Vesper Peak, Headlee Pass and Vesper Lake — Friday, Oct. 29, 2004

North Cascades > Mountain Loop Highway

Decided to head out on a dreary day to get on top of Vesper one more time before the snow gets too deep. We left the car in a hail storm and the hail changed to snow at the head of the big valley between Sperry and Morning Star Peaks. The bridge over the first creek is gone, but one is able to hop on rocks and keep the boots dry. We had to be a little more creative getting across the S. fork of the Stilliguamish but it was very doable. The snow got deeper at Headlee Pass (up to 2 feet) and crossing a the boulder fields was interesting and frustrating at times because the snow wasn't quite deep enough to keep us from falling into the holes and cracks between the rocks. Made it to the top in a total white-out with very high winds. We thought the avalanche danger was still pretty low given that there still wasn't that much snow and the layering and consistency of the snow (or lack thereof) seemed pretty safe. We also neither saw nor heard any significant avalanche activity. HOWEVER, on the way down I heard a loud ""whump"" and saw to my horror that I caused a thin fracture line that spread as far as I could see in the fog on both sides of me! The slope stayed and we got down as fast as we could, staying on minor ridges to avoid a potential slide. Pretty soon the snowfall on the lower walls of Sperry and Morning Star will make even going to pass risky business indeed. Happy Trails!