Hiked up Northway Trail to both Northway peaks. I didn’t see any avalanche risk until you get out into the open slopes along the ridge line going to Northway Notch Peak. Avalanche risk after that was low (D1, dry loose). The ridges are blown pretty clean where not wind sheltered, and it seemed like most of the snow had collected in N/S aspects (the wind may have shifted direction since the snow started falling).
You probably have another week or two before ski operations make this trail inaccessible for the rest of the winter season, as Northway Trail is a black diamond ski run. Please check the resort website before going; it says normal uphill travel restrictions are in effect, but there's no way that anyone in their right mind is going to go down that side of the resort on skis or a board with that much exposed rock and low coverage snow.
Snowshoes weren't required today. Ice axe and trekking poles highly recommended if heading for Northway Peak, along with crampons as a backup--more so for Northway Peak than Northway Notch Peak, as the latter is pretty flat. Microspikes would probably be helpful for stuff below treeline until the snow gets dense and heavy/wet.
There's a slightly less direct way of getting to Northway Peak that doesn't involve a steep ridge scramble near Morning Glory Bowl (the double black run between the two peaks), but I went up the W ridge, criss-crossing between steep snow and trees, sticking climber's right (S) mostly since climber's left (N) was incredibly steep with poor runout.
Strava claims I did about 10 miles and almost 3.2k'.
Road Conditions
There was snow and ice on Crystal Mountain Blvd when I left around 8:30, but Crystal Mountain keeps the road plowed during the day; they have early season operations in effect, but that's on the other side of the resort.
There was plenty of packed down snow once off the main drag though to the trailhead. I had loads of fun doing donuts in my CrossTrek in Lot F and at the trailhead; the snow was nice and packed, but also the fresh stuff that's a bit slippery ☺️.
Gear Used
- Hardshell top/bottom for wind
- Warm mid/bottom layers.
- Mountaineering boots
- The Trango Techs are my warmest boot without having to break out my super stiff Nepal GTXs. I could have made it up with my TX4s, but I wouldn't have been able to kick steps in up the snowy hillside as well, which would have been bad safety wise.
- Trekking poles
Comments
Seattle_Wayne on Northway Trail
How are the La Sportiva Nepal GTX boots, Ngie? I almost bought a pair for my Baker climb next year but I saw a review on Youtube revealing that the sole cracks and falls apart and in the comment section a lot of people claimed to have the same problem. I went with the Lowa Alpine Expert GTX.
Posted by:
Seattle_Wayne on Dec 05, 2021 04:53 AM
ngie on Northway Trail
Heya! So, to be honest I haven't worn them a ton in the past few years since they're so dang heavy; the last time I wore them was last year when I climbed St. Helens, because the person I was with didn't have appropriate boots.
They're wonderful and I haven't had any issues--outside of pulling too hard on one of the seams getting them off and it tearing, but that's my bad 😣... they're so heavy, but they're really warm and they kick steps like they're going out of style really well. Plus it's nice having a boot that I can use automatic crampons with.
Posted by:
ngie on Dec 05, 2021 08:26 PM
Seattle_Wayne on Northway Trail
Interesting. That was the other reason I went with Lowa- La Sportiva too heavy. 2lbs 5oz of boot.
Posted by:
Seattle_Wayne on Dec 07, 2021 09:00 AM