Seeing as no one has posted an update here for a while, I figured I might as well step up and finally get back into the trip report game. The road is in great condition up to the trailhead, especially considering the time of year. There are a few avoidable potholes, but nothing near what you would expect from a gravel forest service road in the winter. There are a few remnants of hardpacked snow from vehicle tires in the parking area, but I wouldn't be surprised it the rest of that melts off in the next day or so. I set off just after 10am and made good progress upwards. The trail up to the stoves only sign (3,500') is in great shape, though the stream crossings near the beginning require a bit more concentration than in the summer months. Nothing too difficult though. Once you pop out of the trees just past 3,500' there are a few patches of snow to cross, though as of now none of them are large enough to cause wayfinding issues. There is also a fresh blowdown to navigate in this area. Luckily though, due to its southern aspect, the headwall is snow free right now and is generally much more dry than the trail above and below. Above the headwall you enter into a winter wonderland, and you need to have proper gear to move around up there. I followed fresh tracks in the snowpack for about 1/4 of a mile above the headwall until meeting up with the hiker responsible for them (and her two adorable dogs!). I realized soon after that we had both gone uphill too quickly after the headwall, so I began traversing cross slope and slightly downhill to try to find some semblance of the trail or landmark. I was able to spot the upper of the two visible waterfalls along Whitehorse Creek, and angled myself just to the right of it as I knew that the trail passes next to and just above it. Surely enough, I soon found an orange trail marker ribbon and was able to locate the trail in a couple of melted out spots. I followed the trail to the best of my knowledge until Lake of the False Prophets (careful on the bridge crossing here!). I continued on just past the lake, but soon realized that I needed to be heading back or else I would run out of daylight. Regretfully, I turned around just before the National Park boundary, retracing my steps back to the headwall. A bit of impromptu trail running on the way down got me back to my car just before 4:30pm and the impending sunset. Beautiful day out there as usual. Hopefully someone will be encouraged to break trail the rest of the way up!
Comments
hayleefaye on Lake of the Angels
Did you need snowshoes or microspikes at all?
Posted by:
hayleefaye on Jan 15, 2018 07:57 AM
DHULL16 on Lake of the Angels
I did it with boots and poles, but snowshoes would be (very) nice for above the headwall. The snow is generally too deep for microspikes up there but they might help with traction a bit.
Posted by:
DHULL16 on Jan 15, 2018 08:28 PM