Micro TR: Pine Creek day hike May 14
Posted: Sun May 15, 2016 11:52 pm
Sorry, no photos.
Yesterday, May 14, I hiked the (roughly) 7 mi round trip from the Pine Creek pack station (7,400 ft) to Pine Lake (9942 ft) and back. There was a considerable amount of snow on the upper 1/3 of the route, although it did not present any significant technical problems. Much of the snow could be bypassed on rocks or covered only 80% of the old mining road leaving room to walk. A reasonably fit person with a backpack could hike up to the lake and enjoy a night of camping. Poles and gaiters are recommended. The obvious camp site below the lake at the log crossing and on the north side of the creek was completely snow free. 2/3 to 3/4 of the lake was covered with a thin layer of ice.
On May 12 I day hiked from the McGee Creek trailhead. I was only able to get slightly beyond the stream crossing above the beaver ponds (second stream crossing) before snow and large amounts of water running down the trail turned me around.
Yesterday, May 14, I hiked the (roughly) 7 mi round trip from the Pine Creek pack station (7,400 ft) to Pine Lake (9942 ft) and back. There was a considerable amount of snow on the upper 1/3 of the route, although it did not present any significant technical problems. Much of the snow could be bypassed on rocks or covered only 80% of the old mining road leaving room to walk. A reasonably fit person with a backpack could hike up to the lake and enjoy a night of camping. Poles and gaiters are recommended. The obvious camp site below the lake at the log crossing and on the north side of the creek was completely snow free. 2/3 to 3/4 of the lake was covered with a thin layer of ice.
On May 12 I day hiked from the McGee Creek trailhead. I was only able to get slightly beyond the stream crossing above the beaver ponds (second stream crossing) before snow and large amounts of water running down the trail turned me around.
