Major creek crossing at 1/2 mile is above the standard crossing if your nerves can't handle the small slipery log over steep rapids. Snow slopes shortly after will take you staight up to where the trail starts to traverse over to the main bowl. The bowl leading to Headlee Pass is full of snow. We experienced surface avalanches that slid down from broken cornices and chunks off of heated rocks. The chute to the pass was quick and stable. Snow got pretty soft once we reached the slopes to Vesper. Some of us turned back here as the threat of significant avalanches was prevalent. We heard several avalanches throughout the morning and it was getting warmer by the minute. The trip down was quick glisading and skiing(for those that brought them) and insignificant except where avalanches had crossed our up-tracks in a couple of places. If this weather keeps up this week, the snow should stabilize and be ready for safe travel.

Trail is a little muddy in places, and the morning dew on the brush will get your feet wet. Just a few folks on the trail at 8:00am, but 23 cars in the lot at 3:00pm. Even a few families with children beyond Headlee Pass at the lake. Not what comes to mind when I think of a family hike. 4,000 feet of elevation gain to the summit of Vesper Peak. About 2500 just to Headlee Lake. Lots of loose rock on steep slopes just before Headee Pass too. Great visability and views from Vesper today, where a half dozen of us chatted and took it all in.

A great day to blow off work and head for the hills. Three other cars at the end of the Sunrise Mine road - suggested that others had the same thought! 0830 start too late to avoid lots of sun up Wirtz Basin and up through the narrow slot of Headlee Pass. Got to Lake Elan, or Vesper Lake, or whatever you want to call it, about 2hrs in after taking a very leisurely pace in the heat. Having done Sperry last year, decided to angle left for Vesper this time. Obvious boot path heads uphill right at creek outlet (well before reaching lake)...follow this up through heather, scattered camping spots, and a little steep stretch in a band of scrub trees before emerging on another short stretch of heather and then nothing but delightful, solid granite slabs. An absolute wonderland of white rock and an easy stroll to the top - the occasional cairn marks the alleged path of least resistance but you would be hard-pressed to find anything worse than Class 2, if that...a great introductory off-trail alpine hike/scramble for those wishing to do something new, yet not ready for more difficult Class 2/3 hikes. Lupine in bloom, bees abuzz, Seattle and Everett in the distance, Gothic Basin peaks near east, etc...and not a cubicle in site! Very, very little snow left - a few dying patches near Vesper summit, easily avoided, and one big patch near lake, ditto. Poles recommended for descent of Headlee Pass - and maybe the ascent too! Some bugs at trailhead and down low, but all in all pretty tame for the Cascades in late July.

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!

Vesper is still as gorgeous as ever! Rough trail, eroded trail and lots of slabs. In that order! The trail below Headlee Pass seems to be getting better as it becomes more used. All the crossings are easy right now, but will be difficult for spring scrambling as the foot logs and bridges are all out. Even the big log that's been at the last crossing for years.