Got started this morning at 9:30 am from a very empty parking lot at the Black Pine Horse Camp on this rainy morning. The horse camp is about a 1/4 mile shy of the end of the Icicle Creek road.
The Blackjack Ridge trail is a really nice trail. It is steep with its steep switchbacks, but the trail has hardly any rocks or roots, just lots of nice duff. It appears over the years that the trail has been well maintained, as the are numerous older deadfalls that have been cleared. Up higher on the trail above 4000 ft or so, there are a couple of trees across the trail, but are easy to get over.
Trail is pretty much all snow above 5000 ft and is between 2"-4". Trail is still visible under the snow. At around 6200 ft as you round a bend, you need to take a sharp right and follow the spine up to Bootjack Mountain. This is the first time you see Bootjack, so just follow the spine of the ridge, and it will lead you to the summit. There is a trail that takes you to the summit block, but is easily lost as it weaves in and out of some rock outcrops. Some easy scrambling here.
Once at the summit block, just find the right line and it is an easy scramble to the top. I did not even use my hands, just my poles. There is snow on the rocks, so care must be taken, as the east side of the summit is all steeply angled slick rock that there would be no way to stop yourself if you begin to fall. Summit appears to have some excellent 360 degree views, but not today. I could see over to Highchair Mountain, which was a lofty goal today. No way was I going to be able to get over there(and back) today with all the snow covered boulders. I ventured over to Blackjack Ridge( named summit on caltop) to get some beta for a future trip to High Chair. It really was not worth it as the summit is lower than Bootjack, but I did get an extra 400 ft of elevation gain in going there and back!! haha
Finished at 2:45 pm. Did not see anyone all day. 8.5 miles with 4500 ft elevation gain
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