Pack Pup and I had an Awesome Possum hike to Iron Peak in the Teanaway on 11/9/02. This time of year custom forecasting really helps, and Washington Online Weather accurately predicted snow depth and the periodic snow flurries with the occasional patch of blue sky.
The trail was easily negotiable to the pass with a consistent snow depth of one to two inches at 5200 feet increasing to six to eight inches at the pass. From the pass to the summit, current conditions are from two to twelve inches depending on exposure.
At the summit we refurbished the register with a new notebook and pen and ate our lunch under alternating snow flurries and small fragments of blue sky that illuminated portions of the Stuart Range.
During our descent, we were surprised to meet a party of three backpackers that were heading over the pass to do a loop. One commented that they wished they had brought more winter gear. We noticed that no one was wearing gaiters and that one party member was backpacking in low top trail shoes. They appeared well prepared for rain but the increasing snow levels seemed to cause some concern.
The Teanaway is rich with wildlife, and when it snows, it’s fun to figure out what animal made what track. We encountered numerous tracks, including a multitude of fresh coyote tracks from 5000 feet to approximately 5400 feet indicating that a pack was hunting in the area.
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