11 miles of hiking • 5000' elevation gain •
Peder and I strolled up a Starvation-Defiance snowshoe loop. We cut some switchbacks and went straight up a huge, steep snow hill (fun!), then went up the old road around the south side of Warren Lake up to the summit. Went down the talus field and shortcut across another talus field to the west along the Wyeth Gap to hit the Defiance Trail down - need to do this in the summer, it's a great shortcut! Warmish weather (though fierce wind coming off the Wyeth Gap) and really powdery, dry snow. Despite a late start, we got down just as it was getting too dark to see.
Comments
Bosterson
January 13, 2013
Around 2000' ft, possibly a little lower, but at that elevation it's thin and/or consolidated and you can walk on it. I don't think we put on snowshoes until around 2500'.
Nat Turner
January 11, 2013
Just read the long version at PH.
Nat, you have been killin' it lately. Props. do you have a good idea where current snow line is in the eastern gorge? pics look about 1500' on the Washington side. Lowest snotel is what 3300'?, Just wondering for the dry spell ahead, epic conditions might last a while.