This has been a lean year for snowshoers! I had been waiting for a dump of fresh snow but finally decided to go enjoy what little we have in Snoqualmie Pass, regardless of conditions. Despite the old, crunchy snow we encountered I still enjoyed getting out, and with a bit of elevation gain found somewhat improved conditions.
We parked at the ski area (no parking fee midweek) used the facilities in the ski lodge and hiked across the road and under the freeway to find the Commonwealth Basin trail start point where we put on the snowshoes. This probably wasn't necessary (microspikes would have been fine) but hey, we brought the snowshoes. Might as well use them. The trail was snow covered, for the most part, with occasional bare spots at stream crossings. It was easy to follow, and the icy crust had been broken up by many prior users, so it was in good shape for travelling. The snow surface started littered with debris from the trees but got better as we gained some elevation. The grade was relatively gentle.
This was my first time on this section of the trail, and I enjoyed it. The trail passes through some nice stands of old trees. As the trail slowly approaches Commonwealth Creek, you can hear it from afar. Eventually there is a point where it meets the creek for a bit. From that point there are some nice views over to the tower of Guye Peak. That is where we stopped for a leisurely lunch and turned around.
Totals for the trip were 3.5 miles and a bit over 700 feet of gain.
Now, if we can just get the weather to turn snowy! Maybe I will come back with improved conditions and explore further up the trail.
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