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| Hiking | 7.00 Miles |
1,680 AEG |
| | Hiking | 7.00 Miles | | | |
| 1,680 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | We decided to make this hike when it looked like it would be a dry winter. The light dusting 2 days before made the last ¼ mile of the trip quite difficult. There was 0.7" of snow at the Humphrey's trailhead, but closer to 1.5" at the site. It took us 3 hours hiking with a group to find the site, of which 1 hour was spent making the 1/2 mile from the switchback to the site. On the return, it took about an hour to get from the wreckage back to the trailhead. We had a difficult time finding the site, but once there, realized there was a very easy way to find it (below). After climbing too high and not far enough north, we ultimately found the site because of a sun glint off a wing and a sharp eyed hiker.
Pictures really can't describe the site, there is wreckage scattered hundreds of yards up and down the rock field, while the fuselage is likely buried below the rocks. The outboard wing segments are somewhat intact, one landing gear is standing vertical, and other smaller components and fragments are scattered in the rocks and amongst the trees. This is a sobering reminder of the inherent risk in flying, and appreciation for those who serve our country, even though this site is 60+ years old. The vista of the surround area is excellent, virtually unobstructed from the West to the North.
:idea: On the return trek, a simple strategy insuring the finding of the site became obvious, with the assistance of a GPS / altimeter: Hike about 1/2 mile N of the 7th switchback, slowly climbing to 11,220 feet. The center of the site is at 11,220 feet and in a large open rock field. (The field extends up and down the mountain for > 1/2 mile, so if you keep going N around the mountain in the proscribed altitude range, you'll hit it. The wreckage is in there.)
First, see the attached map in the photo section. It shows Snowbowl and the Trail 151 trailhead in the parking lot. Also note that the debris field is in a large rock field, indicated as the thin white streak on the map. Starting from the trailhead, start the hike past the first switchback, to a "T" in the trail, the second switchback. Sign in here for safety, then proceed to your left, as the trail to the right takes you back to Snowbowl's lodge. Continue up the trail to the seventh switch back, which is at approximately 11,020 feet altitude. From here, leave the trail and travel 1/2 mile toward the North around the mountain. Over this trek, you'll need to gain approximately 200 feet in altitude, some of it will be challenging, even more so in light snow, including the traversing of a small valley. Once past this, continue across the hill staying close to 11,200 ft altitude. While there are some caroms to mark the path, they're sometimes difficult to see in the shadows. Soon, you'll break out of the forest and into the large open rock field. Once you enter the rock field, walk to the middle, you should be able to see the wreckage in all directions. The distance from the switchback is about 1/2 mile. The Lat/Long coordinates are below in white font. Starting early in the morning, we're going to do this again in the summer, as a side detour from a hike to the peak.
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