Granite Mountain — Friday, Nov. 7, 2025

Headed up towards the lookout on a gray and rainy morning. Yesterday had a fair bit of rain, so I was expecting snowy conditions up higher; I brought micro spikes and gaiters. The trail was clear and snow free up to and through the first avalanche gully: the one the trail description calls out above.

There was a dusting of snow starting around 4300 feet and an inch or two along the Traverse around 5000 feet. The trail was usually easy to follow, even on unbroken snow, but became more challenging at the junction between the winter route and the summer one.

The Boulderfield is dusted with an inch or two: not too deep enough yet for the winter route. I followed the summer route along the stream, punching through from time to time. On the north side of the ridge, the snow got deeper: up to a foot in many drifts. No route to the top looked pleasant when I hopped up to the saddle between the hill and the peak itself; the climb up was often in a foot and more of snow.

The boulders from there to the summit had three or 4 inches on them— even less pleasant to climb. I took some pictures of the fog bank in front of me and turned down.

Behind me, three other parties were trying for the summit — if you find their tracks, that means they made it. (If you find their tracks coming down, that’s even better news.)