Mount Ellinor

A group of friends and myself decided to take a day and hike/climb Ellinor in preparation for a trip to Mt. Anderson later this summer. We got a late start about 1030 from the lower trailhead but got right down business. The hike to where the trail meets where the upper trail meets was good. Just before the summer/winter trail routes split off there is some packed snow in places but quickly became completely covered in snow by the time the trail split. We went up the avalanche chute where we had to use our poles and ice axes to make it to the summit. There is still quite a bit of snow. There were plenty of clouds, unlike the bright sunny day before, but at least no rain. We made the summit by about 1 o'clock and stayed and ate a snack and brewed some coffee at the top. We couldn't see far due to the cloud cover. The glissade down was incredible, it looked like a bobsled course with the deep chute and sharp curves. What a ride!! All in all it was a great trip. We weren't quite prepared for the snow but made the best.