Trip Report
Vesper Peak, Headlee Pass and Vesper Lake — Sunday, Mar. 8, 2015
North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway
The trail is in great shape - the crossing of the Stillaguamish was as low as I've ever seen it (which bodes poorly for the rivers in late summer). Snow begins below Headlee Pass, and the trail is snow-covered all the way to the pass. Footing is a mess - crampons and ice axe are very helpful. Otherwise, pick your way carefully. Trail on the open slopes to the outlet of the lake is sun-baked and snow-free. Snow begins just below the lake and is continuous from there to the top of Vesper and most of the way up Sperry.
Comments
Surgataz on Vesper Peak, Headlee Pass and Vesper Lake
Sweet! How were the avalanche conditions on the Vesper slopes? I had a tentative in November but we had to turn around after Headlee pass because of too much fresh snow, and I can't wait to get back there before summer.
Posted by:
Surgataz on Mar 08, 2015 10:42 PM
Risk > 0, but < a lot
I can't tell you there's no slide risk (where there's snow, there's potential), but things seemed pretty stable. I kicked my way up the far side of the lake on 45-degree terrain, and there was no pinwheeling or wet slides. Go early if you're worried, because things should set up overnight unless things get really warm.
Posted by:
Paul Kriloff on Mar 09, 2015 05:58 PM
dskendall on Vesper Peak, Headlee Pass and Vesper Lake
awesome photos. would be great to have you sign the summit log for Vesper: http://peakery.com/vesper-peak-cascades/. and for your other summits too...
Posted by:
dskendall on Mar 09, 2015 02:47 PM
I'd consider it...
...but you really need to be a more responsible citizen of this site if you want me to support your site. Your "contributions" here are spam - you provide no real details and then try to shunt people to your site. Not that I'm saying I want to sign a virtual summit register anyway, but at least I'd consider it. As is, I feel like you're taking advantage of this forum without adding anything in return.
Posted by:
Paul Kriloff on Mar 30, 2015 05:57 PM
dskendall on Vesper Peak, Headlee Pass and Vesper Lake
Fair point. I've usually used wta for more aborted summit attempts and non-mountain hiking reports and peakery for summit reports. BTW your website is really well done, good work.
Posted by:
dskendall on Mar 31, 2015 10:38 AM
Thanks
Haven't had much time to do much on it lately. Day job, and I've done more work over the last year contributing trail guides to WTA (Si, The Enchantments - a bunch of my favorite trails). The idea behind your site is smart. I think it'd be better served if you included trail conditions when you report here. There may still be details that make more sense on your own site. Good luck!
Posted by:
Paul Kriloff on Apr 01, 2015 07:10 AM
Road to tail head
thinking about going up there this weekend. I assume the road from Mountain Loop Hwy to the Vesper Tailhead is open? If so what is the road conditions? Thanks.
Posted by:
jdodger26 on Mar 17, 2015 10:02 AM
Road conditions
Did you end up going to Vesper? If so, how's 4065?
Posted by:
EasternImport on Mar 24, 2015 09:14 PM
jdodger26 on Vesper Peak, Headlee Pass and Vesper Lake
the road was fine apart from just about a mile in where it is pretty washed out on the right side. i was in a Nissan Versa and passed without issue but needed to take special care not to bottom my car out. the river crossing is intense! lots of rain last week made it so i needed to go way up stream to cross. i finally got across but then couldn't find the Vesper trail. i found the Morning Star trail but after 30 minutes of trudging through harsh brush (not to mention it pouring) i decided to pack it in and ended up hiking Dickerman instead. i don't recommend this one at the moment. i caught some of the river crossing on my GoPro, i'll post the video link on here.
Posted by:
jdodger26 on Mar 24, 2015 09:38 PM
River Crossing video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCJhnDE7P3I&feature=youtu.be&safe=active
Posted by:
jdodger26 on Mar 24, 2015 10:35 PM
Thanks!
Unfortunately I wasn't able to make it over there this weekend, but I really appreciate the info, planning to in the next few weeks.
Posted by:
EasternImport on Mar 30, 2015 09:52 PM