3,100ft Intermittent snow. Thin and slushy layer
5,000ft Everyone put on snowshoes. Topped out of tree line.
5,100ft Left the summer trail (which continues north) and turned east to avoid the avalanche terrain.
5,300ft Trail breaking was on us. Made long switchbacks on the steeper final push (~100ft) to the summit. Make sure to stay away from the cornices on the far right and tree wells.
Gpx: https://caltopo.com/m/NLDM
Trailhead: Excelsior pass trailhead(https://goo.gl/maps/bWH6HQX3gMriStHfA), right off hwy 542. Snow free. Toilet was open.
Gear: snowshoes, microspikes, gaiters, gloves, poles, layers and sun protection
Carried but didn't use: ice ax, helmet (still would rather carry them to be prepared for the ever changing snow condition)
Trip reports we referenced:
(Reports were rarely found and scattered, but I thought I'd share a few great ones we used.)
- Two reports by Steph Abegg from Jan 2017 and Feb 2019, with gpx: http://www.stephabegg.com/home/tripreports/washington/northcascades/excelsior
- Report by Mel from Nov 2020 (the weekend prior): https://thedirtbaguette.blogspot.com/2020/11/excelsior-peak-via-high-divide-trail.html
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