Yesterday I enjoyed a quick snowshoe day-hike up Castle Peak at Donner Summit, and I also visited the Peter Grubb Hut. I posted photos down below.
Overall, it was a nearly perfect day for the summit. There was no wind, the weather was warm, and the sky was so clear I could see Mount Lassen. There remains A LOT of snow. The Peter Grubb Hut is buried under a 25+ foot drift (see photos below).
Snow Conditions:
The snow quality was very mixed. In the morning, the snow was consolidated and firm; although I wore snowshoes, I could easily have worn running shoes and microspikes on the hard-packed approach through the trees. Later in the day, I encountered steep icy patches while ascending Castle Peak's western ridge. I'm glad I had aggressive traction on my snowshoes (MSR Lightning Ascents). With the televator bar up, the ascent was a breeze -- it felt like climbing stairs. During my descent, a couple hours later, the top layer of ice had melted and created some safety problems. Although my snowshoes gained traction in the top one-inch of snow, the top layer was prone to sliding over an icy base. I fell a couple times and fortunately self-arrested. I did not feel entirely stable or safe during the descent, and I wish I brought my 12-point crampons for this section.
I arrived at Donner Sno-Park at 9:30 am, reached Castle Peak summit at noon, and I returned to the Donner Sno-Park at 3:30pm.
I posted a few photos below. You can view all my photos on Flickr here: https://www.flickr.com/gp/victorhansonsmith/9T720D
- The scene at the Castle Peak Trailhead in the morning.
- On Castle Pass. Notice the party headed up the western ridge.
- A party of people on the overlook point above Castle Pass.
- Look at this crazy cornice near the summit. This ski guy made me feel nervous.
- On Castle Peak summit looking southeast.
- The sky was very clear and Mount Lassen was visible from the summit, looking north.
- The social scene on Castle Peak summit.
- On the summit of Castle Peak, looking south towards the Granite Chief Wilderness.
- The Peter Grubb Hut is buried under a 25-foot snow drift.
- Access to the Peter Grubb Hut through the top floor.
- Castle Peak, as seen from Round Valley / Peter Grubb Hut.
- The scene at the trailhead in the afternoon. There were two groups of recreational snowmobile riders blasting loud music from their trucks, revving their engines, and making the trailhead smell like diesel fuel. Gross.
