If you’ve made this “easy” summer hike before – make sure you understand the situation in winter.
1) FR-9070 is completely covered in snow, but its groomed for cross country skiers after about 0.1miles in. This adds approx. 4.5miles (9miles round trip) to your snowshoe. 9miles/1500 ft gain (road to trailhead RT) + 3miles/1300 ft gain (trailhead to summit RT). A 12mi snowshoe will take some time with 2800ft of gain… plan accordingly with the short winter daylight hours.
2) For reference… it took me about 2.15hrs from the parking lot to the trailhead (4.5miles), and another 2hrs to get from the trailhead to the summit. In the summer I can jog up this in 30min-1hr… but in winter cutting a trail in snow tends to make me an old man… plus all the photo opp stops. 6-8hrs total.
3) The trail to the summit is not marked and often without a boot path after storms… so its not really recommended for beginners… You can still enjoy a safe and fun day snowshoeing on FR-9070… plenty of places to jump around in the powder off trail as well.
4) I had some data service at the summit (could even stream an NFL game through Verizon). It’s an even smaller summit in winter – so be careful of the cornice on the backside…
5) Do not try to park on the first 0.1miles of FR-9070 during winter... even if you have a Subaru, truck, or Jeep – every time I go here I see someone stuck and getting towed out. There is plenty of parking at the ski resort… Exit 54 Parking Lot (first one on Hyak Dr East), or the lot off of Keechelus Dr… both are free, plowed, and only a 5min walk to the start of FR-9070 by the treatment plant.
6) Made this hike on 1/14/2017 before the ice storm that currently has the pass closed (1/19/2017).
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