Mt. Persis

Ben and I arrived at the trail head around 8:15 am, for what looked like a fun and enjoyable day in the sun. After finding the discreet trail head and starting up the steep and somewhat frosted over trail we managed to get about 600 feet up and hit the first patch of snow. We saw frozen shoe prints which was very reassuring as now we would have a good trail to follow up the rest of the way. This great news ended abruptly once we entered the boulder field –which was covered in snow, so rather a snow field. We followed what we thought was the original route going off of our memory from the last time we hiked it – which was last year in September with no snow, and ended up missing the original trail and bushwhacking for a few hundred feet. We thought about turning back around and try to find the trail. Instead we took the ever unforgiving snow route and just plowed straight up the mountain. We got over the top of this rock ledge and I was able to see two other hikers. They too had misplaced the trail.

We merged as a group and continued up heading into the trees –which made for easier movement as the snow was a little more packed down. After we made it out of the trees and into the meadow at the base of the Persis summit, the work got even harder. Each and every step in the snow would send you sinking down to your knees. After trading off the trail breaking a bunch of times, all 4 of us finally made it to the summit. It took us a solid 3 and half to four hours from the start.

The trip down was much easier; we had foot steps to re-trace. The sun in the afternoon had really warmed up the snow and while going through the trees it was literally raining on us from all the melting snow. We made it down in no more than 90 minutes, despite the soft snow and muddy trail down –since the frost and snow had melted from the sun. Overall a tough day but a great one!

Brought With: Ski Poles, Gaiters and SUNSCREEN although we should have used it.

Recommend Bringing: Snow Shoes might be helpful.