Snow hiking at Jefferson Park 18 October 2013

Another snow-hiking adventure.  I had heard that the snow was quite deep at Jefferson Park (5900 ft) so I was hesitant to go before this date.  I hiked with Marc this time.  We were encouraged when we didn't see any major snow until the junction with the PCT and then it was not that deep, just slippery on the trail.  By the time we got to the actual park, it was mostly all snow covered and beautiful.  The snow had compacted so that you could walk along the top and not sink in.  We hiked over to Russell Lake for lunch after 3 hrs of hiking this 11 mile trail.  The weather was perfect!  We only saw a handful of people the entire day.  On the way out, it warmed up considerably and the snow had even melted from the morning.  We arrived back at the car after a 6 hr trail/snow-hike.

first view

first serious snow

for about a mile you have amazing views of Jeff

crossing the creek

getting deeper

the first meadow

Park Butte

more meadpws

Park Butte

a tarn

another tarn

a tarn with cool rocks

Russell Lake

rocks breaking ice

Red huckleberries

 

Three Pyramids, Bachelor Mtn and Coffin

snowy peak

afternoon light