TL;DR - Miller peak loop: it goes!
Snow - during the whole loop there were zero times when the snow was a problem. No sketchy, high-risk spots. And if you’re reading this, it might already be too late to even see the snow. It’s almost completely gone. Maybe 30 steps of the whole loop were in snow
Obstacles - once you start the descent back to the Miller peak trailhead (going counterclockwise), there are a good bit of trees down. We cleared a lot of small ones (::tips hat:: “least I could do”) but there are maybe 20-30 big ones waiting to be sawed. Wasn’t a big deal, most are quite easy* to get over or around, but some are a brief puzzle.
There are at least dozen times you will not be able to avoid getting your feet wet. Lots of crossings ankle deep but they are small creeks not raging rivers so no worries. Filtered cold, delicious water from many of them!
Views - incredible. I always spend my winters forgetting how good this loop is. A very enjoyable day mostly running the 13 mile loop with a friend.
* I’m a tall drink of water with legs for days so easy is relative I suppose
Trip Report
Iron Bear - Teanaway Ridge, Miller Peak Loop — Sunday, May. 21, 2023
Central Cascades > Blewett Pass
Comments
Rod Brown on Iron Bear - Teanaway Ridge, Miller Peak Loop
Hello, I’m the guy who talked to you as you ran up. I want to run the loop this weekend. Do you think it would be better to run clockwise, so you deal with the fallen trees on the way up and have a smooth run down Bear Creek at the end?
Posted by:
Rod Brown on May 22, 2023 09:28 PM
Chef RT on Iron Bear - Teanaway Ridge, Miller Peak Loop
I personally love the flow of it counterclockwise, even with the trees. Overall it's a better reveal of views and environment. I also think counterclockwise is more runable on the way up because it's a bit steeper the other way. I think you will enjoy it either way you do it, but even with the fallen trees I still like counterclockwise best.
Posted by:
Chef RT on May 23, 2023 08:39 AM