conditions from tram to summit

[KathyW]

The regular trail is the way to go until there is several feet of snow on the ground and all of the chinquapin and manzanita above Tramarack Valley is covered with a good amount of snow.

Even knowing the route that goes up the drainage and hooks up with the overgrown switchpacks of the old trail in Tamarack Valley wouldn't save you enough time, if any, to get you excited. Besides, you would miss that beautiful view from Wellman's Divide if you don't take the regular trail.

[bluerail]

What's 2 miles out of a 10 mile trip?....a 1/5th ?

[bdog]

I gave it a go but fell a bit short. Based on my training logs I thought I would break my old time. I'm not sure why I didn't. I think my motivation was lacking and I've had a strange dry cough the last couple days, but otherwise felt fine. I have both sets of times below for comparison. At least I was consistent, if nothing else! During the climb I thought I still had a shot as long as I was within 5 minutes of my old times because the snow at the end really slowed me down last year. When approaching the "rock outcropping" I somehow lost the trail and had to climb some rocks. When I got to the top of the rock mound I couldn't see the rock outcropping--though I was right below it. Based on the time I thought the attempt was over and I rested on the rock for ~minute and then essentially gave up. In hindsight this was a mistake. Even though I was taking it a bit easy I still took about a minute off the last split. I don't know if I could have made up the other 5 minutes with a final push or not. The fact I even gave up at all tells me my motivation just wasn't there. While at the top I picked up a permit at the ranger station so I can pre-fill it out for a future attempt to the summit. But that will have to wait until at least next year...In any case it was a beautiful cool cloudy day!

Last year/this year
0:12 0:12:46 Picnic tables
0:21 0:22:11 Point where houses can be seen to the north again
0:32 0:33:50 First rescue station
1:03 1:06:35 4300 ft elevation (marked with rocks)
1:30 1:33:25 Second rescue station
1:42 1:45:42 Flat Rock
2:05 2:10:32 Rock outcropping
2:09 2:15:16 Beginning of traverse
2:28:00 2:32:58 Sign at Grubbs Notch (I didn't see a sign right at the top this time!)

[KathyW]

Some miles are slower than other miles - sometimes 11 miles are equal to 6.5 miles.

I'm also trying to encourage folks to stick to the regular trails because it's not always great when cross-country routes get advertised. They're no fun once they get over used and abused.

[bluerail]

Amazing Brett, consistent pace throughout....hope to run into you again someday on the trail.

[Hikin_Jim]

Last year/this year
0:12 0:12:46 Picnic tables
0:21 0:22:11 Point where houses can be seen to the north again
0:32 0:33:50 First rescue station
1:03 1:06:35 4300 ft elevation (marked with rocks)
1:30 1:33:25 Second rescue station
1:42 1:45:42 Flat Rock
2:05 2:10:32 Rock outcropping
2:09 2:15:16 Beginning of traverse
2:28:00 2:32:58 Sign at Grubbs Notch (I didn't see a sign right at the top this time!)

Two and a half hours to do Skyline? That's pretty studly, bro.

HJ

[bluerail]

His other exploits are way out there..