Early season (July, ha!) backpacking trip to Dome Camp in the Mt. Margaret backcountry. We did this same overnight on June 2nd, 2019 and snow conditions are similar this year in almost mid July. I'm including Mount Margaret trail as part of this report for people looking for general area conditions, despite the fact that we started at Johnston Ridge Observatory, not Norway Pass, and only made it to Margaret Camp.
We left from Johnston Ridge Observatory with permit in hand for a night at Dome Camp. If you were the person who canceled your permit online sorta last minute, thanks for taking the time to actually cancel! We were happy to find an opening pop up.
Around the Observatory, flowers were in full effect - lupine, paintbrush, penstemon and more were probably at/near peak. Trail was in good shape to Hole in the Wall/Arch aside from one bit of erosion and a steep, shorter snowfield just before the Arch.
After Coldwater Peak (we didn't go up to the peak) we saw no one until the next day's return near to the Arch. Water is at the stream at Coldwater Peak saddle. Strawberry flowers absolutely carpeting the trail, but no berries yet. Cinquefoil, avalanche lilies, and more flowers up there. There are a number of snowfields on the way, most were quite manageable for us, until the major one under the Dome itself. That one is divided into 3 snowfields now - 2 smaller ones, undercut with melt and looking unstable, and one large and very, very steep one with a runout to infinity and the great beyond. We went just under the first two, like the tracks of people before us - a bit sketchy in itself as steep as it is. We had poles and microspikes (and had done the same spot in 2019) but the large snowfield is still a hair raising crossing. IMO micro spikes and poles are a must here. Also one high consequence spot of eroded trail just before the Dome too, but very manageable if exposure doesn't bother you.
Dome Camp was absolutely gorgeous. Took a disco nap to get out of the sun for a bit and got up for the evening sunset and the moon rise. Walked over to Margaret Camp, which had significantly more snow lingering, and didn't see anyone there either - but also didn't look around too much. No running water aside from a snow covered stream (we didn't try to get to it because backpackers we ran into on their way out told us you'd have "to put your body completely under a snow bridge to get to it"). Boiled some clean snow instead. A pair of ospreys decided to do an absolutely beautiful mid air dance right over us at camp, but no big animals around on this trip.
The way out was hot... felt like we were cooked pretty medium well by the time we got back to JRO, despite my having worn a full on sun hat the whole trip. Really tough last 2 miles if I'm being honest, entirely due to the heat and lack of shade. Super busy Monday morning at Johnston Ridge Observatory but up at Dome Camp it was stars aplenty and people few (us).
Comments
Arianne on Mount Margaret, Boundary Trail, Coldwater Peak
Great report! Was nice to meet you on the trail. We didn’t use micro spikes and agree that last snowfield was scary. The water at dome camp is there but about 6’ under a snow bridge. Bring an avalanche shovel and it can be dug out.
Posted by:
Arianne on Jul 14, 2022 02:10 PM
walkerhiker on Mount Margaret, Boundary Trail, Coldwater Peak
Great to meet you also and thanks for taking the time to give us that info on our way in! It was really helpful :) We also didn't use our spikes over that snow field on the way in, since the snow was soft, and both kind of regretted that. Felt much better on the way out with our spikes on.
Posted by:
walkerhiker on Jul 14, 2022 02:18 PM