mtn loop highway conditions????

[tytyler]

I was thinking of heading into the mt loop highway area for a little winter attempt of Vesper or Sloan and was wondering if anyone had info about how far the highway was open??

Thanks

[knelson]

http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs/conditions/road_conditions_report.shtml

[magellan]

Closed at deer creek, like usual.

[curtveld]

You should be able to get reasonably close to Sloan coming in from the Darrington side. Was snowfree to Bedal a week or two ago, and the washout is right below the peak.

[mattp]

The road up the N. Fork Sauk (isn't that what it is?) toward the N. side of Sloan had a serious washout on it a few weeks ago, before the falls viewpoint trail. The Bedal Creek access road is gated for "wildlife closure."

[magellan]

For Sloane, wouldn't the bedal creek road still be the best or at least safest access?

[curtveld]

I was thinking of the Bedal Creek approach. Either side would involve a couple of miles of road walking, not unreasonable access for winter. AndMatt, the washout I know of is on the Mountain Loop - I drove past the N Fk. Falls trailhead without any probs until hitting snow @ around 2000'. Some big crags with ice above the trailhead for the fired-up bushwhacker, too!

Edited March 2, 2006 by curtveld

[mattp]

As to the N. Fork, perhaps the washout is beyond the Falls. I heard about it from a friend who is fairly reliable. However, it is possible that they fixed it. That is a fairly major road in the DTown district.