Windy Gap Trail (Crystal Lake)

Pearl · Post by **Pearl** » Wed Nov 27, 2013 2:14 pm

Any info on trail conditions? Looking at making the hike this weekend from Crystal Lake. Was thinking of just boots and microspikes in case of icy spots. Any need for snowshoes? The latest weather report has backed off on the amount of rain/snow forecast for Thanksgiving thru Friday.

Post by **Taco** » Sat Nov 30, 2013 2:57 am

I haven't been up there since the last system but I seriously doubt there is a need for snowshoes at least until mid-late December.

briangroh · Post by **briangroh** » Sat Nov 30, 2013 12:42 pm

I'm betting Taco is dead on here. Weather did come in, but too warm and that's a South Facing trail.

Highly Likely it is clear this weekend with only sparse wet patches in the shade near the last few hundred feet (elevation) of the Gap. I was on North Facing slopes Friday 29th same altitude a few miles west of the gap and that's what I experienced.

Post back with conditions and your experience if you go!

Pearl · Post by **Pearl** » Sun Dec 01, 2013 3:07 pm

Thanks for the info. Went up to Crystal Lake Friday. It was raining at Crystal Lake and snowing at Windy Gap. Hung out for awhile waiting for it to clear. When it didn't we opted to go elsewhere and hike. Should have just waited until Sat.

briangroh · Post by **briangroh** » Mon Dec 02, 2013 10:31 am

Thanks, Pearl for your post-hike report! Always good to hear first-hand knowledge on those trail/weather conditions.

Sorry the weather didn't work out for you- though it's always extraordinary on a weather day to have the mountain all to yourself!

Brian

VermillionPearlGirl · Fri Dec 06, 2013 12:26 pm

I love Crystal Lake to Baden-Powell. One of my absolute favorites.

We did Dawson Gap to Hawkins along a section of the same route just two weeks ago and it was completely dry. But the conditions are changing pretty rapidly these days!

But I've done Crystal Lake to Windy Gap in bad weather before and it's particularly unpleasant (they don't call it Windy Gap for nothing).

And with snow likely tomorrow it just seems like snow from here on out...

Post by **JeffH** » Fri Dec 06, 2013 3:52 pm

It's supposed to rain down here in the valley on Saturday so I would expect snow up in the mountains.
Snowshoes - as Taco said, probably not necessary. There is a section just before reaching Windy Gap that holds snow/ice a long time and would be a Very Bad place to fall. At least microspikes there...
Sunday looks like a great day to hike!

DaBaba · Post by **DaBaba** » Sun Dec 15, 2013 9:28 pm

I didn't think it was advisable to go up there last Sunday, but I was up there yesterday and again today and it was great. Not much snow. And not cold until I got to the top and the aptly named Windy Gap.