Rattlesnake Mountain — Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2016

Snoqualmie Region > North Bend Area

Greetings to Kyle, visiting from Florida. I hope you're able to find the next step. Quick notes, public service announcement, details. 1. Spikes not required but recommended from Snoqualmie Point to Stan's. 2. Snowshoes recommended past Stan's. Snow becomes very fluffy about 1/2mi toward Grand Prospect. Please wear snowshoes toward Prospect to avoid fouling the trail. 3. Current conditions are sufficient to cover tracks before you've returned. Route finding and navigation skills would be helpful. PSA: A clear weather forecast does not mean that hiking will be safe or easy. Many in Puget Sound will be unaccustomed to hiking in the current conditions. Below-freezing temperatures coupled with high winds aloft and gusts at the surface are expected into the weekend. While views are improved with clear weather, hikers will need extra gear to stay warm and avoid cold-weather injury. Review wind chill and freezing-skin conditions, carry extra gloves and extra layers, drink water often to stay hydrated (and to avoid your water line freezing!). Stay dry. Plan to move more slowly so you don't overheat and saturate clothing with sweat. Sensitive faces may want a mask. Some details. 1. Spikes: I wore spikes from the parking lot all the way to Stans+0.5mi. The trail was packed, though narrow in some places. With freezing conditions continuing, the trail should hold into the weekend. I saw people without spikes. 2. Snowshoes: Past Stan's, expect to wear snowshoes. You _can_, of course, get anywhere without them, but your postholing will make the trail sad. Spikes were not sufficient for grip much past Stans because the top layer of snow was soft, most likely because it was blown off the trees, which still had snow on them at the end of the day. There was notable snow drifting past the first draw; by Prospect, snowshoes were still dropping 4--9" in places. There is at least one set of postholes that have perturbed the trail at times, but the surface was fairly flat otherwise. 3. As a previous hiker noted, drifting snow is a concern for following the trail. My tracks were gone within an hour in places, primarily at spur crossings. There were at least two places on the trail where some searching was required (sorry that there's a bit of misdirection from those tracks). The existing trail is very faint in places. You should be familiar with the route and some basic navigation skills would be helpful. 4. Past Prospect, there was no evidence in the snow of hikers whatsoever. I created a trail over one of the downed trees, so it seems unlikely that any had passed that point since the most recent snow. I turned around at the new clearcut but did not see the trail past that point. The next antenna is visible, and the trail passes that point. 5. There was considerable tree bomb activity, and it was "snowing" because the wind was blowing snow off the trees. There was still snow in the trees when I left. 6. It was not hot. I stopped to take pictures and froze my leather hiking gloves. Stopping a second time to take pictures and send them to people, I lost track of drinking water, so I managed to freeze my line even though I was blowing it back. I'd give it 20--25F with 15--20kt at the surface. "30-minute frostbite" is still a ways off, but my wet gloves would have frozen my fingers in 10--15min (I know from experience, sigh). Amusingly, I didn't need a hat. 7. Very module, always zipping and unzipping, trying to let the sweat evaporate, but having to put up the hood to protect from the tree snow. Enjoy!