Started out this morning at 8:40 with the temperature at a chilly 10 degrees. I get to pick up my son today at 1:00 so better hurry. Got back around 12:45 and the temperature is 21 degrees. There were 2 people camping at the shelter and that was all that were out. So here we go…..
Remember the creek picture from yesterday? This is close to the beginning of the trail, about 1 plus inches on the ground.
As we moved up the mountain, the snow got deeper. By the end of the 4th switchback there was 3 to 4 inches. Leaving the switchbacks and heading toward the shelter was the first HARD fall all the way to the ground wipe-out of the day. This one didn’t hurt as bad as the others. While I have your attention there are a few observations to share with you.
1) Hiking in/on snow is a lot harder than regular trail walking.
2) Gaiters really help a lot.
3) Hiking poles are even more important in the Winter than the Summer.
4) Good boots that are properly fit and warm are essential.
Enough rambling – here are pictures approaching the 1st summit of Graybeard. The snow was a steady 6 inches with drifts from 8 to 10.
View from the top.