This trip was triggered by the end of the season at Hyak which meant that parking would be plentiful. We learned from a year round resident that it happened to be the last day that forest road 9070 would be groomed for cross country skiing, and took advantage of the easy terrain to snowshoe the 4.5 miles to the Mt Catherine trail head. Despite tracking our progress with Gaia we missed the TH, but found it quickly from glimpsing the initial part that parallels 9070. After the first switchback we could only guess where the trail was, and climbed up wherever it was easiest. The snow was crystalline with great traction. We ate lunch halfway up after 3h of snowshoeing. Caught a nice view downhill when we reached the ridge. We followed the ups and downs along the ridge, and finally called a turn-around at 2 because it was a long way back to the car. Gaia suggested we were still 1000-2000 ft from the summit.
The crystalline snow was slippery on the descent and we wound up glissading several sections which was easier than controlling speed with green belays. Progress was faster once we reached 9070 again. We stopped at the warming hut (grateful that someone had made a fire earlier) to change to dryer and warmer clothes. The snow we enjoyed during the climb had now switched to rain. Reached the car after 8 1/2 h.
The groomed road helped us get as far as we did. The distance (4.5 mi on the road, 1.5 mi to summit Mt. C) is longer than we normally do in a day. We plan to return in the summer to summit.
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