Joined: 09 Jun 2004 Posts: 1390 | TRs | Pics Location: Livin' on a prayer
Sun Mar 30, 2008 7:10 pm Carbon River Road snowshoe - 03/30/08 MRNP
Went for a short jaunt along the closed Carbon River Road at MRNP. This was my first time in this area and it was very pleasant. The road had a little new snow and a little re-frozen snow, but it was a thin covering and vehicle tire traction was never an issue.
Weather started out cloudy and gray with light snow, but it eventually cleared up to partly sunny with snowbombs (which were dodged with success!).
Started with just boots, but the snow dept varied from three inches up to about 9 inches. Snowshoes were donned and the flotation made progress a bit easier but also helped keep excess snow off my boots.
Headed off down the Carbon River Road and enjoyed the icicles and micro-views it afforded.
Took some close-ups of Devils Club - likely sore from the snow it will come back with a vengence soon.
With the road closed, these parking-stops looked like mini snow-coffins.
Saw some animal tracks... and an animal.
A short while later MRNP Volunteer Flash joined me on my jaunt. He talked to me about the devestation from the floods as we toured the first washout area, of which this big tree was part of.
He turned back while I poked around and took some more photos of the area which was being illuminated by the sun. Yeah
On the way back, I decided to follow the side trail up to the mine. Originally I wasn't sure where the trail went, but Flash clued me in and I'm glad I took the time and effort to check it out, even if the pictures didn't turn out very well. There is only so much room there on that bench to move around and compose a shot.
On the way back down I was almost attacked by a snow spider.
Only saw two other people on the trail the entire time, but upon my return to the parking lot, cars were showing up left and right. Whatever.
The road conditions were much better on the way out (here is a pic of the 'worst' of it as I left).
-------------- Sedro-Woolley: Where butter is a spice and gravy is a beverage.
"Ill habits gather unseen degrees, as brooks make rivers, rivers run to seas." ~John Dryden
My Trip List
Carbon River road is a great hike or snowshoe. It wouldn't bother me a bit if they never opened the road again. People can actually enjoy the beautiful forest instead of driving past it. A couple of months ago my boys and me made it to Ranger Falls.
Joined: 09 Jun 2004 Posts: 1390 | TRs | Pics Location: Livin' on a prayer
Mon Mar 31, 2008 6:52 am
Road is plowed and about 92% snow free when I departed Sunday afternoon.
The portions with snow are only 1/2 inch deep or so and should be gone as soon as it stops being so cold out. It's thin enough you can see the center yellow stripe the entire time.
-------------- Sedro-Woolley: Where butter is a spice and gravy is a beverage.
"Ill habits gather unseen degrees, as brooks make rivers, rivers run to seas." ~John Dryden
My Trip List
Joined: 09 Jun 2004 Posts: 1390 | TRs | Pics Location: Livin' on a prayer
Mon Mar 31, 2008 10:51 pm
Despite the poor quality, unintelligible narration and shoddy directing, I'm posting this because it gives a brief view inside the shaft and also a sense of the steep (albeit short) slope that the mine resides.
It was cool to hear the echo... which was the real reason I shot the video; but of course the echo wasn't caught by the microphone.
-------------- Sedro-Woolley: Where butter is a spice and gravy is a beverage.
"Ill habits gather unseen degrees, as brooks make rivers, rivers run to seas." ~John Dryden
My Trip List
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Whatever.
"when snow spiders attack, pt 2!" )
