[Jackal]

Wotan's post convinced me to get up Vesper while there was still so much snow on top -- a good hike with a bonus ski. Though I forget every time I go there how relentlessly steep it is and I swear this is the last time I'm doing Vesper! Sunday was pretty light hiker-wise: a group of 4 climbers who were going to do the north face but it was still too snow-covered and otherwise I just saw 3 pairs and 2 solo guys the whole day. Snow-wise, it was soft enough to kick steps in by 10:00 so although some people had crampons and ice axes, I think if you have stiff toes (for up) and stiff heals (for down) and general comfort with snow, you're good without special gear. Two guys with light hikers turned back though so something to think about if you go. The 30-switchback approach to Headlee Pass is almost snow free but there are a couple places where switchback cuts are being strongly established where people are avoiding the remaining steep snow. If you go be gentle -- erosion is very active in that pitch. Wirtz basin: I noticed a number of people coming down via the extended snow patch instead of the trail. Much more fun.

WirtzBasin 7-13-14

Upper mountain:

Vesper 7-14-13

Views from the top:

Vesper-pan NE>SE

Baker fr Vesper

July ski slope!

JulySkiSlope

My dog - for once, she ran out of energy before I did.

tired dog

theOnlyShade

WornoutPup

Solitary goat

GoatWatchesUs2

Goatspeck&SpadaLake

And some trailside veg:

FHellebore-leaf

Deerferns

DeerfernFiddleheads5

DeerfernFiddlehead7-

[Magellan]

Love Vesper. Not sure if I can make myself do that cobblestone approach again.

[wotan]

excellent photos, especially the deer ferns. Are deer fern fiddleheads edible? Were they on the slopes of Vegan Tower?

[Foist]

Nice report! I turned back with light hikers last September, thanks to unexpected lingering snow. (and the snow was not a long "ski slope" anymore -- it was a steep patch, that ended in a cliff above the lake...) But I loved the hike and I can't wait to try it again. I wonder if it will melt out this year. I like slabs.

[Jackal]

Foist, yes, love the granite slabs! Wait a couple months, they're hatching under the snow. Wotan, the fern pics were on either side of the high point as you enter Wirtz basin. Here's what my botanist friend Phyllis says about eating fiddleheads: In our area lady fern is the only good candidate (Athyrium felix-femina). I would feel okay with shield fern as well (Dryopteris expansa aka austriaca). Evergreen ferns such as deer fern and sword fern are laying down compounds that would be unpalatable in the least.

[rossb]

How soon do you guess the area before Headlee pass is snow free? That is the only scary part (as far as I'm concerned). The more snow the better for the rest of the route, but that part requires an ice axe if it is full of snow (in my opinion).

[Jackal]

The Headlee switchbacks are almost free of snow -- some lingering fingers but can almost be completely avoided.

Headlee switchbacks 7-14-13

[rossb]

Excellent. Thanks for the info. The picture is really helpful. Looks like I can be safe and do a little glissading if I feel like it.

[puzzlr]

Looks hot in the sun. Smart dog.

[KillerCharlie]

Thanks for the conditions update, I took a less experieneced friend up there yesterday and had a blast.

[SouthernYokel]

Nice TR! That place is like an oven in the summer with all that rock.