South Fork Snow

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    • 04/15/2019 at 2:35 pm #2846
      ZW
      Participant

      Curious where the snowline is coming from the south fork for the weekend?

    • 04/18/2019 at 11:24 pm #2854
      JM Gutierrez
      Participant

      Hey,

      Just did SG via South Fork/Dry Lake this past weekend 4/13. Snow on South Fork trail starts a little before Dry Lake. The trail is littered with fallen trees. A good approach is the draw at the snow line, which bypasses the swithcbacks a little after Poop-Out Hill. Only negative is that is a steeper approach, but much more direct. If the temps stay cold, then you could expect stiff icey-snow beyond Dry Lake. We took the ridge above the saddle, traversing along the exposed rock and snow fields to the summit ridge. Trailhead to Dry Lake took 5 hours. Dry Lake to Summit and back to Dry Lake took 8, with a couple breaks and lunch on the summit.Two of us had crampons and one had microspikes. We were very secure with crampons and ice axe, but our friend was only able to make it work with trekking poles as added traction. Snow shoes are a good call going forward with the snow melt and subsequent post-holing on the way to Dry Lake. Similarly, the Summit approach will also begin to be a post hole hell.

      Good luck

    • 04/18/2019 at 11:32 pm #2855
      JM Gutierrez
      Participant

      Hey

      Just did the South Fork last weekend, 4/13-4/15. The snow starts 1 1/2 miles before Dry Lake. The draw leading to Dry Lake is best approach, if you don’t want to take the switchbacks and climb over 10+ fallen trees on the trail. Dry Lake to summit was fully covered in snow, 2-3′. Snowshoes work fine, but we needed crampons for the summit ridge. The snow was extra stiff throughout the trek. We took the saddle ridge up, traversing rock and snow fields to the left of the major avalanche field. 5 hours from TH to Dry Lake, and 8 hours RT from Dry Lake to Summit.

      Good Luck.

       

    • 04/21/2019 at 4:02 pm #2856
      MikeH
      Participant

      Just got back from an overnight at Dry Lake.  I’ll be posting a trip report shortly.

      Minor addition to what JM posted above.  The trail is essentially snow free until shortly before the Dry Lake/ Dollar Lake split.  Then it is snow free again until about 1/2- 1 mile before Dry Lake.

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