Trails Used

Fire Tower to Ridge Trail loop

Trail Conditions

Notes

Great Hike, Beautiful Day

Parking

The Elmore State park is now open so you can park at the trailhead.

Water Crossings

A few wet spots

Wildlife

No Bugs

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