I used to think that by November, access to the high country was over until July of the next year. As I've gathered more gear and more experience with snow travel, I've realized that you can stretch the season quite a bit if you choose wisely. For venturing upward once the snows have come, this is one of my favorite options. The trailhead is at a fairly low elevation (2450 feet) and so stays snow-free long after many other trailheads. Unlike Church Mountain, Yellow Aster Butte, or Hannegan Pass, there isn't any travel across steep open terrain where you expose yourself to avalanche danger. And even if the snow gets deep on the trail, it's hard to truly lose the route, as it's basically straight up.
Today I lucked out with the snow. I didn't see any snow on the trail at all until 4700 feet, and it wasn't until 5000 feet that the trail was consistently covered - even then it was just a thin layer. Once I got to the pass the snow was deeper - maybe 18 inches to 2 feet - but fairly well compacted. I brought snow shoes but was able to get away with crampons and poles with snow baskets, and only post-holed occasionally.
After the pass I went about a mile west along the ridge, with the goal of reaching the peak shown in the first photo. I got part way up and the wind started gusting really hard, 30 to 40 miles an hour, so I called it a day and headed back. The clouds were really starting to move in anyway. Made it back to the trailhead just as a light drizzle was turning into steady rain. Didn't see a soul the whole time.
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