MackAttack
Member
Joined: 31 May 2011
Posts: 112 | TRs | Pics
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Headed up to Lichtenwasser Lake (off Smith Brook road) on Saturday. Road was melted to just before the first turn, but if you could pass that patch you could get quite a ways further. Should be all melted soon. Encountered fairly consistent snow starting at around 4600 ft. The lake is mostly frozen, but melting around the edges. Several feet of snow around the lake.
From the lake we headed up the northeastern ridge of Lichtenberg. Nice compacted snow and a beautiful ridge walk. Just below the summit we headed to the right because we were worried about the large cornices off to the left. In hind sight we would have been able to come up a section in between cornices. The going to the right was steep, definitely needed an ice ax. There was a tricky transition from snow to rock and about 20 feet of rock scrambling to the summit. I wouldn't really recommend going the way we did. Spent about an hour soaking in the views and then glissaded down the bowl to the lake.
The next day we were planning to drop back to the road and hit up Union and Jove. We took the trail from the road going towards Union Gap that is visible on USGS maps. This trail is getting pretty overgrown and quite faint. We realized later that there is a newer, more established trail that goes up from the large hairpin turn, but both get you there. At the flat section below the ridge we headed up.
The going was slow. Kept getting pushed back and fourth by large rocky areas. There was no snow until over 5,000 ft and even then it was patchy and just further slowed us down. Once at the summit we decided to skip Jove as it was getting a bit later than we hoped for. Good decision since it started raining pretty heavy on us as soon as we hit the road. The descent from Union was easier than we were expecting and actually quite quick. As it's been said before, Union isn't really worth the trip on its own. If you go, get an early start so you have time for Jove. Overall great trip in a beautiful area.
You can see the full story and more photos here.
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