Opening pic
After rabid swan's great TR on his trip up Barrett Spur last week we thought we would give it a go too!
We arrived at the Vista Ridge TH just after 9:30, the road is currently in the best condition I can ever remember it being in, I could even travel the gravel sections at about 30 mph in our little Kia! About 1:20 traveling time from Sandy. Only one other car there that had arrived just before us. The driver was someone we had met the previous weekend on top of McNeil Ridge, great minds think alike!
We set off on a snow free trail, started getting a few patches of snow at about 5000' & the trail was snow covered by about 5400. We were packing snowshoes but didn't need them here the snow was nicely compacted.
We were soon at the Timberline Trail & could still see rabid swans snow shoe tracks heading off in the direction of Barrett Spur - we followed.
It was a beautiful morning to be on the mountain..
At about 6400' conditions changed, an intermittent cloud layer was leaking over the ridge line from the East & the snow had turned icy. Chizuru had her micro spikes with her which were the best option but Chiyoko & I had to use our snow shoes to get a bit of extra grip.
The next half mile was a bit of a slog in cold thick cloud with very poor visibility, If I hadn't been there before I would have turned around, we found out later that the person we had talked to in the parking lot did just that. Every so often though the Sun would almost break through so I knew the cloud layer was thin & hoped we would climb above it. (At least that's what I told Chiyoko & Chizuru ;^)..
Picking our way through the frozen forest!
The Frozen Forest was tough going, the snow drifts were running East West & were frozen hard so we were always having to climb up & over them. Finally the trees began to give way & so I knew we were getting closer but you would never guess it from the view.
Just as my hiking partners were beginning to question my choice of hike for the day & the wisdom of continuing we were given a bit of hope, a small patch of blue sky above the clouds!
Then finally we were rewarded with a view of the mountain as we broke through the cloud layer.
The clouds would come & go every couple of minutes & the view was constantly changing.
Barrett Spur
Looking West over to McNeil
Time of some hot coffee
With a little fortification ;^).
I couldn't persuade Chiyoko & Chizuru to do a jump shot so I had to give it a go!
The ladies did make a snowman though
Then it was time to head back down.
We were soon back down at the Vista Ridge trail junction & hiking through the burnt trees back to the trailhead. We only saw 2 other people the the whole day long, the same guy at the beginning & end of our hike at the trailhead and one other who was heading back down the Vista Ridge trail just in front of us.
A few more photos of our great day on the mountain can be found here or watch this:
http://youtu.be/I-49tV-dpBo
8.3 miles & 3325' of EG.
If you have a free day this week & this incredible fall weather holds - head on up there you wont be disappointed!
