Regarding Snow Conditions - the box above doesn't give you the best choices. This was a snowshoe which means there was snow down on the trail the entire time. I didn't feel there were difficult snowfields to cross, but none of the other options fit either. WTA: please update that or allow for a type-in other category.
Road Conditions: Snow/Ice on 410 to Forest Service Road turnoff. Then a short drive to Sno-Park lot where it was a typical narrow, winding FS road, covered in snow (which helps with the potholes!). Car driven: 4WD high clearance Toyota Forerunner.
Weather Conditions: Lots of blue skies, with clouds milling about in places. Specifically the clouds were obstructing any view of Mt Rainier. Disappointing after so much work. But other views to the east were stunning.
Equipment:
- Trekking poles-I always take these and find them helpful.
- Microspikes-The trail was established from the folks who came before, but there had been fresh snow the night before, we did use our microspikes as we ascended at the very end to the summit.
- Snowshoes-Wore these the entire hike up and down, except for the brief period of final climb to summit when we wore microspikes instead.
- Rain Gear-wore rain pants (which work as my snow pants), brought but didn't use rain jacket.
Hike Stats:
| Miles Hiked Round Trip | Ascent/Elevation (ft) |
| 11.34 | 3100 |
Summary:
This was a challenging snowshoe. My partner hadn't hiked except once in the past six months, so this was probably not the best choice for a return! But determination to make it had us continue despite taking it slow. We followed the track of the previous hikers which meant the breaking trail was much easier (thank you!). We had read to stick to the road when reaching the summer trail and intended to do so, but our broken trail did not go that way, but up the summer trail. What to do? Pretty tired, we opted to follow the trail already broken and go the short and steep route up through the woods on the summer trail.
Good decision? Yes and no.
Yes, because we did have a trail to follow.
No, because it was straight up and in bare patch of steep snowiness just before the summit meant sketchy, potential avalanche condition.
As we ascended this last (maybe 100 feet) section, we affirmed we would NOT come down this way, but take the road. Ah, the best of intentions.
Because of our slow ascent, we didn't dawdle at the top so that we could possibly make it down before dark and we started happily going downhill along the road. But we didn't get far. As we came around the corner the road was buried under snow and corniced and did not look safe. Nor could we assess whether the road was even still there (possibly washed out). After some consideration, though we didn't want to go down the steep slope that brought us to the top, we opted to return the way we came since we knew the situation there.
We slowly backed down the steep top section, as if climbing down a ladder. Then through the woods and back to the road. We went down the mountain in about 2 hours making it back to our vehicle before having to break out our headlamps!
A great experience, and a beautiful day even without the stunning view I knew existed behind the clouds. Perhaps another visit in the summer will reveal what we couldn't see this day.
Comments
Ranger Gwen on Sun Top Snowshoe
The proper route for a snow ascent of Suntop is the way you went up, essentially following the summer trail. As you found, following the road as it spirals around the top will lead you into dangerous avalanche terrain. As long as conditions are favorable, there's much smaller risk of avalanche on the summer route.
Posted by:
GwenT on Mar 21, 2022 01:19 PM
Thanks
Good to know the lowdown on the road. The WTA description said to stick with the road which is why we thought it might be better. Despite the steep ascent we never felt that the route we took was the more dangerous one.
Posted by:
geecal on Mar 21, 2022 05:06 PM
Thanks
Good to know the lowdown on the road. The WTA description said to stick with the road which is why we thought it might be better. Despite the steep ascent we never felt that the route we took was the more dangerous one.
Posted by:
geecal on Mar 21, 2022 05:06 PM