EISPIRATEN

We headed up to Crystal Lake yesterday for a snow hike. Rain turned to snow just as we were turning into the lake area.

We parked where the road was closed near "Loop G," where it was 34 degrees with graupel falling. We headed up the trail toward the fire road.

DSC00621 by moore91024, on Flickr

It turned to snow as we got higher. We heard a couple claps of thunder, but thankfully that did not escalate.

DSC00624 by moore91024, on Flickr

We hung a left at the road and met a friend at Deer Flats CG.

DSC00625 by moore91024, on Flickr

While we had breakfast burritos and tea, it switched back and forth between big snowflakes and graupel a few times.

DSC00627 by moore91024, on Flickr

Accumulation was about this much:

DSC00626 by moore91024, on Flickr

Then it cleared up a bit.

DSC00628 by moore91024, on Flickr

We looped back via the Lost Ridge Trail and the Lake Trail. The trees were melting pretty good as we got lower and we arrived slightly damp.

Nice. What condition is the Lost Ridge Trail in? 6 years ago it was almost completely overgrown.

Pretty good condition. We had to get over or around a few fallen trees, nothing super troublesome.

FWIW, that snow is completely gone now. Was up there yesterday and didn't see any trace of snow until we got on the PCT east of Windy Gap. And then, there was only the occasional small patch here and there.

Gorgeous photos. I was up there with Rico Saturday and it's hard to believe all the snow has melted.