Packwood Lake and back. Upper trail first, which is treacherous and friggin hard!!! Hot coffee and lunch at the lake. Returned via Lower Trail. Rained all day but not hard. Deep snow and many blowdonws on both upper and lower. Lower has more dirt trail walking. RT Mileage: 10.7. Started: 10:30am. Finished: 6pm. Includes 1hr for lunch. Average temp: 39 degrees.
Snow on the road about 3/4 mile before the parking lot, just after the tall green tower.
Upper trail is clear for the first 1/4 mile. Spotty at first but quickly constant. Snow is deep, ranging from 1ft to 4ft. An area of the trail is angled, steep and high. The snow there is treacherous and scary. I didn't have microspikes and forgot my baskets causing pole-holing. Knee to hip postholing prevelent throughout but more so in open deep area's. There's blowdowns of all types, over, under and through. Snow goes all the way to the lake. Open dirt area's can be found there.
Lower Trail is much more pleasant to hike. Still all snow, and probably more blowdowns than upper, but they are more easily walked around. Like upper, blowdowns of all types. Over, under, and through. Snow kinda ends just below the parking lot and is pleasant until it meets the road where you pick up the snow to the car.
If going around the same time period, take the lower! The whole hike took alot longer than expected. Make sure you have boots, gaiters, pole baskets, dry clothes and of course hot food. All and all it was fun, difficult and wet. I"d wait a few more dry weeks though. Still, both trails will need heavy trail maintenance. IMO: No ATV's on lower for awhile.
For Shared Elevation Profile, see link below
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