Trails Used
CCC Road, Fire Tower Trail, Ridge Trail
Trail Conditions
Equipment
Notes
After a week of warmth and rains, a LOT of snow has melted, and a LOT of ice has formed or risen to the surface. The Fire Tower Trail is an uneven, frozen postholed hell. Use traction with careful foot placement and poles are very helpful. The Ridge Trail is equally poor in spots but generally a better experience since it gets less winter use. The Tower Section on the Fire Tower Trail, between the Vista and the Tower, is largely an ice flow in the lower half. Micro spikes are not sufficient here, but trail crampons are fine if heading uphill and using a couple minor winter bypasses. It is not recommended to descend this segment. If this is too risky either turn around and the Vista or go up and back on the Ridge Trail. Unless a lot of snow falls the trails will not improve until melted out and ice is here and will likely only get worse over the next month or so.
Parking
The winter large parking lot off beach road is plowed during winter and now clear of snow and ice.
Water Crossings
Streams open but easily hopped
Wildlife
snow fleas out recently and a random flying bug or two but nothing annoying yet