Trail condition between Round Valley and MSJ summit

[jmueller36]

Hi,

I'm hiking up the Skyline Trail Saturday and have a permit to camp at Round Valley. I wonder if anyone has very recently hiked the rest of the way to the summit. I'm aware that the trail to the summit is still under snow. Having never been up MSJ before myself, is the routefinding fairly straightforward? Are traction devices or an ice axe necessary or very helpful? Is there already a beaten path through the snow covered sections? If it seems reasonable to me, I plan on hiking up to the summit Sunday morning before heading out to catch my flight back home early Sunday evening.

Thanks for any info!

[afletche]

i was up sunday, hoping to run the trail but there was way too much snow for running. i turned back between round valley and wellman's dividie as i was just slogging in the snow. decided it was better to run round to saddle junction from long valley instead. i lost the trail coming out of round valley when it starts to climb. there were tracks in the snow but not really in any particular direction. there were at least 2 hikers who were planning to go up to the peak, not sure if they made it or not, but i think they got further than me.

[kd]

The Willow Creek trail from Long Valley to Saddle jct was really clear on Saturday. I expect even better conditions this weekend. I can't comment on conditions up to the peak.

--Kevin

[phydeux]

I haven't been up that way recently, but if there's no/very little snow between the Long Valley and Round Valley, you'll probably encounter the same conditions (no/little snow) between Wellman's Divide and the summit. The trail between Round Vlley and Wellman's Divide is in shade and always holds snow longer than the rest of the Tram-to-summit route. If you're going to be camping in Round Valley anyway, it won't hurt to give it a try!