Baxter Pass Trail 4/26/2015
Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2015 6:25 pm
Drove to the Baxter Pass trailhead above the Mt. Whitney fish hatchery just north of Independence, CA. Road to the trailhead was in excellent condition.
Planned to summit the pass as a day hike, but fresh snow obscured the trail around 10.5kft and route finding was taking more time than hiking so I called it a day around 11kft somewhere before the trail turns north and makes the final climb to the pass.
There was about 6 inches of fresh snow at the spot that I called it a day with drifts a little deeper. There didn't seem to be much consolidated snow underneath the fresh stuff. The new snow was light and seemed to be melting quick. As I dropped down on the way out my bootprints were rapidly melting through to the soil underneath. I'd guess in a week or two the trail will be clear up to the point that I stopped.
The trail itself seems no different than when I went up in 2013. Maybe another tree or two across it. There are spots where it's easy to veer off even without the snow. Very minor route finding is necessary.
Oak creek was flowing nicely, but the recent melting snow surely contributed to that. Not sure what it'll be like when the most recent snow melts out.
Special equipment needed/used: None other than the normal Merrell Moabs with low gaiters and trekking poles. I probably would have pressed on if I could reliably find the trail.
Planned to summit the pass as a day hike, but fresh snow obscured the trail around 10.5kft and route finding was taking more time than hiking so I called it a day around 11kft somewhere before the trail turns north and makes the final climb to the pass.
There was about 6 inches of fresh snow at the spot that I called it a day with drifts a little deeper. There didn't seem to be much consolidated snow underneath the fresh stuff. The new snow was light and seemed to be melting quick. As I dropped down on the way out my bootprints were rapidly melting through to the soil underneath. I'd guess in a week or two the trail will be clear up to the point that I stopped.
The trail itself seems no different than when I went up in 2013. Maybe another tree or two across it. There are spots where it's easy to veer off even without the snow. Very minor route finding is necessary.
Oak creek was flowing nicely, but the recent melting snow surely contributed to that. Not sure what it'll be like when the most recent snow melts out.
Special equipment needed/used: None other than the normal Merrell Moabs with low gaiters and trekking poles. I probably would have pressed on if I could reliably find the trail.