[raising3hikers]

Mt Winthrop 7850' This peak was a long waited objective in this early season and a short notice availability for me this year. Lots of weekend soccer games for my daughter has had me juggling games and dumpster dives to get exercise. But, it has been fun watching her games! On Sat morning, I left my house at 3am to head up to Canada for a recon of my upcoming trips and this one. I drove to a couple Manning Park TH's to check out conditions and access across the Similkameen River. Bridges were flooded or washed out, so I went to the further away Windy Joe TH. I started hiking by 7 along a nice trail for the next mile or so, then I made a bad choice. I went for the Similkameen trail to make the most map efficient way to the border. I was greeted with 1000's of blowdown trees over the trail for the next few miles, no joke. Then it was a log crossing over the raging Castle Cr to get to the other side to join another possible trail. I had cuts and scratches all over my legs from all of the branches.

typical down logs on the trail

my log crossing over castle creek

I reached the other side and eventually found a better trail for a while until it disappeared into the creek. There was about 1/2 mile of super flooded trail caused by beaver dams that forced me uphill in a bushwhack to get around it. Not knowing at first, I was standing on top of the beaver dam. Once getting around it, I headed back down to the trail and found it really good all the way to the border.

the border

The PCT trail heading South was in good shape for the 2+ or so miles I traveled to get to the spot where I'd head directly up the slopes of Mt Winthrop. There wasn't any snow to this point, which surprised me. It seemed more like late June than mid May. I traveled through a fairly open forest until I finally reached some snow. I put the snowshoes on for less than a half mile and then choss hopped to the summit.

view to the West

view to the south

It took me longer to reach the summit than I had thought it would, so I didnt stay long and headed back down. I was dreading the long stretch of downfall but that's part of the mountain experience. 27 miles 5400' elevation gain 11hrs 45 min

[iron]

[Gimpilator]

You covered a lot of ground, despite the blow down. Lovely summit views.

[Stefan]

sorry to have missed you on Sunday!!! So I assume you checked out the 78/83 trailhead and the bridge is washed out across the Similkameen River there? The bridge is washed out after the Castle Creek/Chuwanten Creek/Similkameen River confluence?

[raising3hikers]

[ozzy]

Damn that one is out there! I had to look this one up, never heard of it. Some awesome views and a nice slog to boot! As usual you make it seem rather casual lol. Nice trip, cheers man!