The lower road (from the Middle Fork Road to the CCC Road) is clear except for a few insignificant blowdowns. No drainage problems. Snow was continuous at about 2,500 feet.
Above 3,300 feet, snow rapidly smoothed the road into insignificance. The corridor was wide enough to offer lots of sunlight and steadily improving views. But with the ditches and culverts out of sight, the road’s industrial nature was nowhere to be found.
The continuous snow proved to be hard on wildlife privacy. Tracks were all over the place. Big tracks, little tracks, older tracks and fresh tracks. I got a kick out of the way the cougar would periodically cross from the inside of the road to the outside edge, and then head right back.
Above 3,900 feet, the tree cover started to lighten and the snow pack got heavier. The combination created the appearance of open travel, with less indication of any corridor.
I gave up on following the road above 4,400 feet and just followed the SE ridge to the summit ridge. The map suggests that the main road traverses a steep slope on the left (southwest face) of this approach ridge. A secondary service road contours the ridge's right side. Neither were visible; neither were of any use. The ridge that projects to the SE from the summit ridge is broad, and sprinkled with sub alpine firs.
Getting from the crown of the SE ridge up onto the summit ridge takes a little high stepping. Snowshoes and poles worked for me. Some might prefer kicking steps and having an ice ax for this short segment.
I saw no one on this hike and no sign of recent human presence. On my way out, I noticed a fresh bike track up as far as the CCC road and then back out. To whoever you are, thanks for just leaving my piece of equipment on the road where I dropped it.
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