like before; earlier in the year parts of it were covered in snow. ;)
At first I thought you were being cute, but maybe that really is why it looks so unfamiliar. Even so, you'd think in the snow I'd still look up from the path and realize that big linear clearing had to be where the slide was. And I don't remember being able to see the cliffs so clearly from below. I checked to see if I had any pics, but no.

theoglick
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Joined: May 5th, 2019, 9:38 am

Re: Mt Defiance Early Season Snow

Post by theoglick » May 6th, 2019, 9:25 am

Chip, yes, the picture of the slide was snapped from the paved trail. I've never been on the cutoff trail, and I'm only assuming this slide is the reason for its closure. It looks like it could be fairly sketchy to get across.

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TwoPaw
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Joined: July 28th, 2013, 10:30 am
Location: Portland

Re: Mt Defiance Early Season Snow

Post by TwoPaw » May 7th, 2019, 6:01 am

Thank you for the snow level info. That and bloom reports are my favorites.

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Waffle Stomper
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Joined: May 28th, 2008, 10:03 pm

Re: Mt Defiance Early Season Snow

Post by Waffle Stomper » May 10th, 2019, 4:53 pm

Urinal Scorpion, that would be a pissy job to have.
"When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe." - John Muir

eric160634
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Joined: June 8th, 2015, 8:24 pm

Re: Mt Defiance Early Season Snow

Post by eric160634 » May 20th, 2019, 12:41 pm

I summitted Mt Defiance on May 18th. Snow patches were pretty consistent above 4,200 feet. It was well consolidated and there were generally footprints to follow.

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