What a difference 20 degrees and four days make! The parking lot is no longer a sheet of ice as 45-50 degrees has melted a ton of the snow from the lower third of Tiger. Ten of us headed up from Tradition Parking Lot at 7:40 and did a massive loop: Nook/Section up to W. Tiger 3, over to 2 and 1, down Preston, to the Railroad Grade/TMT and down West Tiger 3. 5:21 moving time, Gaia had us ranging from 8.8-9.75 miles (you be the judge!) and about 2800' gain.
We enjoyed sunbreaks for an early lunch at the summit of Tiger 1, 12 bird species (including the brown creeper, a few Canada jays -- what some were calling gray jays -- and pileated woodpeckers, lovely mosses, and mushrooms. The trail is completely passable, although, with recent warming temperatures and rapid melting, it's quite muddy down below.
We all had spikes and at least one pole apiece for the last .5 miles to the summit of W. Tiger 3 and kept them on until rejoining W. Tiger 3 after our massive loop. A lovely day for us all.
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