trinity alps trip report

Hello Internets,

Clark and I made an attempt to venture deep into the heart of the trinity alps mountain range. Mother Nature let loose a surprise snow storm that dumped 15-20 inches of snow, 4-7 foot drifts, avalanche conditions on north east ridges. Stock stoppers replacing most of the trail for the first three miles, maybe 10 downed trees per mile.

Thank you for visiting my blog, I hope you enjoy the show,


Clark navigating a downed tree, what they call a stock stopper.


physically draining


Down trees behind us, we enter the snow covered part of the mountain


Snow melt had the streams moving well


I'm not a weather man, but I don't think the 97% chance of sunshine is accurate


We take turns standing on a big rock to view the incoming weather system, it should blow through quick. . . right ? ..... right ????


we push on into higher elevations, scrambling to a saddle between lion and foster lakes



Weather approaching, legs tired from climbing trees, we make a dash to the one flat spot in the area we can reach


Upper Lion lake


we make it to the campsite, and immediately it starts to snow


WTF ?!!!!?


I don't like this at all :-(


Before we can cook dinner, before we can start a fire, before we are mentally prepared to winter camp, it happens . . . In the early morning, high winds begin to collapse the tent, and we use trekking poles to reinforce the structure, and our pan to remove snow from the perimeter.


the wind increases, the snow increases, and now we are in white out conditions. No ropes, no crampons, no snowshoes, no axes. We are not prepared to deal with the conditions and choose to wait it out.


36 hours or so later, we get a fourty minute break in the storm and pack up and dash for the forest


The snow goes all the way to the Kings Range (Lost Coast) on the coast.


Avalanching snow on the northeast faces


more avalanches


Spring is in full swing


8-10 feet off the ground, even wide balance beams drain the mind and body


He made it, and turns to corner on another tree traversal


TECHNIQUE : poles with straps can be left hanging from the wrists while leaping through downed trees. People using strapless poles can not do this move.


TECHNIQUE : Railriders pants have a 15 minute maximum drying time, and inov 8 295's dry fast too. Waste no time taking off shoes and sock, just walk on through.