Parker Ridge Trail to Saskatchewan Glacier Outlook

The view of the Eastern Arm of Athabasca Glacier

A must do hike for anyone visiting lower Jasper National Park region. This hike will take you to a beautiful ridge overlooking a valley that was once carved out by the giant Saskatchewan Glacier. If you’re feeling adventurous or simply wishing to get closer to Saskatchewan Glacier Overlook, follow our alternative track, but do so with caution and at your own risk.

Trip Information:

• Distance: 5 km (3.2 mi) round-trip
• Elevation Gain: 260 meters (850 ft)
• Estimated Duration: 2 – 3hrs round-trip
• Alltrails Map: Parker Ridge Hike

Parker Ridge is a fairly short hike with most of the elevation gain starting right at the trailhead. After series of switchbacks, you will quickly get above the treeline. When you finish climbing and get to the ridge, you will start seeing glimpse of the valley and surrounding peaks.

When you pass the trail junction, stay to the left for 0.4 miles until you reach the Saskatchewan Glacier Viewpoint, which will provide undisturbed 180 views of the Saskatchewan Valley and the Glacier far in the distance. ]

Once you return to the trail junction, you can take a slight left and hike for 0,3 miles to get to another scenic viewpoint, which opens up to panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. You can also choose to continue along Parker Ridge West Peak Route that is marked with blue dashes on the map. That will get you back to the highway where you will have to road walk to get back to the parking lot.

During our most recent trip, we decided to hike off-trail to do a bit of exploring and try to find a closer overlook of the Saskatchewan Glacier. There was no true trail so we just walked as far as we felt comfortable, stumbling upon a small alpine lake, for about 2 miles before turning around. We ended up getting much closer to the Glacier and it was a shame that there was a heavy overcast that day. If you don’t have any experience navigating off-trail, we do not recommend attempting such route, as it requires some scrambling and route finding on a rugged terrain. If you do feel confident and have off trail navigating experience, refer to the solid blue route that is outlined on the map above for more detailed coordinates of this trek.

Looking out from the top of the tramway onto 19 peaks of the Victoria Cross Ranges.

Whistlers mountain is one of the most popular attractions in Jasper, offering panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.  We highly recommend visiting this place. There are two ways to get to the top. First, you can take a gondola for ($47 per person) which will take you all the way to the top of the Skytram terminal. From the Skytram terminal, you will have another 30-40 min hike to the summit of Whistlers Mountain. Second option is to do a strenuous hike from the parking lot with over 4,000 feet of elevation gain, free of charge!

Trip Information:

• Distance: 7.7km (4.8mi) one way to the summit
• Elevation Gain:1,200 meters (4,000 ft)
• Estimated Duration:3 – 5hrs one way to the summit
• Driving Directions: From Jasper
• Alltrails Map:  Whistler Mountain Hike
• Jasper SkyTram:  Information WebSite

Going up via SkyTram

Skytram is open for season from March – October, as weather permits. Make sure to visit the official Jasper SkyTram Website for latest hours of operation, prices, etc. Due to high popularity, you have to reserve your designated ascend time slot in advance. You can make your reservation either online, or at the SkyTram ticket office.

Total time of the ascend is around 7 minutes. There is standing room only in the SkyTram cart. Your ride will include a guide who will tell a bit of Whistlers history, point out surrounding peaks and happily answer any questions. At the top, you will arrive to the SkyTram upper terminal. Amenities such as a gift shop, restrooms and a restaurant are available to the visitors. From here it is another 0.8 mi (30-40min) trek to the summit of the Whistlers Mountain.

Going up via Whistlers Trail

Whistlers Trail begins at the west end of  the parking lot which is located off of Skytram Road near HI Jasper Hostel (see driving directions link above). You will enter a dense forest through a narrow path and will begin a strenuous journey up for 2.6 miles until you get above the treeline.

Jasper SkyTram Gondola

You will be hiking through a series of switchbacks. At one point you are going to pass beneath the Skytram and will eventually reach the beginning of the steepest section of the hike. From there, it’s all up until you reach the top terminal. You can take a little rest and get a quick refreshment at the restaurant before making the last push to the summit. Continue hiking on the Whistlers Trail for another 0.8 miles until you reach the summit of Whistlers Mountain. To clarify, the distance from trailhead to the upper Skytram terminal is 3.8mi plus additional 0.8 miles to reach the summit.

About 0.2 miles from reaching the top of the SkyTram upper terminal.

Tip: It used to be free to take Skytram down from the upper terminal if you hiked the Whistlers Trail from the bottom. When visiting in 2017, we were informed that we couldn’t take the gondola ride down for free anymore. We waited in line to get on the Gondola for our ride down and fortunately the conductor did not ask us for our tickets when we entered the tram with the rest of the crowd.

Me and Dasha at the top of the SkyTram terminal

Whistlers Mountain offers beautiful panoramic views of the entire region. If the weather is nice, I suggest taking your time and exploring Indian Ridge Trail which continues west of the Whistlers summit. Make sure to bring extra layers of clothing as the weather could be unpredictable at high altitudes. Afternoon thunderstorms are very common.

Lake Moraine

Sentinel Pass is a popular day hike in Banff National Park located right off beautiful Lake Moraine and the world famous Valley of Ten Peaks. The valley was featured on the 1969 and 1979 issues of the Canadian twenty dollar bill. In mid-September, the Larch Valley is filled with golden larch trees which are in prime of changing their foliage, attracting travelers from all over the world to explore and experience one of the most colorful natural phenomena.

Trip Information:

• Distance: 10.5 km (6.5 mi) round-trip
• Elevation Gain: 760 meters (3,000 ft)
• Estimated Duration: 4 – 7hrs round-trip
• Directions: From Banff
• Alltrails Map: Sentinel Pass Trail

The Larch Valley trailhead is located right off Lake Moraine parking lot. When you approach the trailhead, you will see a sign warning that you must hike in groups of 4+ people due to the increased grizzly bear activity in the area. Since this is a highly popular hike, joining a bigger group or tagging along if you’re solo shouldn’t be a problem.

Stay to the right and you will quickly gain elevation through a series of switchbacks in a dense pine forest. Occasionally, you will be able to get a glance of the vivid turquoise colors of Lake Moraine’s glacier fed basin.

Getting a glimpse of Lake Moraine through the trees during initial elevation gain.

Eventually, the terrain will level out and you will enter a beautiful plateau filled with thousands of larch trees surrounded by giant cascading peaks.

Looking back at The Valley Of Ten Peaks

Looking at Sentinel Pass on the right

Once you’ve gotten above the treeline, you will reach the Minnestimma Alpine Lake with clear views of switchbacks up ahead leading up to the Sentinel Pass. It’s a relatively short, but very steep and strenuous climb. The trail is filled with loose rocks, so be careful, wear proper shoes and take your time.

Looking at Valley of Ten Peaks from Sentinel Pass with Minnestimma Alpine Lake on the right.

Once over the pass, you will be rewarded with magnificent views of the Paradise Valley. This is the highest point in Canada that could be reached by a hiking trail at elevation of 8,528ft. It can get pretty windy at the pass, so make sure to bring an extra layer of clothing to keep warm.

Looking into Paradise Valley

Trip Information:

• Trip Duration: 3 Days
• Miles Driven: 424 mi (682km)
• Google Maps Route: Directions In Order

Trip Summary:

• After Hiking The Pacific Crest Trail we always wanted to come back and visit more parts of this state! We were flying to Seattle for the weekend wedding of our friends, but decided to take few extra days to enjoy and explore some of the outdoor activities throughout the state. Please see below for our detailed itinerary breakdown:

Detailed Itinerary:

• Wed, May 24th: Late evening check in at Copper Creek Inn
• Thur, May 25th: Hiking Kautz Creek Trail & Visiting Paradise Valley Visitors Center (highest point accessible by car)
• Fri, May 26th: Whale watching, check-in to Log Cabin Resort & visiting Sol Duc Hot Springs in the evening
• Sat, May 27th: Hiking Mt.Storm King in the morning and returning back to Seattle early in the afternoon

❖ DAY 1: Late Evening Check in At Copper Creek Inn

After landing at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, we picked up our rental and drove towards Mt.Rainier for about 1hr 40min. The place we booked is called Copper Creek Inn and since we were coming in late in the evening, we were given a lock-box code to get in. This is a privately owned resort that has nine cabins scattered throughout the pristine, 10+ acres that is surrounded by the Nisqually Land Trust and US Forest Service lands. The Copper Creek Inn has a wide variety of cool rustic cabins to choose from. We were only able to book what was available, and stayed at “Jennie Room”. The room felt a little snug, but it did have it’s own private shower and restroom and was definitely a steal for the price! ]

❖ DAY 2: Hiking Kautz Creek Trail & Visiting Paradise Valley Visitors Center

Dasha is standing on top of Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center over at Paradise Valley

After getting a good night sleep, the next morning we grabbed a breakfast and drove toward Kautz Creek Trailhead to do a day hike. All of the detailed information for this hike, including maps and nivagation detailes can be found here: Hiking Kautz Creek Trail Around Mount Rainier Blog

It took us about 5 hours or so to complete the hike. Once we were back to our car, we drove for about 30 minutes to Paradise Valley Visitors CenterParking Lot. It’s a little higher in the elevation, so please make sure to bring some warm clothing with you. After exploring this area for a bit, we were getting pretty hungry and decided to go back to Copper Creek Inn to eat their delicious dinner at the restaurant. After that, we grabbed a bottle of wine and enjoyed a hot Jacuzzi behind the lodge. ]

❖ DAY 3: Whale Watching, Check-in To Log Cabin Resort & Visit Sol Duc Hot Springs In The Evening

Small Humpback Whale resurfaced not to far from our boat

In the morning we started driving toward Olympic National Park. There is a small fishing town called Port Angeles, which is about 3 1/2 hours drive north from Copper Creek Inn. Port Angeles has a direct access to ferry that goes to Victoria at Vancouver Island (don’t forget your passport if you’re planning to visit Canada)

One thing I forgot to mention, is that this whole itinerary was a surprise for my wife. This entire time she had no idea where we would stay or where we would go. She always wanted to do a whale watching, so this morning I’ve surprised her when we arrived at Island Adventure Whale Watching Tour and were ready to board the ship to go scout for humpback whales. ]

When we reached Port Angeles, we parked our car at the paid parking lot which was only couple bucks and conveniently located close to Island Adventure location. The whole tour takes about 4-5 hours and they guarantee 99% success rate for you seeing the whales or orcas. If there were none to see, they will provide 100% credit for the amount paid to come some other time and do the tour again. ]

After the whale watching tour was over, we drove toward the Log Cabin Resort for 30 minutes, where I had the cabin reserved for one night. We arrived way before sunset and still had plenty of time to check in and enjoy the views around the lake. Once settled, the next thing on our evening agenda was to visit Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort located about an hour away deep inside the mountains. Despite many people complaining about these hot springs not being super clean and all, we thought they were perfectly fine. 15$ a person and you can soak in Mineral Hot Springs and enjoy the surrounding views. Detailed information can be found here: Link

Olympic National Park has many other locations and lodges all through the park. We only stayed at one, but the other one looked pretty amazing on their web site and I highly recommend checking them out. ]

❖ DAY 4: Hiking Mount Storm King and Returning Back to Seattle

We woke up early in the morning and had a delicious breakfast at the main lodge (which was also included in the price). After checking out from our cabin, we drove for 15 minutes to Storm King Mountain Ranger Station Parking Lot to do our short day hike. All of the detailed information about this hike, including maps and navigation details can be found here: Hiking Mount Storm King Trail in Olympic National Park Blog

A classic hike, located at the South West foothills of Mt.Rainier. The trail takes you through a beautiful pine forest and up above the treeline. Once out in the open, you will find yourself standing in front of fourteen & half thousand feet giant glacial volcano, with 270 degree panoramic views of the entire region.

Hike Information:

• Distance: 10mi (16km) roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 3,500ft (1,000m)
• Estimated Duration: 6-8Hrs
• Interactive Map: Alltrails Map
• Directions: Trailhead Parking Location

The trailhead is conveniently located right along the Paradise Road and has a fairly large parking lot. For the most part, the trail goes below the treeline, gradually gaining elevation until you reach fairly exposed ridge.

When you hike the trail during summer, it’s very visible and easy to follow. Typically, you won’t find any snow at all. Because we were in Washington during second half of May, there was some snow along the way… In fact, there was tons of snow! Midway on the trail, we started noticing dense areas of snow here and there. Once we crossed the creek over the wooded bridge, we were walking entirely on snow. The higher we got, the thicker the snow depth became.

Luckily, we were not surprised and therefore brought our snowshoes along! Just in-case and all the way from Philadelphia! 😉 My wife does have previous experience hiking in snow, but she never had to navigate in such terrain. There was completely no signs of trail or trail markers to follow! On top of that, I gave her a task to try to find the way to the top of the ridge by using a map and compass. I must say, she did an exceptional job and made me feel very proud! About an hour later, we were standing on top of our scenic viewpoint, eating lunch and enjoying the views of Mount Rainier. Well, the foothills of Mt.Rainier to be exact!

At this point, the terrain toward second and third scenic viewpoints looked a little more complicated with some small cornices along the way. Not taking any chances, we decided to turn around and head back toward the trailhead. Later that day we visited Paradise Valley Visitors Center, which is the highest point accessible by car. We walked around for some time and explored whole new different views of Mt.Rainier.

An epic adventure through Colorado’s finest terrain. Get above 12,000ft (3,600m) and capture the beauty of high alpine with 360 panoramic views from the Devils Thumb pass. Explore pristine colors of Jasper, Devils Thumb and King Lake’s.

Important Information:

• Colorado Avalanche Information Center: If you’re planning any outdoor activities in the backcountry during winter, you must always check the avalanche condition before heading out. Do not take avalanches lightly, most of deaths occurring in the backcountry are caused by avalanches.
• Weather Forecast for South Arapaho Peak: I’ve had a lot of luck with mountain-forecast web site. You can select nearby peaks and explore weather conditions at different altitudes. This is extremely helpful as it can provide comprehensive temperatures, rain/snow and wind speed forecasts.
• Annual Weather Conditions for Colorado Rockies: If you never been to this region, the information on this web site will help you understand what the conditions would be like when you arrive.
• Winter Navigation Skills are Required: During summer, the trail is very visible and easy to follow. During winter, there is no trail and you will have to completely rely on your paper maps or navigation device.

Hike Information:

• Distance: 15mi (24km) Loop
• Elevation Change: 3,500ft (1,100m).
• Estimated Duration: 2 Days (Winter) 8-11Hrs (Summer)
• Interactive Map: Devils Thumb Pass And King Lake Trail
• Directions: Hessie Trailhead

I’ve never been to Colorado, but always wanted to experience the Rockies covered in snow. While poking at different trails, I’ve found an interesting loop that could potentially be doable in winter conditions. After investing a good amount of my time in research and after seeking advice on Colorado 14ers forums – I was finally starting to feel comfortable enough to book a trip and attempt the circuit.

Moma Moose and the Cub!

Parking and Start of the Trail Info

When you arrive at the intersection of Hessie Rd & 4th of July Rd, park your car on the side of the road and head west on Hessie Rd. If you have a high clearance vehicle, you can also drive a little further and park along the road.

After hiking for some time on a curvy service road, the trail will narrow and you will come to a junction by the creek crossing. There was not much snow at lower elevations, so we took the original Devils Thumb Trail instead of Devils Thumb Bypass Trail. I would recommend taking a bypass trail if snow levels are high.

Trail Condition & Terrain Info

Once you get deeper into the valley, the trail will gradually climb and you’ll find yourself in winter wonderland. You will be hiking not to far from Jasper creek until you start ascending toward Jasper lake. It gets a little complicated in terms of route finding during a short climb toward Jasper lake. There are a lot of trees and if you get off track, watch out for south part of the woods. There are few sudden 10-20 feet drops, that has small cornices on them. You won’t see it until you stand on top of dangerous and unstable snow.

When you start getting closer toward Devils Thumb Lake, the terrain will open up and you will see 360 views of surrounding peaks. It’s a perfect spot to eat lunch or get some warm clothing ready as once you get over the pass, it will get very windy. Once passed the lake, we got a full view of what was ahead of us – a powerful cornices at most of the Western Slopes, including Devils Thumb Pass. I’m from the East Coast and things like snow cornices are very rare. We do get some avalanches in areas like White Mountain’s in NH, but nothing like here in Colorado.

Devils Pass Climb Info

Luckily, the weather was clear and we were able to pin-point a route that would provide us with a safe passage. During my initial research I was warned that I would most likely encounter avalanche conditions and cornices on the westerns slopes. We took it slow walking on top of what looked like a perfectly smooth popcorn ceiling. After a short climb, we were right on top of Continental Divide Trail, with a heavy wind pounding in our faces.

Hiking on top of Continental Divide Trail toward King Lake

Once you get over the top, you may realize that you are now hiking at over 12,000ft (3,600m) elevation. If you’re local, you may not feel the tiredness or elevation kick right away, but considering that only yesterday we were at sea level elevation, being at over 12,000ft was substantially making things a bit uneasy.

From here it’s pretty straight forward, just hike along the ridge and stay away from cornices that are facing east. Once you reach the end of the ridge, please examine snow conditions and find a safer route to descend down to the lake. We couldn’t see if there was a cornice on the SE side of the slope, so we stayed a little to the SW of the slope in order to safely get down.

Camp at King Lake

By the time we got to King lake, we were completely exhausted and the sun was setting down. It was an approximately a 10 mile day for us, potholing in snowshoes and feeling the effect of high altitude. However, we did find a nice camp site on the NE side of the lake. There was no water, as everything around us was frozen and we ended up melting snow. Once we got done with eating dinner, we enjoyed the sunset and then were off to sleep.

In the morning, we woke up a little to late, not feeling hungry and still tired. We packed up our bags and rushed down the valley before snow become soft. It was easy and beautiful hike back down to the car.

A short and simple hike that takes you to a beautiful alpine lake in Colorado’s Arapaho National Forest. The lake is situated at 10,000ft (3,000m) in Colorado Rockies and offer backcountry camping along with exceptional views of the lake and it’s surroundings. Campsites are first come, first served and you can camp in designated sites or pitch tents within 30 feet of campsite makers. Map and additional information can be found here: Link

Hike Information:

• Distance: 4mi (6.5km) roundtrip
• Elevation Change: 900ft (270m).
• Estimated Duration: 2-3 Hrs
• Interactive Map: Lost Lake Hike
• Directions: Hessie Trailhead
• Camping: Lost Lake Trail Camping Info

When you arrive at the intersection of Hessie Rd & 4th of July Rd, park your car on the side of the road and head west on Hessie Rd. If you have a high clearance vehicle, you can also drive a little further and park along the road.

After hiking for some time on a curvy service road, the trail will narrow and you will come to a junction by the stream crossing. Turn left and cross the stream, then follow along Devils Thumb Trail until you reach a junction for Lost Lake. Make a left and continue until you reach the lake. Once at the lake, we’ve hiked all around and also found a perfect spot to glissade!

This is an extremely unique and fun hike! The views at the top are spectacular, overlooking a big part of Olympic National Park and the Vancouver Island. Please keep in mind that this trail might not be for everyone. Toward the end, there are few very steep section where you would have to scramble in order to get to the very top. Please examine some of the photos below and see if this is something that you would like to do.

Hike Information:

• Distance: 3.6mi (6km) roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 2,000ft (600m)
• Estimated Duration: 2-3Hrs
• Interactive Map: Alltrails Map
• Directions: Trailhead Parking Location
• Important: Hiking shoes with a good tread are highly recommended for this hike

Expect to arrive early in the morning or later in the afternoon to avoid busy crowds. When you reach the location, park your car at the Storm King Rangers Station parking lot. Follow the Marymere Falls Nature Trail that leads to a tunnel under the Route 101. Once through, follow the path until you reach trail junction for Storm King Trail on your left. From here, the trail will take you up almost 2,000 feet through a series of switchbacks.

When you reach the exposed area of the steep ridge. You will have to scramble along a hilly gravel path. There were some ropes secured in place that would help you scramble to the up. Since my shoes had a very good grip, I ended up not using the rope. We saw some people wearing regular snickers and were struggling up and down. I suggest keeping a safe distance from each other, just in-case somebody looses a balance and takes you off your feet.

An easily accessible and fairly easy hike to the top of Mount Sniktau. You will get an opportunity to experience 360 degree views and breathe thin air above 13,000ft (4,000m). If you’re looking to get acclimatized and get an elevation kick? You came to the right place!

Hike Information:

• Distance: 3.8mi (6.1km) roundtrip
• Elevation Change: 1,350ft (410m).
• Estimated Duration: 2-3 Hrs
• Interactive Map: Mount Sniktau
• Directions: Trailhead Parking Location
• Camping: Lost Lake Trail Camping Info

This is a pretty straightforward hike that starts conveniently at the parking lot along the road and takes you up on the ridge. When you get to a trail junction, you have a chance to continue along “Red” marked trail in order to get to Mt.Sinktau at 13,234ft or continue along the “Orange” dotted line and you will get to Grizzly Peak standing tall at 13,330ft.

If you follow the orange dotted line to additional summit, you will see a beautifully snow covered east side of the mountain. Since we didn’t bring our skis, we decided to improvise and glissade up and down until we got completely wet and cold. We didn’t really make any reservation for lodging for tonight, so we decided to crash right by the trailhead to Mount Sniktau and enjoy beautiful sunset and a starry night.

One of the most iconic hikes on the Eastern United States that you can do all year round. Hike to the top of Mount Washington, which is considered as one of the most dangerous mountains in the United States and experience the might and beauty of New England’s finest terrain!

Important:

• Cotton: Never wear cotton while hiking in winter
• Crampons & Ice Axe: Is required when taking Lions Head Route from Pinkham Notch in Winter
• Weather: Mount Washington is famous for worlds toughest weather, so please check the weather prior to heading out.
• Sunscreen & Glasses: Few hours will be enough for your skin to sunburn and your eyes will feel like you’re half blinded.

Hike Information:

• Distance: 8mi (13km) roundtrip
• Elevation Gain: 4,250ft (1,300m)
• Estimated Duration: Half a Day
• Interactive Map: Alltrails Map
• Directions: Trailhead Parking Location

This was my second time going up Mount Washington in winter, and the weather conditions were just perfect. A month earlier, I went up there with IMCS guide in pretty rough weather (3 Day Winter Mountaineering Course Blog) so this time the experience has been so much more relaxing and I finally got to enjoy the views. Although, the first time going up was so much more fun!

]When you arrive at the parking lot, you’ll see a visitors center, in which you can walk right into from the parking lot. The first floor has an access to restroom facilities or enough room where you could repack your bag or put on some equipment. This space is highly used by climbers and hikers prior to heading out, so be respectful and keep it clean. ]On the opposite side of the building you will find a trailhead to Tuckerman Ravine. You will share this trail with some back-country skiers for about 1.6mi (2.6km) until you reach the intersection of two roads that will have Avalanche Information. Make a right turn and hike for approximately 250ft until you reach Lions Head Trail-head on your left. ]

When you enter Lions head, it won’t take to long until you find yourself in front of one of the steepest sections of the trail. That’s where crampons and ice axe comes into play. If you have never used any of these in your lifetime, you should definitely consider taking a winter mountaineering course (or at-least watch a YouTube video on how to use it). Even if you have no previous experience, with proper gear, you most like might be able to go up without problems, but going down, you may find yourself in trouble and risk of getting yourself or someone hurt without knowing the technique on how to descend. ]

My friend Ilya, couldn’t think of a better way to pose on top of Mount Washington Summit, but to get half naked!

When you get above the treeline, there won’t be any more steep sections like that, just a long and gradual climb toward the top. Once over at the summit, walk around and enjoy beautiful panoramic views of the region. On a cold and windy day, you may find shelter behind some of the observatory buildings. Please keep in mind, there are no public restroom and the only time that one should ever consider entering one of the buildings, only if it’s a true emergency.

Recognized by National Geographic as one of the top 10 trails that will blow your mind, Mt.Lafayette (5,260 feet) is the highest peak in Franconia Ridge and is also a part of White Mountain National Forest. The summit offers an amazing opportunity to experience and capture panoramic views of Pemigewasset Wilderness Area. On a clear day, you should be able to see presidential peaks including Mt.Washington.

Hike Information:

• Distance from Trailhead to Summit: 7.2mi (11.5km) roundtrip (Red Line)
• Distance for the Loop: 8.7mi (14km) (Red Line + Orange Line)
• Estimated Duration: 6-8Hrs
• Interactive Map: Alltrails Map
• Directions: Trailhead Parking Location

Initially we planned on doing the entire loop, starting at the parking lot and hiking to Mt. Lafayette, Mt.Lincoln, Little Haystack and descending down over Falling Waters Trail. Unfortunately, the weather was very rough and we kept getting hammered by heavy wind and snow. Eventually, as we were approximately 400-600 feet away from the summit, we had to turn around as we were not prepared for constant bombardment of 60-70Mph winds with negative chill factor of over -40F. ]

From the trailhead parking lot, hike for 1,200ft (360m) until you reach a trail junction. Make a left onto Old Bridge Path, and continue through a series of switchbacks below the tree line. About a mile and half into the hike, you will finally reach the ridge and will have a clear view of Mt.Lafayette. When we started hiking on the ridge, the weather kept changing every 5 minutes. It would range from complete windy whiteouts to nice and calm with clear views of Mt.Lafayette.

When you get to the hut, it will be closed for the winter, but depending on wind direction, you should be able to find shelter on one of it’s sides. It’s a good spot to take a look around, grab some quick food and get warm clothing ready. We saw some dark clouds approaching very far in the horizon. Not wasting anytime, we rushed toward the summit, hoping to get there before the storm.

Soon enough, we found ourselves half way toward the summit, being fully bombarded by 60-70Mph an hour winds and occasional low visibility. At first, we thought that we can still make it to the top, despite strong wind and severe wind chill. The snow would get fairly deep at times, hiding sharp and uneven rocks beneath it. Having nearly rolling our ankles, my cheap googles started to fog up. But that was the least of our worries. Since it was Alex’s first time winter mountaineering in NH, he didn’t have warm enough gloves, so his hands started to freeze up. After giving him my mittens, it only took couple minutes for my hands starting to freeze in his gloves. The closer we were getting to the top, the stronger the wind force would be. Soon enough we realized that this is not worth it and it’s time to turn around.

By the time we descended back down to the hut, we quickly looked back and saw a big blue opening in the sky. By the time we were getting ready to descend down below the treeline, there was not a single cloud in the skies. If only we waited by hut for about 30 minutes, we would have gotten to the top without any problems. But unfortunately, this is how the alpine weather is, and sometimes there is just not much that we can do. Yes, we didn’t get to the summit, but at-least we get to live to hike another day 🙂

It has been an impressive winter season in North Eastern United States. A good old friend of mine, Alex, was flying from Dallas, TX to join me hiking for few days in Adirondacks and ascent Mt.Washington in NH. Per forecast, right before he arrived, some parts of North East has already received more then 3 feet of fresh snow, including High Peaks Wilderness that we were about to visit, with more snow on the forecast…

Important:

• Cotton: Never wear cotton while hiking in winter
• Water Filtration: I swear by Sawyer Squeeze as one of the best filters. But in cold winter temperatures, it could simply freeze or get clogged. SteriPEN would be the system of choice. You can also melt snow and boil water when there are no streams that are accessible.
• Snowshoes: When hiking in ADK in winter, snowshoes or skis are required.
• Maps & Navigation: If you’re used to using your iPhone for navigating in the back-country, there is a big chance that your phone might not work in very cold temperatures. Make sure to bring paper maps with a compass, and most importantly, know how to use it!

Hike Information:

• Distance: 16.5mi (26km) roundtrip
• Estimated Duration: 2 Days
• Interactive Map: ADK General Trail Map
• Directions: Trailhead Parking Location
• Camping Location: 44°07’07.7″N 73°58’59.3″W

Right from the start, we knew that the amount of snow the Adirondacks received over the past few days was a little to much. But, we planned this trip one month in advance. Tickets were already pre-purchased and the time-off was arranged, so there was no going back!

Upon arriving to ADK Loj, I’ve never see the parking lot so empty. There were only two or three cars there and parts of the trail were already snowshoed from the day before, which made things a lot easier! Nonetheless, a good trail only went up as far as Marcy Dam. From there we had to plow our way all the way to the back end of Lake Colden. During my previous winter trips, I would mostly get lucky and have at least some sort of tracks, but not today.

After reaching an Avalanche Lake, we still had almost two miles of snow plowing just to reach the end of Lake Colden and then up to second Lean-too over at Marcy Trail. Initially, we brought shovels with us, thinking that we could build a snow shelter when we reach our base camp. My friend Alex didn’t have warm enough sleeping bag therefore camping in -20C in the open lean-too would not be very fun. With these thoughts in mind we carried on and played it by the ear.

Prior to heading out, some of the weather reports mentioned that higher elevation might have received over 4 feet of fresh snow. As we crossed the bridge over Opalescent River and started hiking up, we found our moving progress to be less then a mile an hour. Not only that, the difficulty of hiking in snowshoes started to drain our energy reserves. As we were very slowly moving forward, the weather conditions started rapidly deteriorating and another snow storm was in full swing promising another feet of snow overnight.

I think the weather was trying to tell us something 🙂

After reviewing our current situation, we realized that we were not going to make it to our Lean-too in time before it gets dark, nor have time or energy to build a snow cave. Even thought we really wanted to catch sunrise over snowy Mt.Marcy, we had turn around and head back down to ADK Loj before our recent snow path got swept away by heavy winds and snow.

After climbing Mt.Marcy in tough winter conditions and surviving the night in snow cave in -25C temperatures, I knew that my passion and love for winter outdoors won’t stop here. I’ve gained a lot of experience and learned a great deal over the past few years about outdoors. But I always felt like I might have missed the basics. With these thoughts in mind, I’ve reached out to International Mountain Climbing School and signed up for their 3 Day Basic Mountaineering Skills Course.

3-Day Course Information:

• DAY 1: Most of the first day will be spent outside learning technical skills such as self arrest and use of an ice axe. You will also learn how to walk in crampons, understand different walking technique, such as French stepping or International Step. You will also learn and practice the basics of Ice Climbing (I highly recommend taking an indoor rock climbing class at your local gym, so you know how to put on harness, how to use belay device or even repel)
• DAY 2: You will meet at IMCS headquarter in the morning and will sort and pack gear. You will plan your food for the next day and half and prepare yourself before heading over to Mount Washington to set up a base camp. You will learn how to set up a tent on the snow, make anchors, cook dinner and spend the night in freezing temperatures.
• DAY 3: You will wake up very early in the morning and attempt to summit Mt.Washington.

General Information:

• Direction to IMCS: International Mountain Climbing School
• Office Web Site: https://www.ime-usa.com/imcs/
• Course Information: Basic Mountaineering Skills – 3 Days
• Pricing Information: Mountaineering Programs
• Pricing: 3 Day course will run you about $600-$700
• Lodging: Keep in mind, you will have to pay for your own lodging.

❖ DAY 1: Learning Technical Skills

You will meet at IMCS headquarters around 10:00AM and will be assigned all of the necessary equipment and given course instructions. After the final check, If guides find that your clothing is not warm enough, they will provide a warmer options. *Please do not count on IMCS completely dressing you up, they have limited availability of different sizes. Once ready, you will drive toward The Cathedral Ledge and start practicing all of the basic techniques. It will be a very fun day and you will learn a lot! Make sure to dress very warm and bring lots of extra clothing. You can always ask a guide for any questions you may have prior to heading out. ]

❖ DAY 2: Setting Up Base Camp around Harvard’s Cabin near Pinkham Notch

You will meet at their headquarters around the same time as yesterday and get yourself ready before heading out toward the base camp. It’s important to have a backpack that can fit a lot of gear. I think you can also rent one from IMCS. *Or maybe ask nicely and they will provide one for you :). Once you all done packing, you will drive toward Pinkham Notch, which will be the starting point of your 2 mile hike toward Harvard’s Cabin. Once at the location, you will be given further instruction such as learning how to find a tent site, how to set it up and secure the tent with snow anchors.

❖ DAY 3: Mount Washington Summit Day

In the morning the weather didn’t look to good and it was already snowing. Our guide was able to check the weather at Harvard’s Cabin, but it didn’t look to promising. A big snowstorm was slowly moving in and we only had few hours to get to the top. I was very afraid that our summit ascent might be cancelled. Luckily, we had an awesome guide, who is also a really cool guy, his name was Grant Simon. I don’t know if it was the enthusiasm in my eyes that he saw, but despite the odds, he decided to still give us a chance so we could try to summit. Out of most, if not all the guiding expeditions that day, ours was the one that had actually summited the peak in a pretty tough conditions as you may see from the photos.

As we were going up, it was snowing hard and the visibility was decreasing. The wind was slowly picking up the speed as we were passing by the lions head. 45min – 1hr later, we were standing at the top of Mt.Washington with the snowstorm steadily intensifying every minute. We only had few minutes to spend at the summit, before turning around. The snow was dumping very hard! It took approximately 20 minutes for our previous tracks to completely disappear. It was very challenging to navigate in such condition even for our guide who knew every inch of this mountain. At one point we found ourselves in a complete whiteout and our guide didn’t want to risk us getting to close to the ravine as there is chance of falling through the windblown, newly formed snow cornices. At this point, our guide had to pop out a GPS device in order to get us back on trail, which we were able to find very quickly.

Soon after, we safely got back to our base camp. Packed up all of the our gear and headed back down toward the parking lot, laughing and chatting about how awesome this experience was!

Pacific Crest Trail | A Walk Across The United States is a Short Film About Our 2016 Pacific Crest Thru-hike From the Vorder of Mexico to Border of Canada from Serge Pikhotskiy on Vimeo.

Trip Summary:

The seed of a PCT thru-hike has been planted a year ago when we got engaged and started thinking about our wedding and future lives together. Although, we have always had thoughts about taking time off and doing something for ourselves, the wedding was a big push that if not now then when? We began to think about our big trip in coherence with our wedding and eventually a honeymoon idea was born. For our honeymoon, we decided to follow our own dream and hike the Pacific Crest Trail.

Yes, this is us! Posing in our “Full on Hiking Outfit” right after we got married. Better yet, we are getting ready to Hike Pacific Crest Trail for our Honeymoon!

Navigation

❖ DAY 1: CAMPO, CA | Mile 0
❖ DAY 7: WARNER SPRINGS, CA | Mile 109
❖ DAY 10: IDYLLWILD | Mile 179
❖ DAY 17: BIG BEAR LAKE | Mile 266
❖ DAY 22: CAJON PASS | Mile 342
❖ DAY 24: WRIGHTWOOD | Mile 369
❖ DAY 27: NATURE ON PCT | Mile 400
❖ DAY 30: AQUA DULCE | Mile 454
❖ DAY 36: MOJAVE | Mile 558
❖ DAY 43: KENNEDY MEADOWS | Mile 702
❖ DAY 58: MAMMOTH LAKES | Mile 903
❖ DAY 66: OUR NUMBER ONE FANS
❖ DAY 69: TUOLUMNE MEADOWS | Mile 942
❖ DAY 78: LAKE TAHOE | Mile 1090
❖ DAY 88: BELDEN | Mile 1248
❖ DAY 91: DRAKESBAD RANCH | Mile 1347
❖ DAY 98: MOUNT SHASTA | Mile 1493
❖ DAY 109: ASHLAND | Mile 1716
❖ DAY 114: CRATER LAKE | Mile 1818
❖ DAY 131: CASCADE LOCKS | Mile 2144
❖ DAY 141: SNOWQUALIME PASS | Mile 2390
❖ DAY 153: CANADA | Mile 2650
❖ DAY 155: FINAL THOUGHTS

DAY 1: CAMPO, CA | MILE 0

• South Terminus is PCT’s starting point, located just outside of small town of Campo in Southern California. It’s about 2 hours drive by car from San Diego. The monument stands 30 feet from the Mexican border – a metal wall stretching out as far as the eye can see and heavily guarded by Border Patrol…Click to Read More

DAY 7: WARNER SPRINGS | MILE 109

• For some reason each day on PCT is becoming more and more difficult. Each day you begin walking thinking you have stronger legs or your pack is going to be lighter today but everything is hurting by noon. Right now we are hiking through Southern California high desert. We started off our hike thinking that desert will bring us many hot days, not realizing…Click to Read More

DAY 10: IDYLLWILD | MILE 179

• We have encountered several over 90°F days where we had to go up hill for most of the time. Water situation on PCT is no joke and should not be taken lightly. There are often times when we have to carry additional 6 liters of water (that’s 12 pounds) on top of the gear and food that we have in our packs…Click to Read More

DAY 17: BIG BEAR LAKE | MILE 266

• San Jacinto is the second tallest peak (10,200 ft) in Southern California which is located right off PCT. Leaving Idyllwild, Rangers told us that the peak and a portion of PCT is closed due to recent rain storm which ended up causing snow precipitation in higher elevations. We were told it was waist deep snow and rescue crews were taking people off by a helicopter…Click to Read More

DAY 22: CAJON PASS | MILE 342

• This has been so far our favorite part. Why? We got spoiled and got to S-W-I-M 3 days in a row!!! Going from carrying water purely for our survival to having such abundance of it that we can actually go for a swim has been such a treat. Our first night it was a small swim hole in a creek…Click to Read More

DAY 24: Wrightwood, CA | MILE 369

• Unforeseen stop. Some hikers chose to resupply by going into grocery stores that are located in nearby towns that we pass on the trail (which could vary from as small as a gas station, to huge supermarkets). The towns could be anywhere from a walking distance to having to hitchhike several miles away from the trailClick to Read More

DAY 27: Nature On PCT | MILE 400

• Our favorite times of the day are early mornings and evenings. There is something magical about those hours. Waking up with the first bird song when everything else is still quiet. Getting out of camp first ones to hit the trail, we can see foot prints of animals who walked the trail at night – deer, coyotes or occasional mountain lion…Click to Read More

DAY 30: Aqua Dulce, CA | Mile 454

• Our favorite times of the day are early mornings and evenings. There is something magical about those hours. Waking up with the first bird song when everything else is still quiet. Getting out of camp first ones to hit the trail, we can see foot prints of animals who walked the trail at night – deer, coyotes or occasional mountain lion…Click to Read More

DAY 36: Mojave, CA | Mile 558

• We got back to the trailhead at around 2:00PM. The sun was positioned directly over the top of our heads and with the complete lack of shade there was no escape from 100 degree heat. Despite the fact that we took almost a 24hr rest, we were still pretty exhausted from hiking during previous weeks….Click to Read More

DAY 43: Kennedy Meadows, CA | Mile 702

• This is our last stretch in the desert before hitting Kennedy Meadows – entry to Sierra Wilderness. This was also the hardest stretch for us on the trail so far. We have been mentioning in the previous posts about the water situation in the desert, how scarce it is and that we follow a mile by mile water report which tells us where is the next reliable water source…..Click to Read More

DAY 58: Mammoth Lakes, CA | Mile 903

• After taking a day zero in Kennedy Meadows (KM) to recharge our batteries we headed out into the Sierras. There are several resupply stops once you enter the mountains but we felt like we were prepared for an 11 day stretch without resupplying. From KM our next resupply stop would be the Vermillion Valley Resort (VVR). Carrying 11 days worth of food is no joke and needless to say our packs were gigantic weighting at 44lb for Serge and 38lb for me, that’s without any water…Click to Read More

DAY 66: Our Number One Fans

• Maybe it were the countless Facetimes where they saw how skinny our faces are getting, maybe it was the interest to see the beauty that they have never seen before, or maybe it was simply missing each other after being away for several months – our number one fans came to visit, moms….Click to Read More

DAY 69: Tuolumne Meadows, CA | Mile 942

• After taking 8 days off to spend with our moms it was extremely difficult to get back on the trail. Although we got plenty of rest, it almost felt like our legs forgot what it was like to hike. From Mammoth to Tuolumne, our next resupply point, is approximately 34 miles – a distance doable in 2 days…Click to Read More

DAY 78: Lake Tahoe, CA | Mile 1090

• We left Tuolumne on 4th of July, passing by places where we have walked with our moms just a few days ago. Once out of the touristy over crowded trails, we were back in solitude of river waterfalls and granite mountains….Click to Read More

DAY 88: Belden, CA | Mile 1248

• The number of PCT thru-hikers greatly reduces after Lake Tahoe. Why? It is considered amongst many that Sierras is the most beautiful & challenging part of the PCT. Once a hiker is done with Sierras and arrives to Lake Tahoe, the realization settles in of the fact that we are STILL in California, and we STILL have about another 600+ miles of Cali before we move on to Oregon…Click to Read More

DAY 91: Drakesbad Ranch, CA | Mile 1347

• Northern California terrain by any means is not flat. Even though we are out of Sierras, we still have to climb hills every day. Especially if we go into towns which are situated at much lower elevations, so we have to drastically drop and gain elevation each time we get into a town. For example, just a few days ago we were hiking out of town and had a 3,000ft vertical climb just over a few miles. Coming out of Belden our climb was 4500 feet….Click to Read More

DAY 98: Mt.Shasta, CA | Mile 1493

• Just when we thought the dessert days were over… Waking up at 3am to walk 30 water-less miles felt harsh (no natural sources of water, making us carry enough H2O for entire day) . In 2003 a huge storm passed through the Hat Creek Valley. Lightning struck over 900 times, igniting 27 wild fires that ended up burning over 100,000 acres of forest…Click to Read More

DAY 109: Ashland, OR | Mile 1716

• Well, our animal encounters did not stop here! Coming out of the town of Mt.Shasta, about 8 miles in from town, the trail was curving in a shape of a ‘U’. We were standing on one end of the ‘U’ and had to walk in a half circle to get to the other end. As I was walking I heard a moaning noise but did not pay much attention to it as I thought maybe it were other hikers ahead of us…Click to Read More

DAY 114: Crater Lake, OR | Mile 1818

• So now we are in Oregon, and we are TIRED. At this point we have been on the trail for almost 4 months and our bodies are exhausted. Probably mentioned somewhere before, but now we are averaging at 24 miles a day which is equivalent to running a marathon every day….Click to Read More

DAY 131: Cascade Locks, OR | Mile 2144

• Boy did taking 3 days off help us recover. Doing absolutely nothing, laying in our hotel room and staring at the wall, we patiently waited for the bug to make its course through our bodies to exit. Coming back on the trail we could immediately feel new strength and recovery benefits of our time off…Click to Read More

DAY 141: Snowqualime Pass, WA | Mile 2390

• Washington is hands down our most favorite state on this trail. PCT has saved the best for last. Often times Serge and I regret how fast we have went through the beautiful Sierras and wish that we would have slowed down. Here in WA we feel like we have gotten our second chance. Although we have only 2 weeks left of our journey, and as much as we are excited to get back, it is getting bitter sweet and we are savoring each minute spent here on the trail….Click to Read More

DAY 153: CANADA | Mile 2650

• Leaving Snoqualmie has brought us to a 2 week mark of time that we have left on PCT. Feeling so bittersweeet, we decide to take a 30 mile alternate route that eventually rejoins PCT to check out the last hot springs we would see on the trail. Now that we are in Washington, the temperatures are much lower making it oh so perfect for a hot spring soak. In addition, Serge and I have committed to go through entire WA without taking any days off, meaning our muscles need all the rest they can get…Click to Read More

DAY 155: FINAL THOUGHTS

• The thought of what will Serge and I get out of this thru-hike has crossed my mind before we even started. I have tried reading literature about experiences of previous thru-hikers but couldn’t really relate to their journeys. The truth is, I had no idea what to expect other than just do it, taking it one day at a time…Click to Read More

Dasha and I are standing next to the Northern Terminus, the border between Canada and United States

The thought of what will Serge and I get out of this thru-hike has crossed my mind before we even started. I have tried reading literature about experiences of previous thru-hikers but couldn’t really relate to their journeys. The truth is, I had no idea what to expect other than just do it, taking it one day at a time.

Now that we are finished, there is a thing or two that we have learned. For Serge and I the trail really made us work on our relationship. It was almost like it was nurtured by the trail with every curve we took. It is one thing being at home and having a daily routine of interactions with your significant other: sleep, work, dinner….sleep, work, dinner (repeat 3 times)….weekend. It’s a completely different game being around each other and doing the same thing 24/7 for 5 months straight. There is no other room that you can go to escape a heated argument. The only way is to work things out, and we did. A thought of being “tired” of each other has never crossed our minds, as many people would later ask.

Another benefit of being away from society, surrounded by a small community of hiker friends, was how more relaxed and simple we have become. Back home we would often complicate and stress over the simplest things in life. Out there in the wilderness, living out of our backpacks has really put things into perspective that many take for granted.

Another contrast that is noticed between people who we have met on the trail and people back home is how disconnected every one is back in society. While not paying attention to the news or understanding what the hell catching a Pokémon means we were able to bring ourselves back to who we really are, what we love, and how to be happy.

When we first started sharing with family and friends the idea of doing a thru-hike we were overwhelmed with people’s responses. “Why? Are you crazy? You will not last even a month! No showers?!?! What about laundry? Are you bringing a gun? Can’t you just drive?” Were all among some of the encouraging words we have heard from people. I mean, don’t get me wrong, at first I too thought that maybe our idea of a honeymoon is not an ordinary one. But at least now I know that it’s not me who was crazy, people just don’t get life. This society programmed us to think that working and making $$$ is more important than doing what you love. You only live once! There is so much evil in this world, so many wars, so many people getting killed and live in poverty, that to me it seemed a sin to waist the fortunate life that I have been given behind a computer desk. Work will always be there. People are so afraid to take a risk and step out of their comfort zone. I literally see vegetables staring at their phones every day on my train commute to work. Get up and do what your heart is calling for, that one thing that have been on your mind since high school. Life is short. Don’t take your health for granted because it won’t always be there. Don’t worry about what everyone else says or thinks. You are in charge of your own happiness!

Being crazy is OK!

Clouds begin to clear up on the rainy day. These mountains would noramlly be completely covered in clouds on a rainy day

By the time we got into camp, we realized that Serge’s warm dawn jacket and sleeping bag were soaked. Meanwhile, temperature was dropping fast and we could see air from our breath. A very important lesson for thru-hiking is that you must keep a set of dry clothes at all times. For us, it were our sleeping clothes which we never hiked in, and always kept in a water proof stuff sack. I suggested for Serge to put his wet dawn jacket on and wrap himself in my dry sleeping bag in hopes that his body heat and my dry bag will created insulation heat and help his jacket dry up. To our surprise, Serge felt immediate warmth even from wet dawn and decided to sleep in his wet jacket. In the morning, his puffy jacket was completely dried up from his own body heat. In the future, if a small clothing article needed to be dried (like socks or underwear) we would always stuff it inside of our sleeping bag overnight which would act as a mini drier from our own body heat. That morning, to stick to our rule of keeping one set of dry clothes at all time, we had to put on all of our soaked clothes back on. Meaning wet underwear, shirt and shorts, and the most cold – wet socks. At that point you pack up your wet tent as fast as you can and start moving. I am praying that we have a steep incline climb coming up to warm up our bodies.

LUCKILY (no really, don’t know what we would do if it continued to rain), next day has cleared up and with the first chance we’ve got we took everything out to dry on the sun.

Dasha is walking among the giant pine groove

I must say that I was a little worried that we will not get to see much of WA with all the rain and low hanging clouds. But we did get lucky, and each day was more beautiful than the other.

Crazy storm system forming next to Glacier Peak

Beautiful sunset over Washington State. The mountain shadow reflected in the sky is being blocked by Mt. Baker in the far distance