Middle Fork, Lytle Creek - Icehouse Saddle
Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 4:54 pm
Although I had originally planned to hike up Iron Mountain yesterday, I acceded to my wife's wishes and undertook something less ambitious. 2N58 was really bouncy in spots, even in my jeep. Ascending, I had the entire trail to myself. Upon returning I passed a foreign couple (German, perhaps) and several pair of lightly-equipped day hikers. Weather couldn't have been much nicer; occasionally clear and sunny otherwise windy and overcast. Crampons were a necessity (at least for me) on the half-mile or so of trail below the saddle. I found it easier to leave them on for the interspersed sections of clear dry trail within this section. I suspect I'll be resharpening them soon. With any luck, conditions here will be snow, snow, and more snow by week's end.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/www.electricskates.com/Pix/Other4/IMG_2888S.jpg)
I looked up to this ridge just after dawn and saw...
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/www.electricskates.com/Pix/Other4/IMG_2888BH.jpg)
This ovis canadensis nelsoni.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/www.electricskates.com/Pix/Other4/IMG_2889.jpg)
Looking up the middle fork towards the T's.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/www.electricskates.com/Pix/Other4/IMG_2890.jpg)
Remaining snow echos conditions on other ~8,000 footers in the range.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/www.electricskates.com/Pix/Other4/IMG_2891.jpg)
Morning view east, down the fork towards the Bernardinos, et al.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/www.electricskates.com/Pix/Other4/IMG_2915.jpg)
Interesting trail reinforcement in scree. Those logs are held in place with small (3/8" to 1/2" diameter) lengths of re-bar.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/www.electricskates.com/Pix/Other4/IMG_2916.jpg)
Beginning of the snowy part of this hike, ~ 6,926 ft.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/www.electricskates.com/Pix/Other4/IMG_2919.jpg)
Conditions on Icehouse Saddle, ~ 1100 PST.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/www.electricskates.com/Pix/Other4/IMG_2920.jpg)
Middle Fork Trail below the saddle. Definitely hard enough for crampons and axe.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/www.electricskates.com/Pix/Other4/IMG_2922.jpg)
More of the trail below Icehouse Saddle.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/www.electricskates.com/Pix/Other4/IMG_2932.jpg)
Looking up towards IHS at the switchbacks under hard snow.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/www.electricskates.com/Pix/Other4/IMG_2937.jpg)
Middle Fork Trail area, not too far from Stonehouse Crossing.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/www.electricskates.com/Pix/Other4/IMG_2953M.jpg)
Gratuitous photoshop treatment of a view up the drainage below the 7,405' bump.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/www.electricskates.com/Pix/Other4/IMG_2954.jpg)
Afternoon view down the middle fork of Lytle Creek.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/www.electricskates.com/Pix/Other4/LytleIcehouse.jpg)
GPS track and elevation plot.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/www.electricskates.com/Pix/Other4/IMG_2888S.jpg)
I looked up to this ridge just after dawn and saw...
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/www.electricskates.com/Pix/Other4/IMG_2888BH.jpg)
This ovis canadensis nelsoni.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/www.electricskates.com/Pix/Other4/IMG_2889.jpg)
Looking up the middle fork towards the T's.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/www.electricskates.com/Pix/Other4/IMG_2890.jpg)
Remaining snow echos conditions on other ~8,000 footers in the range.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/www.electricskates.com/Pix/Other4/IMG_2891.jpg)
Morning view east, down the fork towards the Bernardinos, et al.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/www.electricskates.com/Pix/Other4/IMG_2915.jpg)
Interesting trail reinforcement in scree. Those logs are held in place with small (3/8" to 1/2" diameter) lengths of re-bar.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/www.electricskates.com/Pix/Other4/IMG_2916.jpg)
Beginning of the snowy part of this hike, ~ 6,926 ft.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/www.electricskates.com/Pix/Other4/IMG_2919.jpg)
Conditions on Icehouse Saddle, ~ 1100 PST.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/www.electricskates.com/Pix/Other4/IMG_2920.jpg)
Middle Fork Trail below the saddle. Definitely hard enough for crampons and axe.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/www.electricskates.com/Pix/Other4/IMG_2922.jpg)
More of the trail below Icehouse Saddle.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/www.electricskates.com/Pix/Other4/IMG_2932.jpg)
Looking up towards IHS at the switchbacks under hard snow.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/www.electricskates.com/Pix/Other4/IMG_2937.jpg)
Middle Fork Trail area, not too far from Stonehouse Crossing.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/www.electricskates.com/Pix/Other4/IMG_2953M.jpg)
Gratuitous photoshop treatment of a view up the drainage below the 7,405' bump.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/www.electricskates.com/Pix/Other4/IMG_2954.jpg)
Afternoon view down the middle fork of Lytle Creek.
![Image](https://eispiraten.com/images-archived/www.electricskates.com/Pix/Other4/LytleIcehouse.jpg)
GPS track and elevation plot.