Wade BM (11/13/2016)
Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2016 2:28 pm
Trip up to Wade this past weekend. Seems like not a whole lot of visitors to this peak - this is likely the case because the descriptions of the route do not sound very enticing.
I've got good news though! The trail through Horsethief Canyon all the way to the saddle separating it from Fredricksberg canyon is:
Recently brushed,
Well-signed,
and easy to follow
This appears to be very different from even a few years ago where the trail is described with such terms as "wretched" and "brush-slog".
After reaching the saddle where there is a sign stating the "end of the maintained trail", we followed Pete Y.'s directions ascending the slope to the SE and staying climbers left of the ridge. This off-trail section moves through easily navigable and open forest (really very pretty and peaceful).
Finally, about 500ft before the summit is a section filled with the dreaded Cercocarpus. Travel is slow and bruising for this last section before a rock-scramble escape to the summit can be located.
I've got good news though! The trail through Horsethief Canyon all the way to the saddle separating it from Fredricksberg canyon is:
Recently brushed,
Well-signed,
and easy to follow
This appears to be very different from even a few years ago where the trail is described with such terms as "wretched" and "brush-slog".
After reaching the saddle where there is a sign stating the "end of the maintained trail", we followed Pete Y.'s directions ascending the slope to the SE and staying climbers left of the ridge. This off-trail section moves through easily navigable and open forest (really very pretty and peaceful).
Finally, about 500ft before the summit is a section filled with the dreaded Cercocarpus. Travel is slow and bruising for this last section before a rock-scramble escape to the summit can be located.