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Successful Trail Crest 5/24/19
#55230 05/28/19 10:04 AM
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Just wanted to provide an update on trail conditions since I know these recounts were pretty helpful for me.

-Started at 2:00 am on Friday the 24th
-Snow starts at 1.9 miles in
-Cut off the trail at this point and put on crampons for the remainder of the hike
-Went straight up on right side of Lone Pine creek and waterfall
-Stayed on right side of meadow past outpost camp
-Snow was pretty firm even though it recently snowed
-Straight up climb to mirror lake (This is the last water source)
-Snow from mirror on started to get a bit thicker with some post-holing
-Made it to chute with a few trails already cut, but still a lot of step building to do
-Chute did not require an ice axe due to the amount of soft snow (Poles were more helpful, but I would not hike without an ice axe to be safe)
-Trail after trail crest was non-existent. Wind-blown snow covered where the trail would have been and it was a bit too sketchy to attempt the traverse
-Down climbing was slow as the amount of snow and softness made glissading impossible

The total mileage based on the snow routes is about 13 miles up to trail crest and back.

Re: Successful Trail Crest 5/24/19
thunderfoot #55233 05/28/19 11:33 AM
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Hi thunderbolt,
I am climbing the Mountaineers route on June 27 and would like to ask you:
1 How long did it take you to the peak?
2.How long back to the Portal?
3.How much water did you carry from mirror lake?
4.Did you use crampons or micro spikes?
5.What is your recommendation as far as clothing?

Your answers are very much appreciated.
Thank you,

Re: Successful Trail Crest 5/24/19
Malo #55241 05/28/19 03:47 PM
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Originally Posted By: Malo
Hi thunderbolt,
I am climbing the Mountaineers route on June 27 and would like to ask you:
1 How long did it take you to the peak?
2.How long back to the Portal?
3.How much water did you carry from mirror lake?
4.Did you use crampons or micro spikes?
5.What is your recommendation as far as clothing?

Your answers are very much appreciated.
Thank you,

He did not go up the mountaineers route, he said he went to Trail Crest. That is on the main trail.

Re: Successful Trail Crest 5/24/19
thunderfoot #55251 05/29/19 12:48 AM
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I'll be heading on my first summit attempt on June 3rd. Did you have any trouble recognizing the trail with so much snow?

Re: Successful Trail Crest 5/24/19
austinw #55254 05/29/19 08:44 AM
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I went up the main trail on the 25th but only made it to Consultation Lake. There was only one area where several people (including my group) had trouble finding the trail, I can't recall the details, there was a dead tree standing right there, and the trail is uphill. Anywhere else, look for the notches in the trees.

Re: Successful Trail Crest 5/24/19
Kraken #55259 05/29/19 12:29 PM
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I did a recon hike up to mirror lake a few days before, so I had already planned out a route on my Garmin watch. I was on and off the trail as it had snowed like 6+ inches the days before. Anywhere I could take a more direct route I did.

With that said, there are constantly people hiking this trail, so you should not have an issue.

The hike took us just under 12 hours, but we started slow as the fiends with us were not feeling good at 10k feet and had to turn back. Our average speed was 1.1 mph due to the snow. I didn't lap my watch, so it is hard to say what the breakdown by segment was. I do believe we were up at Trail Crest by 11:00 am though.

If you are not bringing crampons and an ice axe right now you are being a bit reckless. Even if you do not need it, you should still have it.


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