Gothic Basin — Wednesday, Sep. 30, 1998

North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway

This is an El Viejo (aka La Nina) winter which will be characterized by an earlier and longer winter season, as opposed to El Nino which is accompanied by an earlier and longer winter season. The first mile of the trail after it leaves the Monte Cristo Road has been reconstructed but is still quite steep, but not as steep as the old trail. It intersects the old trail at 3700 feet, after which there are some windfalls and some brushy spots. The snow fell as low as 3600 feet last night and snow covers the trail above 4000 feet. The snow is continuous above 4500 feet. I lost the trail under a foot of snow at 4800 feet. Snow was falling heavily above 4650 feet.