Hannegan Pass and Peak — Monday, Jan. 1, 2024

It was incredible to return to a summer backpacking trail for a New Year's Day hike! Only made possible due to the late snow and low amount of snow so far this winter.

Road conditions: Rough is rough but passable most of the way, easily navigable in my Subaru. Thank you to whoever cleared a log that had fallen across the road, not sure from how long ago. Compact snow/ice begins about 1/8 mile before the trailhead, so we parked here and walked the rest of the way.

Trail conditions: Most of the trail is covered with 4-5 inches of compact snow, with some patches of just a dusting or bare ground in the trees. We walked much of the time in our hiking boots, then added basic traction spikes. The trail is easy to follow, and we weren't too concerned about avalanches given the low snowpack plus we checked the NWAC avalanche forecast ahead of time. *The minimal snow was certainly unique to this year.

We hiked about 3.5 miles up the trail then turned around and called it a day.

If you're looking for a snowy ramble through a stunningly scenic river valley, this hike will be a great option for the next couple days until it snows next.