Totally delightful trail conditions today, including running stream, swamp, pure ice, and mashed potatoes snow! Not surprising given the recent weather. I was happy to be out, even though things were spicy. If you attempt this in the next few days, just be ready to get wet! Going up, I put on spikes around the 1 mile mark. This was treacherous going...the rain had washed away most of the snow, and it was just ice underneath. As you gain elevation, there is some snow that starts to appear. It's a bit mushy, but not much (2-3 inches). After the balcony (no views), I continued on towards the peak.
Now, I have done this multiple times in winter before and have never experienced such crazy conditions. The trail alternated between dry and running stream, with the occasional snow field. Sadly, at 3,000 ft., a perfectly normal stream had turned into an absolute RAGING river. There was absolutely no way I could cross that (see picture) without getting extremely wet. Even if I had fancied plunging in, the stream was rushing so quickly, that it would not have even been safe. So I sadly turned around and went back.
Once back on the balcony trail, it was very slippery going down. There is ice hiding between the rocks and under the conifer debris. Spikes and poles, and be careful!!!
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