My plan was to snowshoe up Klipchuck Road and then partway up the Driveway Butte Trail. With the temperature below freezing, the snow was firm in the tracks with very little postholing in boots. Out of the tracks, there was about 2" of new snow over a crust that would not support walking in boots. Even so, I didn't need my snowshoes to get to the trailhead. The one downed tree on the road and the other on the trailhead access were easy to get by.
At the trailhead, the vault toilet was open and clean, but no TP.
The Driveway Butte trail track was a mix of ski and boot tracks, not very good for snowshoeing. The snow conditions varied from 2"-3" of new snow, firm snow that supported boot hiking, and firm ice under the trees in places. I had my microspikes but didn't need them. My stiff boots and trekking poles were sufficient for this trail and the cross-country travel.
First, an apology for those hikers who blindly follow tracks in the snow. My route up was not completely on the trail, my descent was. I opted to follow the beaten track on the way up, even though I knew it was not on the trail. I was curious about where the previous hikers had gone.
The first 0.2 mile of trail had the first of many trees that had been brought down on the trail by the heavy snow in December. Over the section I hiked, there were quite a few "Tip-Ups" with root disks at least 6ft high. It's going to take a lot of work to repair and clean up this trail.
After the Driveway Butte sign, the beaten path in the snow drifted west of the trail location, ending up on the wrong side of the intermittent creek. After about 0.3 mile, the track turned east to get across the gulley and back on the trail for about 0.1 mile. At the trail's crossing of the intermittent creek, it was covered in standing water, and the area was pretty muddy. The beaten track left the trail and stayed east of the intermittent creek, at times following ski tracks. I opted for my own track, climbing steeply, kicking steps in the firm snow and following short sections of game trails on the bare ground. I regained the trail at 3600ft after a 400ft climb up the hillside.
Once back on the trail it was easy walking, until just before the switchback near Indian Creek, where a jumble of downed trees is challenging to get through. On my bypass of the switchback, I just kicked steps up the snow to regain the trail above the switchback. After that, I continued on the trail to my goal, the viewpoint and switchback at 4100ft.
The views were good on this cloudy day, and I watched the helicopter making round trips for backcountry skiers up and down the valley.
After an early lunch, I started down, deciding to follow the trail down. Yes, it was doable, with minor diversions for some brush, water over the trail, and small logs. I was able to confirm the jumble of trees was a challenge to get through and over.
Once back at the trailhead, I decided to use my snowshoes for the descent down the road to avoid postholing in the softening snow.
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