Washington Pass?

[dmuja]

Just wunderin what the parking conditions at Blue Lake TH are like right now? Lot open? and # of spaces? Any other helpful beta, route conditions etc.., for SEWS or Liberty Bell is appreciated.

 

Lookin for this weekend if the weather breaks good. Hoping for some snow cover still.

 

Thanks,

 

D

[markharf]

Couple of spaces plowed, couple feet of dirty snow covering the rest of the parking lot. Continuous snow from the trailhead except along ridges above about 6500 feet.

 

I was on skis, paying no attention to climbing conditions. Spire Gully still eminently skiable, if that interests you, Wall Street somewhat less so; no pollen at all. Sunday featured deep blue skies with puffy white clouds. Just to the west: snow, rain, wind, squalls, general unpleasantness.

 

Hope that helps.

 

mark

[fredrogers]

I was up there a few times last week. There is room for 5 cars or so at the TH., a sot or two across HWY 20. We also saw parties heading up from the hairpin to SEWS- be alert for rockfall later in the day- we saw buch of bug stuff come down. A party we know bailed on the E Butt Direct of SEWS after 3 pithes due to cold and mixed weather last Thursday.

 

Approach gully to the Becky route is still pretty snowy except at the very top- nice to have some steep snow instead of the bowling alley. Becky route is snow free. Concord N Face had a lot of ice on it (it was bombing the gully on the way up around 9:30 AM) and looked wet. May take some warmer weather to dry it out. We also climbed the S Arete of SEWS- comletly snow free the entire way. Raps are rigged for the 3 rappels off that route. SW Buttress of SEWS looked completely dry from our vantage, but you may find some snow on the belay ledge of P 2. The by pass by the SW Coulior is snowy up to the chockstone. We saw a party on the W Face of NEWS, which also looked dry.

 

Have fun.