It had been a long time since I'd done this hike and the last time I did I summited Del Campo and wanted to get to Gothic Peak this time around. Knowing that this is a very popular trail I decided to leave early enough to get me there around 7 am so I'd be arriving just as it was getting light out. It was supposed to take an hour and 40ish minutes to get there but I guess with no traffic it cut off about 40 minutes and I got there about 6 am. It was pitch black and I was for sure the first to arrive.
I've only hiked by headlamp a few times and it's always a little eerie but I had my pup with me so I felt like if there was something I couldn't see he'd give me a heads up. It wasn't too long before I reached the turnoff to Gothic Basin, I really like the new clearly marked turn off to the trail.
The first part of the trail is in great shape short of a few muddy spots and the icy wooden bridges. I barely caught myself on the first one I came to, I thought my boots had pretty good traction but I think unless you've crampons it wouldn't matter. That was only an issue in the morning though as they were dry and not slick by the time I was coming down.
It was just starting to be full daylight before the first waterfall when I really started to have to watch my footing as the trail was snow covered and icy. Unfortunately I had my winter boots on that I hadn't worn in a couple of years and the new crampons I bought back in April did not fit them so I had to take it real slow in a few areas. There was some fresh snow or at least not melted icy snow on a good portion of the rest of the way up so I wasn't slowed too much.
Once at the top I decided to check out the new toilet I'd heard so much about. It was interesting, no roof or full enclosure just three walls and a door. After that I took off to Foggy Lake, I figured given the few frost covered cars I saw at the parking lot there'd be a few backpackers but I only saw one tent.
There was a lot more snow than I expected around Foggy Lake and on the way up to Gothic Peak, it was more than a foot deep in places. None the less I pushed on. There were only one other set of foot prints that were headed up to the peak. They seemed to follow the route my GPS was taking me so I followed them up the hill.
As I was making my way up the sun was out in full force and the snow was softening. I was really wishing I had crampons that fit as I got to within a 100 ft of the summit and as much as I hate turning around I decided that risk of injury or worse was not worth it. It was just too steep and slick to get good footing so I turned back and did have some fun glissading where I could back down to Foggy Lake.
I had lunch by the lake and let the pup spaz out in the snow for a little bit and then headed back down. I came up at the right time because everyone was heading up just as I was beginning to go down. Lots of backpackers everyone asking me if I stayed the night and how many spots there were. Did my best to alert them to the snow and few spots that looked viable compared to how many others I'd passed prior. Getting down was far easier as it was no longer icy just muddy and wet.
I was disappointed that I didn't make it all the way up to Gothic Peak but it was a great day, Sunny and mostly clear.
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