Decided it was time to do this winter's first ""lap"" up Granite Mtn, and Sunday looked like decent conditions. I met C. at Eastgate and we headed out I-90. Some severe buffeting on the way seemed to promise a classic day on the open SW ridge. No other cars at the parking lot when we got there, plus still heavy winds and a very crisp temperature had us wondering if ""they"" knew something we didn't. We loaded up and headed out under a mostly clear sky. The trail was a perfect, two-snowshoe wide trough, firm but not yet icy and ideal for boots. We made excellent time with only one duck-under blow-down and the usual assortment of snow-bowed trees and brush. The ""real"" winter route - the one that breaks up/left into the forest before the first avalanche gully - isn't really in yet. Instead, the beaten track heads up the center of the gully above the trail crossing, then works up onto the climber's-left side of the gully. After studying the snow conditions on the upper face we felt comfortable taking that route, but another good dump of snow will bring on some serious avalanche hazard. When we broke left over the gully-edge and into the trees, we finally hit deep enough wind-drifted snow to put on the snowshoes. There was a bit of knee deep step kicking, but it didn't last long. As we climbed past the last trees we hit near perfect neve snow conditions and the 'shoes went back onto the packs. It was quite windy on the lower ridge, but as we climbed, the wind diminished and the air temperature seemed to warm up (more sunshine helped, of course). By the time we crossed over to the left side of the ridge at the snag-bench, we were in near-calm conditions! Quite a change from the usual wind-blast across that ridge. Excellent bootable snow conditions all the way, too, with only a couple of harder patches and a little ice in the rocks. Once on top, the sunny and near windless conditions were so nice that we spent nearly an hour relaxing and enjoying the exceptionally clear views. Adams to Baker, Stuart to the Olympics, it was some of the clearest visibility I've experienced up there - when we arrived, at least. By the time we decided to head down, there was a lot of dark haze starting to obscure the distant features. Not coming in fast enough to bother us, though, and we started jogging down the ridge. Without good glissade pants and with excellent footing we had decided to walk down. However, on crossing back to the gully side of the ridge (skier's left) we spotted a glissade trough running down the lower ridge, over the lip into the bowl, and all the way down into the lower gully. Just couldn't resist that, so swoosh we went ! All the way back down to where we had left the gully in one run. It won't be safe to do that much longer, but what fun ! Still great conditions on the trail and we trotted on out in quick time. We saw 3 other folks on the summit, arriving just after us, and 4 coming up the ridge as we descended. A few more on the trail, but suprisingly light traffic for such a nice day. Lot's of folks hiking out towards the Lakes, perhaps.

Started up the trail at 10:45am with no snow on the trail. Didn't put on snowshoes until the Alpine Lakes boundary sign. Snow was very soft, wet and heavy. Boot steps kicked in the snow up the main gully for 400' vertical, then veered to the left to follow the West Arm up to the tower. Had to take snowsnoes back off on the steep slope as the snow was soft enough to prevent traction. Definitely bring an ice axe but boots are good enough if you don't have snow shoes. Fantastic view from the summit and a quick slide back down.

Gorgeous day with low avalanche danger; a bunch of us hauled our snowboards up to the lookout to enjoy a fun ride. Snow starts just after Granite Mt. trail turn-off. Took the west arm route, following the boot track up the avalanche gully. Crampons/ice axes needed for last bit from W arm to lookout, though the snow softened toward the afternoon. Busy day! Descent thru avalanche gully is fun due to natural-halfpipe aspect. Beware of creek holes toward the bottom; follow the boot track out, bushwacking west until you hit the trail.

Tried the winter route on Granite Mt. Trail was hard packed snow. Could have used traction devices. Above treeline (4400') the snow was very hard. Foolishly left my crampons at home. Sigh... Good news: I deemed the gully safe to glissade, dropping 1000' in a couple of minutes. Bad news: Lost trekking poles. Please see lost and found. R/T 6 miles, 2600' gain, 3:40 car to car.

Thought we'd give Granite a try since it was such a gorgeous day and we figured the snow conditions were a little more settled. Yup. Real settled! Almost immediately we hit slick (but do-able) snow in the woods. Alot of the small branches and twigs that came down in the windstorms helped provide some traction and there was room to navigate on the edge of the trail as well. We proceded up beside the first avalanche gully, following some old steps which were a little deep but not too bad (except for the occasional thigh deep ones, ouch, that must have hurt someone...). As we got out of the trees we had hoped for softer snow but it actually was even harder and the wind was getting stronger. It was a crampon kind of day and we only had snowshoes so we retreated to a calm spot for a nice lunch with good friends on a beautiful day. Life IS good. But until there is new snow, ice axes and crampons will be necessary to visit the lookout.