Horseshoe Meadows Update 5-4-08

[MooseTracks]

After a nice breakfast at the Mt. Whitney (WHAT?? Not the HSC??), I drove up to Horseshoe Meadows to hike Trail and Wanoga Peaks. The road is clear and dry, save for some gravelly rockfall along the way (usual, really). There are a few snow patches--easily avoidable--on the road just before the main parking area. The meadows are quite the sodden mess, and the snow is spiked into Nieves Penetentes (sun cups all grown up). But the weather, for the most part, stayed north, giving me cold sunshine to play in. Didn't see another soul all day. Looked like NAP still has some snow on it but not bad.

Hit Trail Peak: took the long way up by going to Trail Pass and turn right. Descent was much better along the north ridge. I would recommend it for ascent also: much more interesting and fun conditions to practice standing glissades on the way down.

Tried Wanoga Peak: failed routefinding 101. I thought the ridge would be interesting, but it's basically nonstop unnecessary scrambling and tree-wrestling. In fact, I had another pants casualty. I need to take up a collection, or sew some canvas into the butts of my pants. And I did see the super-easy ramp up to the summit, but ended up on some Class 3 something that made me pause since I was on my own. Descent was down the gulley that I should have come up. Hint: turn right at the fireplace!! What IS it about me finding these things right now??



I'll be back sometime this week to finish that little job.

Pics are here.

-L

[Lucrativ]

Looks good ...nice post

[Moondust]

Well, better that your pants need stitches than some other body part Maybe you should start carrying a seat-sized piece of plastic in your pack.

[Snow Nymph]

You were almost there! We went to the right and worked our way up (Cl 2)


Looks like great conditions for hiking! We had flurries in Mammoth.