Four of us hiked Vesper Peak on July 28, 2017. While FS road 4065 is officially closed, it is passable all the way to the trailhead. Snow on the route was absent well past the Vesper Lake. The lake was 95% frozen and covered in snow. Only a few patches of thaw on the edge of the lake. After crossing the outlet creek, the trail passes through brush and small trees on the lower slope of Vesper. The open slopes above the tree line are covered in snow. We were glad we heeded the recommendation to bring ice axes and micro-spikes. The first 3 or 4 inches of snow was soft. However, there was an ice layer just beneath the soft snow. Be prepared to kick steps the last 500ft of the ascent. Head for the obvious saddle to the left of the peak and run the rocky ridge line to the top. Great day with views from Rainier to Glacier, to Baker, and beyond. We encountered only two other people the whole day even though there were 6 cars parked at the trailhead when we arrived.
On the way up, on the open slope just beyond the last stream crossing before enter the cirque between Morning Star and Sperry peaks, we found a perfectly useable hiking pole in the brush just off the trail. If you lost this item on July 28, contact me at bgaylo@Hotmail.com to identify and claim it. Use "lost hiking pole on vesper trail" in the subject line.
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